Devon is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations and many hotels there have worked hard to promote themselves as family-friendly hotels. Could you learn from them?
The Telegraph’s expert panel listed the following as their Top 8 Picks for families in Devon, each scoring 7/10 or above.
A beach paradise – Watersmeet Hotel – Woolacombe Bay: 8/10
- Sublime beachfront location, with mesmerising views looking out onto the North Devon coastline and Lundy Island
- Private access onto Combesgate Beach, a small, sandy cove that’s fantastic for body-boarding and rock-pooling, but rarely gets busy, even in the height of summer
- Fresh and airy décor
- Rare combination of friendly and romantic at the same time
Gardeners Heaven – Hotel Endsleigh, Tavistock: 9/10
- Grade I-listed Eden between Dartmoor and Exmoor
- Set in verdant gardens and grounds – perfect for family games and picnics
- Summer gardening activities run by Chelsea Flower Show gold medal florist, Amanda Randel
- Has its own potting shed where the green-fingered can start growing their own plants to take home at the end of their stay
- Baby monitors, meals, bottle warmers and babysitting are available
Rugged Isolation – Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Salcombe: 9/10
- With a rugged Devon cove and beach all to itself
- All rooms either face the sparkling triangle of sea or look up the valley.
- Host of activities including: snooker, board games and a rocking horse, golf clubs, boogie boards, crab lines, buckets and spades for outings to nearby Soar Mill Cove
- Magicians, lawn games, cupcake decorating and cinema nights are laid on in the summer
- Indoor saltwater pool, tennis court and games room with table tennis and pool
- Resident golden labs Farley and Daisy are popular with young guests.
Reminiscent of The Famous Five – The Cary Arms, Babbacombe: 8/10
- Spectacular location beneath the cliffs on the beach at Babbacombe
- On arrival, children are given a bucket, spade and fishing net with which to go rock pooling on Babbacombe Bay, a quiet beach by the hotel that has calm water and a friendly local seal.
- The hotel also had four self-catering cottages which are well set up for families, with board games and children’s books, as is the Captain’s Suite one of the main hotel’s 10 bedrooms.
- Local family attractions include Paignton Zoo and Splashdown Waterpark.
Outdoors – Bovey Castle. Moretonhampstead: 9/10
- Extensive castle grounds with tennis, croquet and a playground
- Good choice of outdoor children’s activities organised as part of Bovey Rangers club, including survival skills, archery, reptile and owl encounters, rock climbing, raft building, canoeing and golf lessons.
- Their indoor playroom, costing £20 per session, has painting, pottery, biscuit decorating, mask, puppet and badge making
- Babysitting services can be arranged in advance, as well as hire of baby equipment.
Walking and Watersports heaven – South Sands Boutique Hotel, Salcombe: 7/10
- The hotel is right on the beach, with wonderful views across the estuary
- White sands and calm seas are a beach ball’s throw from the hotel
- Complimentary buckets, spades and beach bags are given to families on arrival
- Family events organised in school holidays, including a summer solstice beach party
- Five beach suites designed for families of up to six.
Classic Devon – Thurlestone Hotel, Salcombe: 8/10
- Rugged coastline in front and backing on to sheep-filled pastures
- Black and white yachting photos on the walls and displays of vintage sailing memorabilia give this seaside hotel a nostalgically nautical feel
- Indoor playroom and outdoor playground which includes mini golf, family badminton courts, a nature trail
- A ‘Close Encounters’ shed where young visitors can learn how to handle stick insects, praying mantis, scorpions, tarantula and snakes
- Children’s school holidays arts and crafts club, teddy bears’ picnics in the grounds, and entertainers.
Gothic /Luxury – Highbullen Hotel Golf & Country Club, Umberleigh Bridge
- A luxury, gothic-fronted country house hotel spread over a 125-acre Devon estate
- Prides itself on being a ‘multi-generational’ hotel, catering for extended families with children aged eight and over
- Dedicated rooms for families of four have sofa beds and pull out beds, while large families can hire out lodges exclusively
- Children will particularly enjoy the giant outdoor chessboard and games simulator
- Spread over the estate are two swimming pools – one indoor and one outdoor – seven tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, a private fishing river, croquet lawns, snooker rooms and a fully-equipped gym with regular exercise classes.
Need to look at your hospitality finance options?
If you are looking to purchase or start a family friendly hotel or guesthouse, or are considering upgrading your existing facilities to increase your family appeal you may well be needing finance.
At Stewart Hindley & Partners, we specialise in the hospitality finance sector. So, whether it’s hotel finance or B&B finance you need, we can advise you on the best deals to suit your individual business circumstances.
To find out how much hospitality finance you might be able to raise call our friendly expert team now to explore the possibilities further.
