Deep in the North Devon countryside, at Chittlehamholt, Highbullen Hotel, Golf and Country Club recalls the height of William Morris’s Arts and Crafts movement. When you have entered the Neo-Gothic mansion, completed in 1879, with its steep gables and plentiful porches, walked over Victorian tiles and past grandfather pendulum clocks, the contemporary Loft Suite comes as something of a surprise.  This is nothing short of posh living in this most becoming estate in the English countryside.  

Opening the door, a sauna for two is another surprise. Even before you’ve ascended the stairs into the main apartment, the rustic themed decor, with misty photos of sepulchral trees in the grounds, sets the tone. The interior design palette is inspired by the North Devonshire countryside, earthy neutral colours of muted browns and greens: though flashes of gold from mirrors and cushions introduce brighter, glittering tones. The suite is popular with honeymooners and those seeking peace, popular with writers looking to focus on finishing a few chapters.

Talking of writers, below in the spacious and somewhat theatrical Olivier Suite, Sir Laurence took refuge from a hectic film and stage life to write chapters of his autobiography. Though come the end of the day, he couldn’t resist a little acting, slipping behind the bar to surprise guests playing the role of barman.

Back in the Loft Suite, the master bedroom has a central feature wall which also serves as a stylish headboard incorporating charging points and lighting. With an open-plan layout, the headboard also acts as a screen to the mirror-polished freestanding bath with marble finishes.

Innovative creativity attracted The Design Society to report on the suite’s development. When it opened it took the prize for Best European Hotel Suite in the International Hotel and Property Awards for 2015. A key to success must have been bespoke designed antique mirrored carpentry for back-lit cupboards, beverage point and minibar. These are beautifully imaginative storage options that inspire even untidy travellers, used to living out of a suitcase, to pack their belongings away.

If the Loft Suite is a little too contemporary for your taste, then five of the 12 rooms in the Manor House are grand feature rooms with wide beds, crystal chandeliers and sweeping countryside views. Beyond the hotel, there is also self-catering accommodation within the grounds of this fine estate in the English countryside.

Once Highbullen Hotel, sat on a ridge between the Rivers Mole and Taw, between Dartmoor and Exmoor, had an observation tower that looked over North Devon giving views to Lundy Island. Below are the hotel’s two private beats for hooking a salmon. Legend tells of a young boy catching a 45lb salmon and escaping capture by rolling the giant fish home in a milk churn.

Wellies, for all the family, are available in the porch for rambling through the estate’s 127 acres of huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ territory, Highbullen also has an 18-hole golf course. Adjacent to the Clubhouse are Elemis Spa, gym and swimming pool: there is also a Laura Ashley Tea Room. A grand Afternoon Savoury Tea produces one of the world’s great sausage rolls as part of an extravagant tiered selection of savoury treats, sandwiches, scones, dainty cakes and pastries. Or there is the Champagne Tea.

Amongst its celebrity guests, former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and supermodel Elle Macpherson have stayed, Highbullen Hotel has also been honoured with visits from Delia Smith and Mary Berry, an indication of the quality of the food provided by the Devon View Restaurant. Featuring windows on three sides and a lofty elevation, the AA 2 Rosette restaurant lives up to its name with deer meandering through the valley below. Every day the menu changes to make the most of fish landed and very local, beef, pork and lamb. An entire menu page of options ensures that vegans and vegetarians are well catered for.

Highbullen Hotel, Golf and Country Club  is a lovely estate in the English countryside for all seasons. In summer there is an open-air swimming pool, tennis courts and croquet on the lawn. A thirty-minute drive takes guests to the North Devon beaches, though many guests just park their car and enjoy the peace of the estate for the duration of their stay. In winter, guests tend to linger in the lounge, by a log-fire, taking in the views before heading for a walk, the gym, the spa or a game of billiards. And, of course, Afternoon Tea is another year-round attraction too …