The background

On the edge of Dartmoor National Park, just outside of Plymouth, Boringdon Hall is a historic Devon manor. Records of the buildings date back to 956 AD when King Edgar granted the Manor of Boringdon and Wembury to St Peter of Plympton. King Henry VIII then absorbed the manor into crown property with the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. From that period on the manor was passed through various owners including the father of Lady Jane Grey, who became queen for nine days in 1553, and then to the Parker family who owned Boringdon Hall from 1582 until 1920 and in 1587 hosted a banquet to celebrate the pioneers of Caribbean exploration including Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. Boringdon Hall was passed among owners including the National Trust before being opened as a hotel towards the end of the 20th century. Today, Boringdon is one of the finest hotels in the southwest, featuring a lauded four-AA-Rosette restaurant, Àclèaf, and cutting-edge spa.

The rooms

Boringdon Hall offers a selection of stylish and luxurious accommodation options including spacious and indulgent suites – The Royal Suite even comes with an outdoor heated Jacuzzi bath on a terrace beneath a turret. There are also fittingly grand and romantic Four Poster rooms, which come with freestanding baths, plenty of space and character – the most original of them is named after Francis Drake and the room dates back to 1740. The Courtyard and Stable rooms are located in a more modern wing of the hotel, but retain the same luxurious feel and attention to detail. For a suitably special stay you’ll want to be in the main building, however, where each of the rooms has been lovingly restored and are full of antiques and historical features.   

Dining

Àclèaf is the fine-dining restaurant at Boringdon Hall, and has won four AA Rosettes and a place in the Michelin guide for its excellent cooking and originality. Head chef Scott Paton has created a seasonally focused tasting menu that when Brummell visited included scallops with walnut and caviar, chicken liver paté with brioche, turbot with yuzu and languostine, Wagyu with allium and turnip, or brill with mushroom and truffle and then a choice of cherry with pistachio and white chocolate, or a duck-egg custard with apricot and lemon verbena. The menu is served alongside a wonderfully selected pairing of fabulous wines. And the restaurant even asks guests to fill in a form of preferences to create a special pre-dessert just for them. Àclèaf, with its views over the hotel’s grand hall, would be worth travelling to Devon alone, even if it weren’t attached to a wonderful five-star hotel. 

The hotel also has a more relaxed but equally well-considered eatery, The Mayflower Brasserie, as well as an elegant bar serving really good cocktails in the grand hall, plus a fun hidden speakeasy-style bar found behind a bookshelf for guests willing and able to squirrel it out. 

Amenities

Boringdon Hall has one of the finest hotel spas in the country, with a wealth of facilities and a collection of invigorating or relaxing Gaia treatments. Hydrotherapy pools, outdoor hot tubs and Bali beds, a swimming pool, several steam rooms, saunas and rain showers await along with fluffy robes, well-equipped changing rooms and lots of beds for lounging and relaxing. It’s a wonderful space, and the perfect place for a tranquil weekend away, especially when booking one of the excellent treatments – the hot stone massage is particularly recommended. 

The hotel can also advise on days out and what to do in the area, including trips into Dartmoor, hot air balloon rides, golf and pony riding – but trying to tear yourself away from the spa might be a struggle. 

The verdict

A historical retreat with incredible food, an unbeatable setting and a leading spa, Boringdon Hall makes the perfect spot for a relaxing or romantic getaway from the capital. Use it as a base to explore the wonders of Dartmoor, or simply relax in upmost luxury and take in its spectacularly storied setting.

boringdonhall.co.uk