Spring Has Sprung: a Guide to a Weekend in Devon by Kate Leahy

With the first signs of spring just about sprung, what better way to enjoy blooming daffodils and spring lambs than with a weekend away in the country? From Exmoor to Dartmoor, Plymouth to Exeter and the Atlantic to the English Channel: Devon has it all. Don’t bother confusing yourself deciding where to go – just head straight for England’s third largest county and you’ll find a little bit of everything all sprung into one.

Picturesque landscapes, quaint villages, boutique boltholes, enchanting restaurants and romantic charm; that must have been what Sir Harold Edwin Boulton was concurring when he penned the song ‘Devon, glorious Devon’. Add a dash of spring and a chocolate egg in to the mix and it’s looking like the perfect retreat for a spring weekend getaway. Here are some recommendations for couples looking to escape:

Boutique Bolthole

Olga Polizzi’s love affair with picking and designing great hotels is as apparent on the drive up to the Hotel Endsleigh as it is when you get there. A long windy road weaves its way through some of the most stunning countryside, leading you right to the 16 bedrooms that have been crafted to perfection. Soft furnishings, designer fabrics and 200 year old original wallpaper decorate the rooms whilst simplicity, calm and warmth resonate throughout. Enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace, take a romantic stroll through the gardens or simply shut off from the world and enjoy doing absolutely nothing.

Inn Season

If you are looking for a traditional country pub in springtime, they don’t come more traditional than the Rugglestone Inn. Situated in the ever so quaint village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, this is an ‘in the know’ local’s pub that has been a much loved inn since 1832. Just 300 yards from the centre of the village, it takes a little bit of finding, although listen out for the sound of trickling water from the stream as you approach it and you’ll know you are there. Park in the patron’s car park opposite and head inside to the flagstone floor bar for a pint of ale and a steak and stilton pie. Lovely jubbly.

Spa Re-Treat

A fairytale castle set amid 368 acres of Dartmoor National Park, The Spa at Bovey Castle is well worth the journey along the driveway that meanders up to the hotel; for couples on a romantic weekend, this certainly adds brownie points. From the minute you set foot in the spa, small touches have been carefully thought through, ensuring your only task is to relax. Soft carpet underfoot leads to a waiting area with music so relaxing it’s hard to not drift off. Wicker chairs and loungers offer to take the weight off, before your therapist arrives to whisk you away for a facial and head massage. If the country air hasn’t done the trick already, this certainly will.

Candlelit Dinner

A 1920s mock Tudor mansion set in idyllic (in fact magical) surroundings, Gidleigh Park’s two Michelin star restaurant is the perfect place to wind up for a weekend-in-the-country romantic candlelit dinner. The list of achievements above the door read out like an Oscar roll call: 5 out of 5 rosettes in the AA guide, 8 out of 10 points in the Good Food Guide and a head chef who has trained alongside some of the best in the business. Food is proudly prepared using local ingredients and the wine list is truly epic; a connoisseurs heaven with over 10,000 bottles to choose from residing in the wine cellar.

Cider House Rules

A cultural institution, it is virtually impossible to visit Devon and not entertain the idea of indulging in a half of cider (unless you don’t drink of course). So thank goodness for Ye Olde Cider Bar. One of the few remaining cider houses in Britain, you won’t find a whiff of ale on tap here. Instead, you can chose from umpteen cider options straight from the barrel or a tipple of home-made fruit wine: date being a popular choice. The bar itself is rustic and has the feel of entering an olde worlde saloon but don’t let that put you off: there’ll be no gun toting bravado here. Just locals, enjoying the fruits of their labour and, an atmosphere that warrants a glass of fizzy apple juice to celebrate.

Stunning Coastal Views

Devon is home to some of the most stunning coastal views the country has to offer. The Jurassic coast, England’s first natural World Heritage site, stretches gloriously for 95 miles from East Devon to Dorset, and with it comes a whole host of walking trails and outstanding views. Don the wellington boots and head for The South West Coast Path which runs the entire length of the coastline. Choose any spot to begin your amble and walk for as long or as little as you like around the rugged headlands. No need for a map. Just follow the acorns that frequent the path signs.

Beautiful Beaches

With a myriad of beaches, Devon is perfect for an early morning saunter or surf. Those in the know head North West to the thatch cottage village of Croyde. A well known surfer’s paradise, Croyde Bay is a perfect spot to enjoy the waves as well as the walks with many people heading along the headland to Baggy Point which is part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Wander a mile south and you will stumble upon the impressive sand dunes of Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in the UK. A walk here is sure to put a spring in your step.

Cosy Café

In its former guise as a busy pharmacy, the Pharmacy Café had served the people of Newton Abbot for over 100 years. Now a bustling café and bistro, it is doing the same again: albeit with conventional foods rather than conventional medicines. A beautiful Grade II listed building on Queen Street, at the end of the main shopping fair, the large window displays an inviting selection of home baked cakes and treats. The café is warm and welcoming with its original Italian mosaic floor and mahogany fixtures and, best of all, it’s a great little spot to fall into for some eye gazing across a cup of coffee and tasty cup cake.

Devon Delights  

One thing Devon does really well is food. Famous for its cream teas, farm shops and locally grown produce, it is a gastronomer’s delight. An advocate for all things local is the restaurant at Combe House in Gittisham. Not only do they personally source their ingredients but they grow their own vegetables too. Devour organic delicacies over dinner and then retire upstairs to your room at this Grade I Elizabethan country house. Delightful.

Inspired? Check out Travel Intelligence's listings for luxury hotels in Devon and Cornwall