Dartmoor House

Description

Details

Bought by Lord Carrington in 1924 and the childhood home of Lord Peter Carrington, Foreign Secretary in Mrs Thatcher’s government. Dartmoor House has been completely refurnished in a fresh, classic country style. It is a comfortable, elegant and glamorous house.

Inside

Interiors are both timeless and stylish with a modern twist. Downstairs consists of a large airy drawing room with an open fire and 2 sets of French windows looking out onto the gardens. The Ladies Parlour, enjoys an open fire and French windows to front of house. Also boasts a magnificent dining room with a table seating 12 and 2 sets of French windows to the front of the house; a study, with open fire and 2 armchairs. A library with desk and chair and 2 armchairs. A large utility room and boot room. The orangery allows for 2 armchairs with doors opening to sheltered courtyard.

The West Wing is home to a large upstairs gallery lounge with sofas and wood burning stove. The self contained Carrington Lodge is accessed through the gallery but also has its own exterior access and parking. It features a single room/reading room with day bed and open fire, a large sitting room with a wonderful octagonal ceiling, 2 sofas, TV, DVD and dining table for 4.

Bedrooms

The master bedroom features a four poster King size bed, an open fire, beautiful views of the garden and 2 en suite ‘His’ and ‘Her’ bathrooms. The ‘His’ bathroom has a large walk in shower, while the ‘Her’ bathroom  features a shower, free standing bath and open fire.

Guest Bedroom 1 enjoys a King size bed, en suite bathroom with bath and shower over bath and 2 basins with WC. Guest Bedroom 2, large room with views of Dartmoor and double bed, en suite, large bath, shower, vanity and WC.

The West Wing is home to Guest Bedroom 3 with king size bed and lovely garden views, en suite bathroom  with free standing roll top bath. Guest Bed 4 is a twin room with en suite bathroom, bath with shower over. The bathroom in the Carrington Lodge houses a vanity unit, bath, shower over bath,  and WC.  All bathrooms have underfloor heating.

Outside

The gardens covers about 7 acres and lie to the south and west of the house with a small lake and island. Over 150 varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons, an ancient Yew and Cedar trees. There is a gas-fired BBQ and outdoor dining table, heated indoor swimming pool, changing/sauna room  and tennis court.

Location

In a completely unspoilt part of Devon and yet easy to get to. It is 2 miles to the A30 which links to the M5. The location of the house means that the best of Devon and Cornwall can be enjoyed without the crowds and congestion. The property is located 5 minutes outside the village of Bridestowe, near Okehampton.

Train

The nearest station is Exeter, 35 minutes from the house

Air

The nearest airports are Exeter (40 minutes) and Bristol (1hour 40 minutes)

Heli-pad

Private helicopters (upon request) can land in a field beside the house.

Staff & Dining

The main kitchen is on the ground floor level and enjoys  four-oven AGA, table seating six, dishwasher, Miele steam oven, Miele warming drawer, double oven and a five ring hob.  The service kitchen includes a large utility/laundry room  with two washing machines, tumble dryer, sink. There is also a cooker, hob, fridge and microwave. Chefs can use this to keep the main kitchen free.

Carrington Lodge enjoys a handmade kitchen. granite worktop, dishwasher, fridge freezer, washing machine, oven and hob, built in microwave. Table and seating for 4-5. Details of local caterers can be supplied.

There is a Waitrose, a 15 minute drive away in Okehampton. 15 minutes away in the other direction, towards Cornwall, is Philip Warren who is a butcher and grazier: some of the meat which he sells he has raised himself on his land.  He has two shops in Launceston, and people travel from far and wide to buy his meat and fowl.  Also supplies to top London restaurants.  Lifton Strawberry Fields Farm Shop is an award winning farm shop 15 minutes away. They grow all their own vegetables, soft fruits etc.  They also have a bakery and informal restaurant on the site.

Weekly cleaning (Mon-Fri) included, extra cleaning can be arranged upon request. Gardener included, chefs and extra staff can also be arranged upon request.

Things to Do

Dartmoor National Park is 5 minutes away. The largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England with a huge expanse of wild moorland and ancient forests. It is famous for its granite topped hills, open vistas, Dartmoor wild ponies, wonderful exploring and countless walking opportunities.

Chagford, 15 minutes away, is very picturesque and beautifully maintained with tea rooms, pubs and restaurants. Nearby Drewsteignton is also worth a visit. Lustleigh, further on, is film-set perfect with thatched cottages; also visit Widecombe in the Moor.

The town of Ashburton and Totnes are great for shopping for interiors and homewares with plenty of cafes and food shops. Both are very pleasant towns.

The cornish seaside villages are beautiful. Padstow is just over an hour’s drive away, well known for its many shops and restaurants, quaint harbour and of course Rick Stein who has an excellent fish and chip shop there, as well as more upmarket restaurants. Fowey and Polperro, again an hour away, are both very pretty, charming and now gentrified Cornish fishing villages.

Plenty of beaches on the North Devon/Cornwall coasts, near Bude, and about 45 – 50 minutes away are Summerleaze (in Bude) beach, Widemouth Bay, Sandy Mouth beach and Crooklets Beach, all lovely sandy beaches.

National Trust protected Lydford Gorge is 10 minutes away and is a spectacular river gorge (deepest in the southwest) with a 100 foot waterfall. With the usual high quality National Trust amenities. There is also a tea room.

Castle Drogo, 15 minutes away, is known as the last castle to be built in England and is currently being renovated. Visitors are allowed to view the renovations and enjoy the lovely gardens, including rose gardens and a rhododendron valley. There is also a lovely river walk by the ancient river gorge of the Teign Valley. Tea room on site. Morwellham Quay, World Heritage Site 20 minutes away near Tavistock, Morwellham Quay featuring an historic port, copper mine, working Victorian farm, railway, heavy horses and museums of costume and mining. The highlight for many is the narrow gauge railway which takes you along the banks of the River Tamar before entering the old copper mine. You can learn about the harsh working conditions down the mine and also enjoy stepping back in time as you wander around the site.

Hotel Endsleigh, near Milton Abbot, belongs to Rocco Forte’s sister, Olga Polizzi. It is an old hunting lodge beautifully and stylishly renovated by Ms. Polizzi and set in wonderful Grade I listed gardens. Their restaurant is open to non residents and morning coffee and afternoon tea can also be had here. This is a 20 minute drive away through gorgeous rolling Devon countryside.

Gidleigh Park, near Chagford, Gidleigh Park is a luxurious country house hotel set in the lush, hilly and woody part of Dartmoor. The restaurant here is run by Michael Caines and has been awarded two Michelin stars. It is in a breathtaking location with beautiful gardens. 20 minutes away.

Bovey Castle, Hotel, Spa and Golf Course is a five star hotel with numerous dining options, ranging from the Edwardian Grill to the more contemporary styled Castle Bistro and is 35 minutes away.

Dartmoor Inn is a very old inn on the road over the moor to Tavistock. Food sourced locally and cooked with great care and imagination by proprietor.