The Old Forge

The garden is pretty, and Julie’s choice of classical radio as background music was right up my street. Our room was clean and lovely, with a great shower, though the mattress was softer than I like. We’d initially booked the tiny “cozy” twin, then upgraded to the room we stayed in for three nights. Breakfast was beautifully served in a pleasant breakfast room and conservatory, with a good range on the menu. It seems geared towards people who can eat a full English, or the vegetarian version. There are cereals, fruit salad and yogurt listed under “starters,” but I could only manage the yogurt, fruit salad and a hard-boiled egg, apart from having a kipper once. The portions felt skimpy: the yogurt came as though it were just a topping for fruit, rather than a bowl of yogurt with fruit or muesli, which many people have for breakfast. Maybe that’s a cultural difference. I’d do better with a buffet, so I wouldn’t feel awkward asking for a full bowl of yogurt only to be given a bigger bowl with a small amount in it. I know a buffet probably wouldn’t suit such a small hotel, though.

Julie and Michael were incredibly accommodating to our Italian family of ten, and we left with a good impression of the local area. The Old Forge is a great hotel, well placed for exploring South Hams and the Bay.

It’s a quiet little corner of town, just right for a getaway, and Julie and Mike were wonderful hosts. We stayed for a long weekend in April with my wife and couldn’t have asked for a better time. Breakfast was fresh and lovely. I absolutely recommend it.

A comfortable hotel with first-class service, right in central Totnes. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in the area.