Lydford Country House

Discover Devon - unique, gloriously beautiful, green and wild, rich in history and wildlife - no wonder, with so much to see and do, that Devon is England's favourite playground.

Everywhere you turn in Devon, past and present meet in a rich blend. Traditions, myths and history have all left their mark on today's landscape, towns and customs. Prehistoric Devon - landscapes that go back to the beginning of time, like Dartmoor and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Flight to Bristol, Exeter or Bournemouth. Lory and Steve welcome you to Lydford Country House, a Victorian residence set within 8 acres of its own grounds surrounded by magnificient views across Dartmoor. This relaxed and friendly country house provides the perfect base from which to sample the dramatic moors by foot, bicycle or horseback as well as day trips to the rest of western peninsula. The homley, informal atmosphere of 'La Cascata' is the perfect setting for authentic Italien cuisine. There are nine spacious well-equipped en-suite bedrooms as well as one charming self-catering apartment 'The Nest'.

The 'last castle to be built in England', set above the Teign Gorge with dramatic views over Dartmoor. Castle Drogo was built between 1911 and 1931 for the self-made food retailing millionaire Julius Drewe. The property was given to the National Trust in 1974 and was the first 20th-century property the charity acquired. The stately home borrows styles of castle building from the medieval and Tudor periods, along with more minimalist contemporary approaches The castle has a fine formal garden which contrasts effectively with its striking setting on the edge of Dartmoor.

 

Arrive in Exeter and visit the wonderful National Trust property Killerton House & Gardens - Fine 18th Century house with garden created in the 1770's. The garden features rhododendrons, magnolias, herbaceous borders and rare trees, as well as an ice house and early 19th-century rustic-style summer house known as The Bears Hut. The surrounding parkland and woods offer a number of beautiful circular walks giving access to the 6100 acre estate.

Continue your journey to the highest waterfall in England, situated in private parkland and ancient woodland in the heart of the Teign Valley.

Pay a visit to a lovely English Heritage property in Okehampton, Okehampton Castle - This is the site of the ruins of the largest castle in Devon, which includes a Norman motte and the keep's jagged remains. There is a riverside picnic area of exceptional beauty and some enchanting woodland walks.

 

Your journey now takes you to the picture-postcard fishing village clings to a steep hillside on the North Devon coast. Its colourful, flower strewn cottages line the main stepped, cobbled street on such a steep incline that you can almost see down the chimney of the cottage below! Visitors to Clovelly manage the steep cobbled streets to the harbour on foot. The only other form of transport are sledges, which are used to deliver weekly supplies. From the sheltered harbour there is a wonderful view of Clovelly's pretty white cottages. In the village you will find the New Inn and the Fisherman's Museum and Charles Kingsley Exhibition.

Set deep in the lovely North Devon countryside, RHS Garden Rosemoor is a garden of national importance. Lady Anne Berry gifted Rosemoor to the RHS in 1988, since then, the original eight acres have been greatly developed into 65 acres of enchanting garden and woodlands.

 

Hidden in a wooded valley on the edge of Exmoor, the Arlington estate houses numerous extraordinary collections. The house is crowded with the treasures of the Chichester family, including a unique collection of model ships and an amazing assortment of shells. The 12 hectares (30 acres) of grounds include the formal Victorian garden and a walled kitchen garden, which produces fruit, vegetables and flowers for the house and tea-room.

 

The spectacular combination of sweeping moorland with high, rugged, tree-clad cliffs and enticing sheltered bays make Lynton and Lynmouth almost unique. About a mile from the centre of Lynton is the famed Valley of Rocks. It can be reached easily by car but is much more rewarding to approach on foot via North Walk or Hollerday Hill. Dominating the valley is Castle Rock, while other strangely weathered formations bear names such as Ragged Jack and the Devil's Cheesewring. The famous Cliff Railway, opened in 1890, is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular rides of its kind offering an unusual trip with fantastic views.

The village of Lydford lies in West Devon, in beautiful countryside ideal for walks and relaxation, within the Dartmoor National Park. It is on the former stage-coach road between the towns of Okehampton (about 12 km to the north) and Tavistock (about 9 km to the south).

 

The village of Lydford dates back to King Arthur in the 9th century who built a fort here, the site of which is now occupied by Lydford Castle which was erected in 1195. It was in fact used as a rather notorious prison until 17th Century. Besides the castle stands St Petroc's church, named after a Celtic missionary. The present church dates from the 13th Century, look out for the Watchmaker's Tomb with its famous inscription. Lydford Gorge, belonging to the National Trust, is a haven to plant and wildlife. The gorge is a magnificent walk and includes the 100 foot waterfall White Lady.

Drive to Bristol, Exeter or Bournemouth airport.