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Hazelwood House - Loddiswell

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Secluded escape in the South Hams

If you were asked to picture a tranquil rural hideaway, chances are you’d come up with something a bit like Hazelwood House. Perched on the side of the gorgeous Avon valley and surrounded by unspoilt woodland (not to mention its own idyllic gardens) - it’s a bolthole to savour.

Too big to be a guest house, but far too comfy and laid-back to be a hotel, a weekend’s stay at Hazelwood House can be whatever you want it to be. Fourteen cosy bedrooms boast simple, but elegant decor, leaving the stunning views out across the valley to enjoy centre-stage. All of the rooms on the house’s first floor are en-suite, with little touches, such as bottled water from Hazelwood’s very own natural spring, to make your stay special.

Downstairs, the rest of this Victorian country house is your oyster. Big fireplaces, winding staircases and ticking clocks make for a cosy winter retreat, while huge french windows keep the house light and airy in summer and offer access to the wooded idyll outside. It’s tempting to stay put for the whole weekend. Luckily, Hazelwood House’ restaurant is so wonderful that self-imposed exile is a pleasingly do-able option. Using loads of very local, very seasonal and organic ingredients, the restaurant menus are stunning, with mouthwatering British dishes, fab puddings and an exciting wine list on offer. Cream teas, light lunches and amazing Sunday lunches will make your weekend’s foodie schedule complete.

If all that wasn’t enough, there’s classy entertainment on offer - Friday or Saturday evenings at Hazelwood House often play host to classical, jazz or folk concerts. Check out the house’ website for more details.

Where is it?

The stunning Avon Valley sits in the rolling South Hams - a big splodge of South Devon that offers rolling countryside, lush, river estuaries and some beautiful stretches of coastline, including great beaches. The nearby village of Loddiswell is little and leafy and home to a lovely 14th century church and the popular Loddiswell Inn (Tel: 01548 550308), great for a post-walk pint. Walkers and fresh air fanatics will be in their element here, as miles of trails and paths wind their way through this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A great 4-miler through the Avon Valley starts and finishes at Loddiswell, taking in the riverside and the dappled woodlands. For maps and directions, log on to the brilliant South Devon AONB website ( www.southdevonaonb.org.uk), which also details lots of other walks in the area.

The bustling market town of Kingsbridge is just 7 miles from Hazelwood House and is a bit of a hub for South Hams tourism. Sitting at the most northerly end of the Kingsbridge Estuary, the town’s maritime history is still very evident, with both fishermens’ cottages and remnants of ship-building past on display. Today, it’s a good place for pottering - the pretty little lanes off Fore Street are great for whiling away an hour or two, while art galleries, tea shops and a brilliant farmer’s market (held on the first Saturday of each month) make Kingsbridge a colourful port of call. The town is also a great place to get waterborne, with the Rivermaid Ferry ( www.rivermaidferry.co.uk Tel: 01548 853525) leaving from the town quay for the lovely half an hour cruise along the estuary to the sailing mecca of Salcombe. For a romantic trip, join one of the Rivermaid’s tranquil evening cruises, watching the lights of Salcombe start to twinkle as night falls. Lovely.

Salcombe is 13 miles by road from Hazelwood House, and is the place to visit if you are, or would very much like to be, a sailor. The pretty harbour is home to all sorts of boats anchored off-shore, their masts clanking in the breeze, while the small town has more Fat Faces, White Stuffs and similarly floppy-haired, out-doorsy retail outlets per capita than anywhere else on the planet. Of course, the opportunities to get stuck in are also plentiful. The Island Cruising Club ( www.icc-salcombe.co.uk Tel: 01548 531176) is a good place to start, with both sail training for beginners and boat hire for established yachties on offer. Salcombe Powerboat School ( www.salcombepowerboats.co.uk Tel: 01548 842727) provides something a bit zippier, while Salcombe Scuba ( www.salcombescuba.co.uk Tel: 01548 843243) dispenses with the boats altogether.

If you’d rather enjoy being by the sea by just being by the sea, this area of South Devon is home to some stunning sandy beaches. The sheltered, sandy beaches at Bigbury-on-Sea are particularly lovely, and only 8 miles from Hazelwood House. But what sets Bigbury apart is Burgh Island - an island just off the coast that can be reached by foot at low tide, but is cut off as soon as the water rises and can only be reached by a super-high, tractor-like vehicle that wades through the waves. The island is home to the amazing Burgh Island Hotel ( www.burghisland.com Tel: 01548 810514), a masterclass in Art Deco design and a favourite haunt of Agatha Christie, and the famous Pilchard Inn - great for a pint and a sarnie by the sea.

Lovely, lovely Dartmouth - a bustling country town with a beautiful backdrop to die for - is also a must-visit in these parts and just a 12-mile drive from Hazelwood. From its colourful moorings, full of clanking masts, and its narrow, winding streets full of one-off shops, cafes, delis and galleries, to its romantic, woodland-fringed castle and famous Royal Naval College, Dartmouth is a weekender’s paradise. It’s also a town that never stops to take a breath - there’s always something going on. Whether it’s the huge Dartmouth Regatta in August (www.dartmouthregatta.co.uk), complete with jaz-dropping air displays, the Dartmouth Comedy Festival in February (www.theflavel.org.uk) or the brilliant Dartmouth Music Festival in May (www.dartmouthmusicfestival.co.uk), you’re bound to find something to float your boat. Literally.

Where can I eat?

The lovely restaurant at Hazelwood House really is a no-brainer of an eating option. Not only is the food fantastic, but in the summer you can eat on the wisteria-covered veranda, and finish your meal by gazing at the stars in light pollution-free night skies.

But if you are looking for an alternative, there are some lovely places to eat in the area. For a taste of the sea, visit The Oyster Shack ( www.oystershack.co.uk Tel: 01548 810876) on Stakes Hill, 6 miles from Hazelwood House. This young and relaxed restaurant serves up local fish and seafood in gorgeous, Mediterranean-style dishes, including, of course, amazing oysters cultivated in the River Avon. Really delicious. Alternatively, drive the 12 miles to Torcross on the wide, sandy sweep of Slapton Sands, and the Start Bay Inn ( www.startbayinn.co.uk Tel: 01548 580 553), a cosy 14th century pub that serves fish freshly caught from Start Bay. For some of the best fish and chips ever, this is the place to be.

For a spot of fine dining, the award-winning Queen Anne restaurant at Buckland Touts-Saints Hotel ( www.tout-saints.co.uk Tel:01548 853055) is just 7 miles from Hazelwood House. A mouthwatering menu is served in an elegant dining room in this beautiful country manor house, with head chef Callum Kier using lots of local produce to create elegant twists on British classics.

Dartmouth is also a great place to eat. The bright and stylish Jan and Freddies Brasserie (www.janandfreddiesbrasserie.co.uk Tel: 01803 832 491) is in the heart of town and serves fantastically fresh and vibrant, award-winning food. Anzacs (www.anzacstreetbistro.co.uk Tel: 01803 835 515) is also an excellent option, with a simple, but elegant menu made with great local produce. For something a bit different, board The Picnic Boat (www.thepicnicboat.co.uk Tel: 01803 752625), a lovely little ferry that will take you on a cruise up-river, before you partake in some of the best al-fresco dining you’ll come across. Whether you opt for a Westcountry Luxury Picnic, a Seafood Picnic, or a Devon Cream Tea, the food is fantastic and the Dart scenery even better. Romantics can even book the boat for an idyllic private cruise.

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If you were asked to picture a tranquil rural hideaway, chances are you’d come up with something a bit like Hazelwood House.