Heasley House

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.

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