 Traveling Actuary Eve Hartridge takes us to one of The West Country's best kept secrets.
Devon is a county that you can not help falling in love with. Trips to Devon seemed to be a fundamental part of my childhood; something I remember with great nostalgia, so much so that even today a journey along the heinous A303 is viewed through rose tinted glasses. Once you reach Honiton it seems that you have reached a whole new world, one that is relaxed, sedate and full of cream teas. The possibilities are as endless as the green fields, sandy beaches and single track roads. Venturing from the city it's easy to get lost, so let me suggest one address, perhaps the only one that you might like to type into your "Sat-Nav".
The Fingals Hotel is located quite simply in the middle of no-where, the nearest village is Dittisham and it's not far from Dartmouth or Totnes. It's somewhere in-between and that's about as good as my geography gets! But do find it and you won't be disappointed.
The hotel is run by husband and wife team Richard and Sheila who have owned this seventeenth century manor house for the last thirty years. This hotel offers a genuine "make yourself at home" experience, the welcome I received was warm and informal, immediately I felt like a member of the extended family. Richard and Sheila clearly love what they do and adore being the hosts, they are very hands on from fixing a gin and tonic to making up numbers for a mixed doubles game of tennis. The hotel lounge is more of a sitting room with comfortable sofas and well thumbed newspapers to enjoy, if you struggle to find something to read you clearly haven't discovered the hotel's library which is simply over flowing with books that have been collected and donated over the years.
There are eleven unique bedrooms each tastefully decorated with a mix of antique and french styling. Many of the rooms also benefit from a living area and modern kitchenette for guests wishing to do an element of self catering; this flexibility once again adds to the universal appeal. The rooms have luxury en-suite facilities, often with decadent roll top baths. Guests are encouraged to use the bathroom cosmetics that are made by Sheila from environmentally friendly ingredients that have not been tested on animals and can also be bought on-site. My bedroom over-looked the grass tennis court which is simply stunning and surrounded by flowers and garden statues. If tennis sounds a little energetic guests can enjoy the sauna, jacuzzi and indoor swimming pool- unlike large commercial hotels there is no on-site lifeguard so common sense is advocated.
Eating and drinking is a fundamental part of your stay at Fingals, both are in plentiful supply. Dinner is a real event at the hotel, menus change with the season and where possible produce is locally sourced and always organic. Guests are invited to dine at one large table where they are joined by the hosts. Private and individual dining can be arranged with a little notice as nothing seems to be too much trouble. The wine list is carefully chosen and the hotel bar is run on trust 80% of the time. One thing I loved about the hotel was that breakfast wasn't served until after 9am, there is no mad dash to make breakfast or miss out. Fingals is all about rest, relaxation and making new acquaintances and none of this can be hurried.
As I left I met a family who were coming to stay for a week, something they'd been doing for the last five years. As Sheila greeted them with a kiss I felt some-what envious that my 24 hours were up.
http://www.fingals.co.uk
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