Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 01598-763368;
www.oldrectoryhotel.co.uk
; Martinhoe; d £160-170, ste £185, 3-course dinner £36)
You sus-
pect the vicar (hence the name) wouldn't quite know what to make of it: a supremely
plush, boutique-style hotel. Despite lashings of luxury (think elegant baths and silky fab-
rics), the place retains a laid-back, country house air. That even extends to the unstuffy
table d'hôte restaurant, which simply features fabulous food and wine.
Eating
Charlie Friday's
(
www.charliefridays.co.uk
;
Church Hill, Lynton; from £2; 10am-5pm Feb-Nov)
A funky, friendly hang-
out serving melting pastries and fairtrade, two-shot espressos that really pack a punch.
CAFE
£
Captain's House
(
www.thecaptainshouseinlynmouth.co.uk
;
1 Tors Rd, Lynmouth; from £4; 9am-4pm May-Oct)
Tucked away
from Lynmouth's main parade of gift shops, this tiny, riverside tea garden serves pasties,
ploughman's, cakes and barley water.
CAFE
£
GASTROPUB
££
Rising Sun
( 01598-753223;
www.risingsunlynmouth.co.uk
; mains £12-18; 6-9pm daily)
It's only a quick walk
uphill from the touristy Lynmouth seafront, but this thatched pub is a world away from
pasties-from-a-bag. The dishes here delight in combining West Country produce with
European flavours: expect soft, seared scallops with crisp pancetta, and crab with corian-
der and lime. The building itself has plenty of character too, with higgledy-piggledy floors
and hefty beams.
Vanilla Pod
( 01598-753706; 10 Queen St; mains £10-18; 10am-3pm & 6-9.30pm; )
You could eat every
meal of the day here. Breakfast might be golden eggs benedict with Devon ham, while
lunch could be a black Waxed Curworthy (hard cheese) ploughmans, then a Devonshire
cream tea. The evening menu springs some surprises: local crab ravioli, game terrine, and
warm flatbreads with yoghurt and Harissa dip.
BISTRO
££
Entertainment
