Bolham, Tiverton, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Nicely restored
country house with plenty of space
Set within a well-tended garden overlooking fields and river
Short drive to Tiverton and Exmoor Park
In-room comforts
include Egyptian cotton linens
Rooms have cabinets for storing hunting guns
Top-notch dining
with local produce and fine wines
Cozy lounges and
bar with real ales
Dogs allowed in some rooms
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Wi-Fi can be
patchy
No spa or fitness facilities
Some annex rooms are small
The three-and-a-half pearl Hartnoll
Hotel is housed in a restored country house in North
Devon, set in a pleasant garden overlooking pretty
countryside on one side and a busy road on the other. The 18 well-presented rooms include flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, Egyptian cotton linens, free Wi-Fi, and rainfall showers, though those in the annex tend to be smaller. The restaurant shines with excellent locally sourced menus, and guests can take their meals on the bright terrace. There's little in the immediate area, but the Hartnoll makes a good stopover for those looking to explore the West Country, Somerset, Devon, and Exmoor. It's particularly popular with shooting parties.
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Scene
Restored spacious country house popular with the shooting set
The owner of the
Hartnoll Hotel -- Claire Carter -- bought the property in 2007 and spent two
years restoring and renovating the country house into the fine 18-room
boutique lodging it is today. Bright spacious hallways
that lead to cozy lounges with plenty of plump leather couches and armchairs, hand-picked curios, and
log-burning fireplaces. Trophy stag heads and antlers on the walls are a nod to the hotel's popularity with the shooting set -- a nearby
river draws anglers too. Well-tended gardens provide pleasant seating spaces, and a croquet lawn overlooks adjacent fields and the Exe River. The
atmosphere is busy but well-organized, and The Hartnoll also attracts older vacationing couples. It hosts a fair share of events, including occasional weddings.
Location
Five minutes' drive to Tiverton in North Devon's Exe Valley
The hotel is
located in the small village of Bolham, surrounded by the rolling landscape of
the Exe Valley in North Devon. On one side of the hotel is a busy main road, and
directly opposite is a primary school where children can be heard playing
during school hours. While there's not a great deal to do in the immediate
area, the town of Tiverton, with its medieval castle, is a five-minute drive
from the hotel, and Junction 27 of the M5 motorway is a few minutes away. Exmoor National Park -- with its beautiful moorland and forests -- is within a 25-minute drive.
Rooms
Luxury touches include Egyptian cotton bedclothes and fluffy robes
Most of the 18 rooms are in the main house, but a few are in the Gatehouse annex
building. Rooms are individually styled but decor tends to be a simple mix of modern and antique-style furnishings. Beds are topped
with Egyptian cotton sheets and thick duvets. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, fluffy towels and bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi -- though the signal can be patchy. Bathrooms have walk-in
rainfall showers and wall-mounted hairdryers and soap dispensers. Gatehouse annex rooms
tend to be a little smaller though they allow dogs. All rooms provide
cabinets for storing shotguns.
Features
Excellent dining with a fine wine collection and real ales
Guests can start
the day with a self-serve cold buffet followed by a cooked-to-order breakfast,
which is included in the room rate and can be taken on the large south-facing
terrace. The restaurant also serves lunch and
dinner, with menus that focus on local fish and game, and include Devonshire
cider, blue cheese, and homemade chutney. There's also an excellent wine
collection, and the bar, frequented by guests and local residents, stocks real local ales. The hotel serves as a venue for business meetings and weddings, but has no on-site spa or fitness facilities on-site. Wi-Fi is available throughout, but the signal can spottty.
