The Most Romantic Hotels to Book in Devon

Part of The Polizzi Collection’s triptych of luxury abodes, Hotel Endsleigh oozes romance – think arches entwined with roses, lush Grade I listed gardens, a softly-lit grand hall and rustic Italian dinners. This Regency-era former fishing lodge is the ideal bolthole for lovers wanting to bunker down: settle into one of the monogrammed robes with a book from the ornate and well-lined library, and listen to the gentle trickling of the Tamar river that runs adjacent to the fairytale gardens – it’s the only noise for miles around.

This is a choice pick for social media savvy couples wanting to sneak a few likes between sailing or sinking espresso martinis in the nautically themed River Terrace. Dart Marina offers Scandi-by-way-of-New-England elegance all wrapped up in neutrally toned throws. With an atmosphere to match its “cool, calm, classic” aesthetic, you’ll find this waterside retreat washes away any stress leaving you to float off to Cloud 9 – Dart Marina’s vintage coffee van, which pitches up by the river to serve beer, bottles of rosé and caffeinated beverages from 10am-8pm every day.

An indulgent option for couples who want it all, Salcombe Harbour’s amenities read like a royal itinerary, complete with yachting, spa days, gin-making experiences and afternoon teas loaded with sweet treats and scones piled with cream and jam. Soak in your surroundings at ESPA spa’s outdoor terrace before heading to The Jetty to shuck some oysters and retreat to your airy bedroom. Here you’ll find decanters of gin and sherry, The White Company toiletries and 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bedding to sink into.

Encircled by wild Exmoor National Park, The Old Rectory is a plush, country-garden guest house that contrasts the rugged beauty of its surroundings. Think all gold furnishings, soft light and chintz curtains. It has all the trappings of a picture-perfect cottagecore. For the adventurous, there’s Woody Bay at the bottom of an almost-vertical hike 40 minutes from the hotel.

Moody and majestic, Gidleigh Park, on the sprawling River Teign estate, appears to have been plucked from a period drama. Of course, even that idyllic escape from reality could be enhanced by a few spa treatments, 107 acres (43 ha) of fairytale forests and bluebell woods, and a pantry packed with home-baked biscuits – the kind on offer at this Tudor country pile. Chris Eden’s award-winning restaurant draws scores eager to sample the Michelin-star-holding chef’s beautifully decorated plates; expect offbeat combinations such as heirloom tomato, torched mackerel, sea purslane, gazpacho sorbet and Exmoor caviar. For couples really wanting to cut off, there’s always the option of enjoying a luxury hamper.

Loosely meaning a hollow horn stuffed with “inexhaustible gifts of celebratory fruits,” the hotel version of this poetic saying also teems with culinary delights and an air of festivity. Room Three in the Main House is crowned with a chandelier, clawed roll-top bath and a palette of French lavender. Velvet trimmings – from plush ottomans plonked in front of the drawing room fire to a fuchsia runner at the foot of cushy king-size beds – lend decadence to this 18th century country retreat.

The celebrity chef Michael Caines, behind Lympstone Manor, encourages guests to “experience the exceptional” at this five-star country house. His most celebrated relationship might be with wine (“wine is one of the most civilised things in the world,” he says), so expect an impressive offering; you’ll want to ramble around the vineyard before heading to the curated Wine Tasting Room. You could bypass all of this and head straight to the Michelin-star restaurant, where an expert sommelier knows what works with butter-poached Brixham turbot.

Cranberries are best enjoyed in sauce form and next to a generous chunk of breaded brie in The Cranberries Kitchen. Between the name and the refurbished 17th century barn, Cranberries is characterised by country quaintness – offering cottages fitted with inglenook fireplaces and chunky leather armchairs in the old dairy, and a bubbling hot tub overlooking the valley in the old milking parlour. Thanks to swathes of rolling countryside and a spa for pre-big day pampering, it’s a popular spot for weddings; the wood-beamed honeymoon suite has a striking ballet slipper bath.