EASE AWAY THE STRESS
DAVID OWENS ENJOYS THE BEST OF EVERYTHING THAT DEVON HAS TO OFFER
THE moon is dancing on its reflection in the sea – made all the more spectacular by the fact it’s a Harvest Moon, seeming huge in the black canvas of the night sky.
Where views from a hotel window are concerned it’s pretty unbeatable.
Peering through the window of our suite at Orestone Manor, this was our stunning introduction to the luxurious family-owned hotel and restaurant and it set something of a precedent for the two days we were lucky to stay there.
Orestone Manor is run by two chefs, Neil and Catherine D’Allen, son Craig and his wife Laura.
Our lovely room – The Horsley Suite – is named after the manor’s former owner, the painter Sir John Horsley, who was the brother-in-law of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
In the 1850s, the manor saw many Brunel/Horsley family gatherings.
Based in the coastal Devon village of Maidencombe, is a delightful bolt hotel to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life.
The Manor’s rooms match the food in excellence and three have simmering private hot-tubs. There’s also a stunning 18th Century Italian fireplace and fireplaces throughout, perfect snuggle-spots with cosy sofas, while you enjoy a Devon Cream tea, a must after an autumn walk sealspotting on the nearby beach, or stretching your legs on the coast path that sits right on the doorstep.
The Manor is steeped in history and is notably the birthplace of the Christmas card, with Sir Horsley designing the card in 1843.
Nowadays less than 20 of the originals are in existence, one is in the V&A, another is owned by the Royal Mail. The cards fetch £25k+ at auction.
Interestingly, Orestone’s neighbours were equally famous with Rudyard Kipling living in a nearby property.
The Manor now makes it name by excelling in sumptuous, intimate accommodation and delicious food.
And it scores highly on every level. It has the air of a fashionable boutique hotel, its beautiful rooms are uniquely decorated and the food, frankly, is the jewel in its crown.
On the two nights we were there we dined in the intimate restaurant.
With both a dinner menu and an a la carte menu there is plenty of choice. Another attraction is that the menu reflects the local area with much of the produce sourced locally.
As the menu states: “At the heart of our cuisine is the ethos to source where possible the finest seasonal ingredients locally, with confidence in their provenance and integrity.”
The highlights of our first night in the restaurant after arrival were my partner’s superb fish pie and my stunning spinach and ricotta ravioli – both from the dinner menu.
A mention, too, of the attentiveness of the staff to my wife’s alcohol allergy making sure that everything cooked was perfect for her.
On the second night I sampled the a la carte menu, plumping for the 8oz fillet steak, confit vine tomatoes, field mushroom, watercress, and dauphinoise potatoes; my partner had the wild mushroom pasta.
Again the food was absolutely exquisite. You can clearly understand why Orestone Manor has won so many awards, including a gold win for the Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards, as well as awards and accolades from Condé Nast Johansens, double AA Rosettes for fine dining, and a constant winner of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence.
I can’t recommend the food highly enough – and the breakfasts were equally sumptuous.
On the first morning of our stay breakfast was served in the hotel’s conservatory which offered stunning views across the ornate gardens to the sea.
There was also plenty of choice at the breakfast table from cereals and pastries, to large cooked breakfasts, which were delicious – setting you up perfectly for a day sightseeing at the area’s many attractions.
And there is certainly plenty to see and do on your doorstep.
First stop on our sightseeing trip was a visit to the wonderful Babbacombe Model Village – a miniature village and railway located in nearby Babbacombe in Torquay.
The site is set on approximately four acres and has more than 400 models along with 1,000 ft of model train track in the village.
The model village is primarily one town, an entirely fictional one, but many buildings within them are based on UK prototypes and landmarks – including Stonehenge and The Shard.
The model village has stood there for 55 years and is renowned for its tongue-in-cheek humour. Names of shops include Amanda Lofe – Home Baked Bread & Cakes, Ivor Faggot Butcher, A. Kingbody Sports Centre and Terry Bull Gardening Service.
There’s also a recent addition of a 4D cinema – it’s a must-visit for anyone.
Another essential was the South Devon Railway, where passengers can sample the age of steam on the lovingly cared for line. It is one of Devon’s and the West Country’s best-loved tourist attractions and is the longest established steam railway in the south west.
The SDR is a seven-mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.
It’s also worth mentioning the nearby Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies, which sit next to and along the railway line.
We had a wonderful couple of days in Devon and can’t recommend Orestone Manor enough. It is absolutely stunning in every way.
A beautiful place to stay in a beautiful part of the world.
Each year 8 million people visit Devon – about the same number as head to Hawaii