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Plantation House - Ermington

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Stunning Boutique Hotel in rolling countryside

Tranquil, luxurious and stylish, Plantation House Hotel is the perfect country escape. Sitting deep in rolling Devon countryside, on one side of the beautiful Erme Valley, the cream-coloured former rectory couldn’t be better positioned for a bolthole away from it all. But this idyllic, rural location doesn’t come at the expense of comfort. Far from it - eight super-chic bedrooms and a fantastic restaurant are as luxurious as any urban Boutique hotel.

Plantation House’ eight en-suite bedrooms are light, airy and beautifully decorated. Big, squidgy beds, dressed in the crispest linen, and comfy seating areas come with lots of little touches that will make your stay super special - bathrobes, fab Pecksniff toiletries, fresh fruit and fresh flowers are the icing on the cake. But what makes the bedrooms so perfect are the big, sash windows and the stunning views across the valley. Lie in bed with the window open and you’ll be able to smell the green-ness outside.

Downstairs, the fresh, stylish decor continues in the hotel’s reception rooms and popular gourmet restaurant. The airy dining room, with more of those views, plays host to elegant evening menus full of the best in local and seasonal produce - even the garden at Plantation House is a source for some of the kitchen’s best greenery. British and French influences make for a vibrant fine-dining experience. Oh, and the puddings are to die for.

Breakfast at the hotel is a highlight. Enjoy a full spread, including the exciting option of delicious kedgeree alongside the full Devon cooked breakfast, omelettes or pastries and home-made jams. In the summer you can partake on the sunny terrace or - best of all - arrange to have your breakfast delivered to your room. A gourmet brekkie while still in your jim-jams... bliss.

Where is it?

Plantation House overlooks the bubbling River Erme, just outside the small South Hams village of Ermington. Green and undulating, this bit of Devon where the lush South meets the dramatic Dartmoor landscape, is particularly lovely. Ermington is home to the pretty church of St Peter and St Paul - famous for its crooked spire. Legend has it that one of the earliest brides who came to be married in the church was very beautiful and the spire bowed to her. Not sure about that, but maybe I’m just bitter (the spire didn’t even wobble when I passed by...). If your aesthetics are as unmoving as mine, console yourself in The Crooked Spire pub (Tel: 01548 831288), a cosy local that hosts rollicking folk and roots music sessions on the last Friday evening of every month.

It’s the countryside that’s the real star around here, however, and walkers or just those craving a bit of fresh air will be in their element. There are paths and trails leading off in all directions, but one of the loveliest walks follows the Erme from Ermington to the market town of Ivybridge - a 7.5 mile round trip. For maps and details of this walk and others in the area, log on to the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty website ( www.southdevonaonb.org.uk).

Whether you visit on foot or by car, Ivybridge is a fascinating place to visit, with centuries of history as a mill town and important stop-off for horse-drawn coaches travelling west from London. The original, medieval Ivy Bridge - a popular subject for landscape artists, including Turner - is still there, while a lofty Victorian railway viaduct strikes a more imposing note. The town is good for a potter, but as the self-styled ‘Gateway to Dartmoor’, is best as a jumping-off point for exploring. The 103-mile Two Moors Way starts in the town before plunging deep into Dartmoor, and while the whole lot might be a bit much for a weekend, bits of the trail are enjoyable do-able.

The wilds of Dartmoor itself are just immense - 368 square miles to be precise - and are almost overwhelming in their walking, riding, climbing and getting-very-lost opportunities. Walkers should log on to the brilliant www.walkingbritain.co.uk for a great choice of trails of all lengths, maps, photos and directions. For the best Dartmoor bike hire, drive the 25 miles to Devon Cycle Hire ( www.devoncyclehire.co.uk Tel: 01837 861141), or call ahead to have them deliver a bike to you. They have a great range, from hard-nut mountain bikes to tandems, and are full of suggestions, maps and advice. Alternatively, you could explore the moors by horseback - probably one of the best and most exciting ways to do it. Dartmoor Riding Centre ( www.dartmoorstables.com Tel: 01364 621281) in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, right in the heart of Dartmoor and a half an hour’s drive from Ermington, offer hacks for all levels of rider.

If all this sounds thoroughly exhausting, you could always see the whole of Dartmoor in one go from the comfort of a hot air balloon. Airtopia Ballooning ( www.airtopia.co.uk Tel: 0845 226 2717), in Ivybridge, operate thoroughly romantic balloon trips with some of the best views in Britain.

Of course, you could venture in completely the opposite direction from Plantation House for sea air, beaches and some stunning ‘watery’ towns. Salcombe is 15 miles from Ermington, 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 Plantation 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 half an hour drive from Ermington. 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 truly lovely restaurant at Plantation House is a no-brainer of an eating option. Not only is the food fantastic, but there’s nothing better than enjoying an amazing meal and a bottle (or two) of vino, safe in the knowledge that your comfy bed is within stumbling distance.

If you are after an alternative,however, there are plenty of great places to eat within easy reach. The First and Last Bistro (Tel: 01548 830671) in Ermington is a lovely place to eat - a super-cosy, family-run restaurant serving a delicious home-cooked menu that changes daily, depending on the best local and seasonal ingredients available. Alternatively, The swish Dartmoor Union Inn ( www.dartmoorunion.co.uk Tel: 01752 830 288) in the village of Holbeton, 3 miles from Plantation House, is a country pub-turned-contemporary bistro, with stylish decor and a delicious, vibrant menu. The inn has its own micro-brewery on site, churning out two exciting ales made with local hops.

Just 11 miles from Ermington is the city of Plymouth and an astonishing range of great places to eat. Some of the best include Chloe’s ( www.chloesrestaurant.co.uk Tel: 01752 201523) on Princess Street - a small, yet stylish French restaurant offering mouthwatering fine dining and fantastic puddings. Or you could try Kubes (Tel: 01752 266793) on Frankfort Gate, a lovely relaxed restaurant that serves delicious British-led dishes made from lots of local and seasonal ingredients. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most popular eateries in town. For something a bit different, visit the brilliantly-named Veggie Perrin’s ( www.veggieperrin.co.uk Tel: 01752 252888) for equally brilliant food - a family-run restaurant that specialises in Gujarati (a state in the West of India) cuisine, but made with ingredients that have caused no suffering to animals (and that includes eggs). The results are delicious, and have made this little gem a real Plymouth favourite amongst those in the know.

One more place that we really want to recommend is The Oyster Shack ( www.oystershack.co.uk Tel: 01548 810876) on Stakes Hill, a small village close to Bigbury-on-Sea and 8 miles from Plantation House. This young and relaxed restaurant serves up locally-caught fish and seafood in gorgeous, Mediterranean-style dishes, including, of course, amazing oysters cultivated in the River Avon. Really delicious.

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Tranquil, luxurious and stylish, Plantation House Hotel is the perfect country escape. Sitting deep in rolling Devon countryside, on one side of the beautiful Erme Valley, the cream-coloured former rectory couldn’t be better positioned for a bolthole away from it all.