DEVON - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 379

the shape of the building was changed, but it's still an extraordinary structure, and the
grounds are lovely and peaceful, with orchards and, in the spring, bluebell forests.
The house has a mixture of rooms furnished in period style and interactive galleries
telling the tale of the building and of the men who lived there.
Buckland Abbey, Yelverton. & 01822/853607. www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Admission £9 adults, £5
children 16 and under, £23 family ticket. Mid-Mar-Oct daily 10:30am-5:30pm; Nov Fri-Sun 11am-
4:30pm; Dec-early Mar 11am-4:30pm. Last admission 45 min. before closing. The house is 3 miles west
of Yelverton off the A386; follow signs.
Castle Drogo CASTLE This massive granite castle, in the hamlet of Drew-
steignton, 17 miles west of Exeter, might look medieval, but it was really a flight of
fancy, designed and built between 1910 and 1930. Constructed of granite, and castel-
lated and turreted like a fortress, the castle occupies a bleak but dramatic position
high above the River Teign, with views sweeping out over the gloomy moors.
The castle has always been—and is still—a family home, but it's open to guided
tours, which include a series of formal rooms done up in Edwardian style. In many
ways, the secluded gardens are more strikingly beautiful than the house. They include
a sunken lawn enclosed by raised walkways, a circular croquet lawn (you can rent a
croquet set to play here), shaped yew hedges, and a children's playroom.
Drewsteignton, 4 miles northeast of Chagford and 6 miles south of the Exeter-Okehampton Rd. (A30).
& 01647/433306. www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Admission to castle and grounds £8.80 adults, £4 chil-
dren 16 and under, £22 families; grounds only £5 adults, £3 children. House: Mar-Oct daily 11am-5pm;
Nov Sat-Sun 11am-4:30pm; Dec 1-23 daily 11am-4pm; closed Dec 24-Feb 28. Grounds: Mar-Oct daily
9am-5:30pm; Nov-Dec 23 daily 11am-5pm; Jan-Feb daily 11am-4pm; closed Dec 24-31. Take the A30
and follow the signs.
Where to Eat & Stay
VERY EXPENSIVE
Bovey Castle Less a castle than a country manor house, Bovey is a
grand old pile. Built in 1907, it sprawls across 162 hectares (400 acres) of rolling
fields, waterland, and pasture. Guests can amuse themselves with trout fishing and
archery, as well as the usual golf (there's an 18-hole, championship course). You can
learn to be a country lord here (they offer classes in the making of cider and sloe gin)
or lady of leisure (there's an elegant spa). There is even a falconry display after break-
fast. The spacious bedrooms are tastefully decorated with country prints, traditional
furniture, and comfortable beds. There are 14 self-catering lodges on the grounds,
which offer more space and privacy. You can choose from three restaurants and a bar,
which is just as well as the town of North Bovey is a 20-minute walk away, through
meadows and across streams.
North Bovey, Devon TQ13 8RE. www.boveycastle.com. & 01647/445000. Fax [phone] units.
£220-£345 double; £515-£615 suite. AE, MC, V. Rates include English breakfast. Amenities: Restaurant;
bar; archery center; children's farm; equestrian center; exercise room; falconry; fly-fishing; 18-hole golf
course; movie theatre; 2 pools (1 indoor, 1 outdoor); room service; spa; 2 outdoor tennis courts. In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi (free).
Gidleigh Park Hotel This gorgeous hotel, surrounded by impeccable
gardens and run with grace and style, has been lavished with awards over the years,
and for good reason—it's simply extraordinary. Amid 22 hectares (54 acres) of private
forest and flowers, the sprawling Arts and Crafts mansion has panoramic vistas of the
surrounding hills. Guest rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated in tones of
cream and ivory; much of the furniture was handmade. Bathrooms are big, modern,

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