LEWTRENCHARD MANOR
Jacobean manor glowing with charm on Dartmoor’s edge.
HIDDEN AWAY IN A LUSH WOODED VALLEY just beneath rugged Dartmoor, Lewtrenchard Manor
ticks all those romantic getaway boxes as you turn into the drive past the dovecote, parkland and Victorian walled gardens.
Dating from the early 1600s, this
secluded Jacobean manor house was home to a series of colourful characters over the years. Hymn writer Reverend Sabine Baring Gould (of Onward Christian Soldiers fame) lived here in Victorian times and his ancestors still stay regularly.
Inside, Lewtrenchard Manor is all mellow Jacobean – all rich
oak panelling, mullioned windows, ornate plasterwork, rows of family portraits and coats of arms. Blink, and you could be treading those polished boards a couple of centuries ago.
Hit the spot
A secluded valley on the fringes of Dartmoor.
Bedtime
Bed down in the private St Gertrude suite for a taste of Jacobean Olde England, the Tower House for privacy or St Clement’s for a more contemporary feel.
Be savvy
Not for those with light and bright, contemporary tastes.
Be smitten
Olde England Jacobean gem.
Jacobean nights
Pick your bedroom at Lewtrenchard Manor to match your mood. Lie back and think of Olde England in the
original Jacobean bedrooms off the upstairs gallery, where you can bed down amid burnished oak panelling, leaded windows and antiques. Light-flooded St Gertrude has light on three sides, with lovely views from its mullioned windows over the parkland, while another has the original bed of Queen Henrietta Maria.
For that true princess-in-the-tower feel you can take the
Rapunzel style Tower House – originally an 18th century folly – with its oak front door and snug upstairs lovenest with a
pencil four poster. Not surprisingly, it’s a hit with honeymooners.
Other rooms pander to more contemporary tastes. We loved St Clement’s, with its
hand-carved four poster, rich floral fabrics and up-to-the-minute bathroom. Others sport modish shades of plum, cinnamon and cream to complement their historic surrounds.
Chef patron Jason Hornbuckle has three well deserved culinary rosettes under his belt for Lewtrenchard’s
outstanding modern English food, served in the candlelit oak panelled dining room. Dine al fresco in the colonnaded courtyard – after a Pimms on the lawn, naturally – on warm summer days.
Dreamy gardens set Lewtrenchard Manor off beautifully. Wander past streams and ponds, fountains and statuary, sunken lawns and a profusion of shrubs, down the lovely avenue of beech trees or along the banks of the River Lew. So whether you want to smell the honeysuckle, walk off an over-indulgent lunch or even catch your supper, the choice is yours.
Lewtrenchard Manor was reviewed for
Room for Romance by Eva Stanbrook.
Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.
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Dining in
Dining in Lewtrenchard Manor’s oak panelled dining room is a treat. Look forward to chef patron Jason Hornbuckle’s flavoursome three-rosette food, with
seasonal changing menus. Most of the herbs and veggies are grown in the hotel's own walled gardens and there’s an emphasis on
fresh-landed Cornish fish and Devonshire game – whether woodcock, pheasant or venison.
Lewtrenchard Manor also offers a “Purple Carrot” dining experience. Guests sit down to an eight-course personalised menu in the private dining room with views of the chefs at work, and champagne served at the chef’s kitchen bar.
Dining out
Try the rustic Dartmoor Inn, six miles away at Lydford.
Where?
Lewtrenchard Manor
What’s cooking?
Start with delicious scallops, followed by pan-fried fillet of Dexter beef with smoked bacon and peas. Round off with a wicked crème brulee served with banana and passion fruit sorbet.
Top table?
All the tables are private and candlelit.
See & Do
You’re close to the rugged Dartmoor National Park, with its tors, birdlife and wild ponies. Tintagel Castle (home of legendary King Arthur) is well worth a visit, as is the castle at nearby Okehampton. Garden fans should head for the astonishing Lost Gardens of Heligan or the rhododendron-rich grounds of nearby Lanhydrock House. The Eden Project, with its global gardens and rainforests, is also within easy reach. Falconry lessons can be booked in Lewtrenchard’s gardens.
Shop
Go glassy – Dartington Crystal comes from the nearby Devonshire town of Torrington.
Spa
In-room spa treatments can be booked with local therapists through reception.
Dates
August
Dartmouth Royal Regatta kicks off with boat races, military parades and balls.
October
Dating back to the 12th century, the annual Tavistock Goose Fair draws market traders from all over the country.
GETTING THERE
Location
Lewdown, Nr Okehampton, Devon EX20 4PN
Parking
There is free guest parking.
Trains
Exeter St David's station – 20 miles. Exeter is served by regular trains from London Paddington.
Taxis
GBP 40 from the station.
Airport
Exeter Airport – 28 miles. There is a helipad on site.
Rooms and suites
14 rooms, including 5 suites
Special features
You’ll find a flatscreen TV and DVD player, internet access, fresh flowers and towelling robes.
Also…
Rooms off the gallery have a true traditional feel, with sleigh or four poster beds, dark oak panelling and Jacobean antique furniture.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 135 - 475
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
14.00
Check-out
11.00
Minimum night stay?
Two nights at weekends.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served until 9.30am. Try the hog’s pudding – a local speciality.
Room service
Available morning and evening.
Children
Welcome – though under-8s are not allowed in the restaurant at night.
Pets
Dogs welcome – charged at GBP 10 per night.
Air conditioning
No
Eco conscience
80% of the veggies consumed come from Lewtrenchard’s own kitchen garden.
Wedding license?
Yes. Receptions for up to 60 guests can be held in the grand rococo ballroom, with its carved cherubs and gold leaf. There is also a little church beside the gates of the hotel.