Heasley House
North Molton, Exmoor National Park, Devon
Unpretentious Georgian gastronomic bolthole cradled in the hills of unspoiled Exmoor
Paul and Jan had a dream of setting up a gourmet country retreat,
and after years of searching for the right spot, finally did it.
The good news is that you get to share their dream. As relative
newcomers to the business, they have a passion and freshness that
more experienced hotel owners often lack. Paul, formerly a software
salesman, and ex-primary teacher Jan, dislike the term boutique
hotel which for them smacks of sterile perfection. Their
characterful eight-bedroom Georgian dower house, which sits in the
folds of Devon’s Exmoor hills, is more like home without the
housework.
The price tag is as unpretentious as the house and its owners. You
should come here for the couple’s relaxed hospitality, the
artful décor, and Paul’s superb cooking. Explore the
hamlet of Heasley Mill, once famous for mining (the mine captains
resided at Heasley House). Or stride out onto Exmoor or along the
coast, just 20 minutes’ drive away. A place of deep
relaxation in a genuinely unspoiled and quiet corner of Britain.

Reviewed by Clare Hargreaves
Last updated 11 January 2012
Highs
- Paul’s fabulous cooking and ambitious wine cellar, which alone make the journey worthwhile
- Pretty bedrooms, with generous beds and original artwork
- The special service that comes with a husband and wife combo – no impersonal reception staff, just the warmth of owners who really care about giving you a good time
- Peace and quiet in an area that doesn't swarm with crowds of tourists
Lows
- No mobile reception – but hey, isn’t it time to switch off anyway?
- It’s a long way to anywhere else to eat (you would need to drive) – but it would take a while to tire of the food here
- Some areas of the house could do with a new lick of paint
- Being in a valley, you don’t get grandiose views. But it only takes a few minutes’ walk onto the Moor to find them
- Weekends are often full, and house parties book another chunk, so you'll need to plan ahead for your stays here
We loved it for the little things that cost nothing...
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