Hope Cove House

Rooms

All of Hope Cove House’s 10 bedrooms are bright and airy, and most look towards the sea. Our top-floor Double Sea View had beautiful views of the bay and the coast beyond, and calming hints of grey and blue throughout were a tasteful nod to the ocean setting. In the morning, we could even hear the waves from our open window. But it’s not all show: supremely comfortable beds with great mattresses and thick duvets make for a restful night’s sleep too.

Rooms vary in size and some may find the smallest doubles and the twin a little cosy. Though all share similarly stylish design, we’d plump for a larger room with a sea view if possible. In addition to the doubles, there is a lovely, large Balcony Room (some would say the nicest room in the house), and a Family Room sleeping four. If there's a big group of you, why not splash out and rent the whole place to yourselves?

Bedrooms are ensuite and bathrooms are finished to a high-spec, with spoiling L:A Bruket toiletries. Most rooms have both walk-in showers and baths, but the Family Rooms have showers only - worth noting if you love a long soak.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

As you’d expect from London restaurateurs, food is a big deal here. Dining spaces embrace the stunning setting with huge windows overlooking the bay, and in the summer months you can dine alfresco on the terrace.

When we visited, there was plenty of fresh fish and seafood on the menu: lobster and maltagliati (a type of pasta), hake and braised fennel, turbot and hollandaise. We plumped for the lemon sole served with hazelnut butter and capers, and the ribeye steak – both were divine. There’s an impressive 60+ strong wine list to accompany, and the bar is a great place to hang out any time of the day.

Breakfast is a real treat, too. Help yourself to homemade granola, Greek yoghurt, fresh berries, fruit compote and kids' cereals. There’s also a raft of knockout cooked options (at extra cost) including a Full English and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, but it’s the smoky shakshouka we’re still daydreaming about.

With a daily changing menu, you could stay for a week and not get bored, but there’s a handful of additional eateries in the village offering seafood, pub meals and pizzas.

Features include:

• Bar
• Dinner by arrangement
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Hope Cove is a destination in itself: it was once a famed crabbing and fishing harbour, and 30 shipwrecks now make the village a magnet for divers. Uniquely, it was the only place in England where the Spanish Armada made landfall; go for a walk around the village to admire the cottages, many of which are built with the actual beams of Spanish Galleons
  
• On a calm day, Inner Hope’s bay is perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking or snorkelling. The hotel has a tandem and single kayak for rent
  
• Surfing and kiteboarding can be arranged at Bantham beach (a 20-minute drive away)
  
• There are plenty of stunning coastal walks in the area. Thurlestone is 45 minutes on foot, or you can reach Salcombe in about four hours on the South West Coast Path, passing through Bolberry Down
  
• The popular yachting town of Salcombe is a 15-minute drive away for shopping, sailing and people watching
  
• If the weather turns, the sitting room is a lovely spot to curl up with a book. There’s also a log burner for the winter months

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Sailing
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming

Kids

There is a family feel at Hope Cove House and Oli and Alexandra have two young children of their own. We saw several families of all ages enjoying meals in the restaurant during our stay. There are lots of thoughtful kid-friendly touches throughout: a crate of Lego, push-along cars and kids’ books. There’s also a kids' menu in the restaurant and kiddie cereals at breakfast. Children will love playing on the beach, and Outer Hope’s beach has a lifeguard in season.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

There are two dedicated Family Rooms sleeping three and four respectively; extra beds can be added for an additional cost. All bedrooms can accommodate a cot for babies. There are no connecting bedrooms.

Distances:

• Airport: 75-minute drive
• Hospital: 40-minute drive
• Shops: Five-minute walk to a small village shop

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hope Cove House is located in Inner Hope in the South Hams, between Salcombe to the East and Thurlestone to the West. It's an 80-minute drive from Exeter or an hour from Plymouth.

By Air:
Exeter and Newquay are the nearest airports. Click on the links below for airlines serving these airports. You will probably want to hire a car from the airport, see our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
The most convenient station is Totnes (40 mins away), and Alchemy Cars (right outside the station) can take you to Hope Cove from there, or ask the hotel to prearrange a taxi for you.

By Car:
The local village has a couple of pubs and a village shop but you'll probably want a car for exploring further afield. Be prepared for some narrow lanes, and plenty of traffic in summer. Approximate driving times are three and a half hours from London, and two hours from Bristol. There's no specific EV charging point but there is an outdoor plug that can be used for charging (extra cost).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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