To The Manor Born Again

Mar 10 2008 By The Journal

Exactly a century ago Bovey Castle was the country set's newest estate-of-the-art. Lovingly built and fashioned in no-expense-spared splendour by the second Viscount Hambleden, heir to the W H Smith empire.

This was where, and how, the other half lived - long, indulgent weekends, hunting and fishing, wining and dining, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.

Acres of landscaped gardens, magnificent moorland and meandering rivers were there for the enjoyment of a privileged few. Little has changed - except it is now available to everyone because today Bovey Castle is a unique luxury resort hotel and one of the greatest escapes and experiences for all seasons and many reasons.

Fashioned by Peter de Savary, but now in the hands of new owners, there really is something for everyone - all ages, tastes and energy levels.

On the outside Bovey looks much as it did when it was used as the background for the film Hound of the Baskervilles starring Basil Rathbone, but it's very much as case of 21st century service and facilities - there's even a helipad.

Add a championship golf course, tennis courts, skating rink and every leisure and sporting activity imaginable and you can see why Bovey is such a draw.

The range of activities is staggering and includes golf, badminton, swimming, croquet, cricket, mountain hiking, table tennis, archery, pistol shooting, fishing, riding, ferret racing (yes, ferret racing) and much more - such as the daily falconry displays, art classes, cider pressing , bee keeping, sloe gin making, even hot air ballooning.

Or you can do as little as you like and indulge in the myriad of stress-defying treatments offered in The Spa and simply chill-out.

Bovey is also child-friendly with the kids able to have the time of their lives with outdoor activities such as treasure hunts, a woodland adventure camp, a trampoline, a water slide, horse

riding, volleyball, swingball, egg collecting, pony trekking and a miniature pony centre.

The indoor Children's Barn for rainy days includes table football, Playstation 2, Scalextric, Lego, video/movies/cinema and painting.

Accommodation is without a doubt, five star, whether it be in the baronial splendour of the castle or in one of the exclusive Castle Lodges - which I would recommend.

The Castle has 63 guest rooms and suites, all individually decorated and filled with exquisite furniture and art work), Rose Cottage which overlooks the golf course and the 22 individual three-bedroom lodges which are contemporary in design and fully equipped for self-catering.

Bovey Castle is within the boundaries of the Dartmoor National Park, about 12 miles from Exeter. The staff during our entire stay were excellent and the food was superb.

Besides golf, fishing is probably the prime attraction, trout, sea trout and salmon being the main catch and Bovey own about 25 miles of prime fishing on the Bovey, Teign and Taw.

Despite all the other activities, golf will be the main focus for many visitors and the 6,303-yard par 70 course restored and modified by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie reopened in 2004.

The River Bovey meanders through the first eight holes and it keeps you on your toes that for sure. The first is a drivable par four but most will lay-up short of the river and wedge on.

The pick of the holes includes the 208 yard third played over a lake on the left and with the river on the right and Henry Cotton described the seventh as the best inland par four in the country.

There's a good finish as the 16th is a tricky par four, the 17th is a blind tee-shot and the 18th, which was a par three and then an average par four, is now a 432 yard tester.

An excellent course but not overly long although there are some slopes to negotiate on the back nine.

The big advantage at Bovey is that it allows families to enjoy themselves, doing different activities, either together or separately and there are two excellent restaurants, the Palm Court and the less formal golf clubhouse, although one night we ate in the library and enjoyed a wonderful six-course meal.

You can also take afternoon tea in the Cathedral Room while the Grand Terrace, on sunny days, is the perfect place for outdoor dining and there a wide range to choose from in the Oak Room and Piano Bar.

There's a specially designed spa, complete with saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzis, treatment rooms and gymnasium, complemented by the spectacularly sited swimming pool perched high above the River Bovey which meanders through the valley below.

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Factfile

Address: North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, TQlS 8RE.

Tel: 01647 445000; Fax: 01647 440961;

Email: enquiries@boveycastle.com; Website: www.boveycastle.com.

For all Spa enquiries, call: 01647 445021.