Tourism and Treats in the South Devon Hills
When city life gets too much, an escape to the country can be just the antidote to gloomy autumn blues.
Set in the glorious South Devon hills between Totnes, Paignton and Berry Pomeroy, the Beyond Escapes Devon resort was just the place for Belle on one such recent weekend.
Accommodation: Wake up to whispering trees and a peaceful bird’s song when you stay in a Lux Lodge. Carefully tailored modern and airy rooms create the perfect environment to relax in. The heart of our lodge had the spacious family lounge and open kitchen area. 
A stunning glass staircase leads to the two bedrooms upstairs. Once we reached the top floor we were wowed by the bedrooms, both of which were en suite, and homed sumptuous, sizeable beds. Most importantly – each lodge comes with a blissful hot tub with a hoist so that you can share a drink with your chosen tub partner! The blue-tone built-in lighting system inside the hot tub created a calming atmosphere, especially atmospheric at night. Pure bliss.
Top tip – If you are travelling with children it is worth noting that children under 4 can not use the hot tub for safety reasons.
Rooms: We stayed in Lodge 6, which sleeps four. After a busy day of sightseeing around Devon, the tranquil bedrooms were the perfect space to unwind in. The natural colours and wood tones created a tranquil environment, where we could switch off and simply relax. Our main bedroom had a spacious king size bed, with white crisp linen, and was the stuff dreams are made of. The rooms also had an open wardrobe, and smart tv, as well as free wifi.
Top tip – Rooms come with towels, robes and slippers. But, if you need extra towels or a linen change during your stay, there’s an extra charge.
Dining: Beyond Escapes Devon is a mix of a hotel and cottage hire. You have all the comfort and privacy of a home, but all the convenience of a hotel. There’s a kitchen for self-catering but also a great restaurant on site.
Top tip – Don’t worry about clearing away, as a handy dishwasher takes care of it all.Best of all you are even provided with a dishwasher tablet for each day of your stay.
Extras: If you are coming with kids you can hire a den building kit for free. Each Be Wild Den Kit comes complete with construction guides, camouflage face-paints and ideas of fun games to play in the den. It’s not just a great way to re-wild kiddie-winks, but it’s also a good opportunity to support Save the Children’s Den Day initiative. For every den you build here and share online using #BEaDenHero, Beyond Escapes will donate 50p to Save the Children. So your den can help little ones who have no choice but to live in real den shelters every day. 
To unwind during your stay, visit the BE Tempted Restaurant and BE You Spa, which are both located in the main leisure building and are fully accessible to guests in wheelchairs. There’s also a gym open seven days a week. Try the outdoor vitality pool or treat yourself to the ultimate pamper with its shoulder-dropping list of spa treatments. But if you’re coming with kids, it’s worth noting that you have to be 18 to go to the spa and gym, or accompanied by an adult if you are 16. Mealtimes are a treat with the BE Tempted restaurant. With ingredients sourced from within a 10-mile radius, you can dine on quality dishes and experience fantastic flavours at an unbeatable price.
Top tip – Both the BE Tempted Restaurant and BE You Spa & Gym are open to non-residents and can be busy, so it’s worth booking in advance.
Info: Prices start from £299 for a 3-night break in a lodge with hot tub, sleeping four in two bedrooms.
Attractions nearby: The English Riveria Wheel, Torquay – It is worth checking out The English Riveria Wheel, which is Devon’s answer to the London Eye. Step into one of the wheel’s gondolas and be transported into the air where you can gaze out over the skyline and see the surrounding area with a wondrous view in every direction. You will adore soaring high over the beautiful harbour and spotting the famous Pavilion Gardens, The Princess Theatre, and enjoying amazing views of the town and the marina. A trip on the wheel takes approximately 12 minutes and each gondola is enclosed for safety and comfort whatever the weather. Top tip – Try to book your tickets online to get a 20 per cent discount.
Totnes Castle – High on a hilltop above town, Totnes’ castle is among the best-preserved examples of a Norman ‘motte and bailey’ castle, which is a round keep sitting on a raised earthwork. It is worth climbing the step to the top of the castle as the views over Totnes’s rooftops are captivating. Although there are lots of grounds to run around in , the interior is largely empty.
Paignton Pier – Indulge in pure holiday nostalgia, by heading to this grand old Victorian pier. Here you can parade along the long wooden deck, jump in a dodgem, bounce around on a trampoline and have a game of crazy golf. Visit Paignton Pier’s Chippy Co restaurant. The newly renovated restaurant, has a charming blue and white décor which is evocative of the seaside and boast large windows where you can look out and enjoy the sea view. Best of all, the food is freshly sourced and tastes delicious. In fact, the owners claim to know the exact Trawler its sustainable fish comes from, as well as the farm where its potatoes are grown.
Dartmoor National Park – Covering 368 sq miles, this vast national park feels like it’s tumbled straight out of a Tolkien tome, with its honey-coloured heaths, moss-smothered boulders, tinkling streams and eerie granite hills,known locally as tors. On sunny days, Dartmoor is idyllic, with ponies wandering at will and sheep grazing beside the road. Dartmoor is also an outdoor activities hot spot for hiking, cycling, riding, climbing and white-water kayaking, and has plenty of rustic pubs where you can hunker down when the fog rolls in.
