Garfield House

The house sits high on the hill, with lovely valley views and Dartmoor within easy reach. Our comfortable room was ready with a freshly made cream tea to welcome us, and the enormous English breakfast kept us going all day. A lovely place to stay, and one I’d recommend.

I wish I could have stayed longer. The garden and its stunning views were marvellous, and our host was so nice. The room was huge and beautifully decorated, and breakfast was delicious, with fresh orange or grapefruit juice.

The Shepherd's hut was clean and cosy, with a beautiful view. We spent three nights there and had a great time. Tony made us feel at home from the start, greeting us with cream tea when we arrived and chatting with us during the stay. He was always happy to answer questions about the area. Breakfast was delicious and cooked in front of us, with Tony asking each day what we wanted so it felt personal to both of us. We hope to return and explore more. With such a friendly host, it didn’t feel like staying in a BnB, and we wouldn’t choose anywhere else.

The kitchen is where breakfast happens, with the owner cooking on the Aga right in front of you and going out of his way to make it how you like. He’s unobtrusive, but if you fancy a proper chat, he’s engaging and has plenty of interesting sides. My wife and I had a perfect stay, and this serendipitous find is somewhere we’ll return to. Garfield House feels wonderfully English, in an outstandingly beautiful area. The boutique hotel label may be a stretch when there are only two guest rooms, so it’s closer to a guest house. Both rooms are stunning, though. Think Jane Austen rather than modern minimalism, with the countryside seen through gently distorted, weathered Georgian glass. Foxgloves and wild bracken add to the 19th-century feel, while the comforts are very much current: fast, free Wi-Fi, large Freeview TVs, powerful showers, separate baths, luxury towels, soaps and bodywash. The beds are so cosy that even an early riser like me hates getting up. The tea and coffee details are lovely too: bone china pots, cups and saucers, a cafetiere, freshly ground coffee in an airtight pot, and fresh milk in a thermos. You can tell the owner wants guests to feel looked after.