Weeke Barton

Weeke Barton is the ultimate Londoners’ escape from the big city, since that’s exactly what its owners, Sam and Jo, did several years ago, when they threw it all in and moved down here from East London. It’s a long way from Hackney, for sure, a thick-walled longhouse that has been here 500 years and they hope will be here for 500 more, still providing the kind of place any London escapee would be happy to pitch up at.

You can rent the whole house if you want and it’s a great place for group bookings and special occasions, but Weeke Barton is also a thoroughly contemporary and  comfortable B&B.  There’s a studied naturalness of the place that almost enforces relaxation – stylishly decorated rooms with big comfy beds and natural stone en-suite bathrooms with locally made posh toiletries, fluffy towels and robes; and a lounge with squishy sofas, a wood-burning stove and books and magazines. The dining room has slate-topped tables where they serve breakfast at civilised hours (with their own award-winning granola) and excellent home-cooked dinners four nights a week from spring to autumn (Monday & Friday in winter), with  plenty of ingredients sourced locally – there’s veg from Teign Greens down the valley, which they pair with Exeter’s finest pies from Ginger Cat.

There’s wifi throughout, and a cosy snug with an honesty bar offering everything from sparkling wine from the vineyard next door to local gins and Dorset vodka! Sam and Jo will also direct you the best local pubs, such as the Horse in Moretonhampstead or the Teign House Inn.

The property is set in its own five acres of grounds so there is plenty of room to properly relax and enjoy the amazing night skies. On sunny days you can breakfast on the patio before strolling the grounds. There is good wifi and Sonos music systems, but interestingly no TV reception – just flatscreen TVs on which you can watch a choice of DVDs from their extensive library. Dogs are welcome in all rooms if you can manage to keep them clean and off the beds. All in all, it’s a fabulous place from which to explore