Staycation in Devon – by Dorothy

A HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND'S WEST COUNTRY

We decided to return to an old family favourite in Devon for our summer staycation this year.

This is a place that we have been visiting on and off for the last 22 years and it is just as good now as it was then, but with even more added.

This is not a relaxing holiday – far from it in fact, our days were filled with a variety of activities from 9.30 – 5.00 every day. Billed as the “only 3* hotel with 5* facilities” and with “Sport, craft, leisure and spa facilities that are unrivalled anywhere in the UK” on the website, I would absolutely agree.

Although the hotel is quite basic and dated in its design (when did you last see artex walls). The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay and the housekeeping team make sure that everything is kept very clean. The rooms don’t really matter you are hardly in them anyway.

So what is there to do? It would be easier to state what you can’t do! During our stay we played Badminton, short tennis, pickleball, table tennis, snooker, adventure golf, air pistol shooting, air rifles, archery (all under close supervision in a safe environment). We even went ice curling on their ice rink which they also open up for leisure skating (artificial ice). In the craft centre we joined classes in resin, glass fusion, glass engraving, and candle making, but there are host of other crafts that we didn’t take part in but we did find time to visit the spa. For those who like golf, the sister hotel located 2 miles down the road boasts a total of 99 holes over 6 courses of exceptional golf, over 400 buggies and incomparable facilities – 27 holes of golf are included for every day of your stay and you can use the facilities at both hotels.

None of the activities are bookable in advance of arrival which gives everyone a fair chance. Sign up sheets (how quaint) are posted up on the boards in the activity room and you write your name next to what you want to do. If activities fill they usually open another slot so that nobody misses out.

The breaks are all full board and include use of all the facilities including the hydro spa and steam/saunas. Equipment can be hired free of charge for any activity. All craft tuition is included you just pay for consumables but these are not expensive – for example the resin art cost £12.95 and this included the tuition and all the materials.

As a family we entered a fun Badminton competition and came 3^rd, Short Tennis and Pickleball and came nowhere, we won prizes for top daily score in Pistol and Rifle Shooting and Archery and won a highly coveted t shirt for each win.

This is a fantastic family holiday for people who want lots of things to do that won’t be affected by the English weather. It is suitable for everyone, they even have soft play rooms and craft sessions for small children. If you can’t find something to do here then there is something wrong with you!

Here are some pictures of our holiday and the things we made.

The Sign up room – no fancy phones or apps needed, just a pen.