Fowlescombe Farm Hotel

Devon

A luxury retreat set on a 182ha regenerative farm burrowed in a valley in Dartmoor, Fowlescombe Farm offers an elegant escape into nature, where design meets sustainability in a scene said to have inspired Conan Doyle’s book, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The retreat offers ten rooms, elegantly converted from three adjoining barns and set within the grounds, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a cooking area overlooking farmland.

Days can be spent on guided wildlife walks, local history tours or floristry sessions, each offering a deeper connection to the landscape. You might also stargaze on the open fields, swim in nearby rivers or forage along the coast by kayak.

The farm offers not only visual serenity, but also culinary finesse at its restaurant, The Refectory, under the direction of executive chef Elly Wentworth. Drawing on traditional methods dating back to the farm’s origins in 1537, its rotational grazing system yields 100 per cent organic, seasonal produce. Ingredients are harvested daily and transformed into delicious breakfasts, lunches and a four-course dinner menu that changes each evening, served in an open kitchen. Expect superlative charcuterie made on-site and dishes such as a fillet of Shorthorn beef, and baked cheesecake with elderflower and strawberry, alongside an extensive wine collection.

Words by Gregor Rankin. Photography by Jon Tonks.

Doubles from £465, including breakfast, snacks and dinner, plus on-site activities. 01752 426570, fowlescombe.com