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Hotel Endsleigh, near Tavistock, Devon

The first stone was laid at Endsleigh in 1812 by Georgina Russell, Duchess of Bedford. The Bedford family owned a third of Devon and decided this was the prettiest place in the county to build their house. The family used it as a shooting and fishing lodge, and opened it just once a year when they arrived with servants, children, silver and animals in tow. Both the house and garden are Grade I listed.

The house remained in the Russell family until the late 1950s when it was bought by friends of the 12th Duke of Bedford who had enjoyed his hospitality and the excellent fishing, hunting and shooting on his land. They quickly realised, however, that the upkeep of the house and gardens was beyond their means and created a Fishing Syndicate, opening up the pleasure of the river to an enlarged group who used the house as their base.

In the 1980s the Fishing Club formed a Charitable Trust of the gardens and attracted Lottery funding. This allowed them to restore the wonderful slate and lead roof on the main house, the historic vistas from the Long Border that had become overgrown with rhododendrons, and the salmon larders.

What remained of the Endsleigh estate was put on the market in 2002. Olga Polizzi first saw it in June 2004, fell madly in love with the unique and unspoilt setting and bought it in September 2004. The building and renovation work began in November 2004 and the hotel opened to guests on 4th August 2005.

Endsleigh is now an intimate hotel situated on the edge of Dartmoor in unspoilt Devon countryside. The hotel was carefully restored in the spirit of the Regency period and the 16 comfortable rooms have antique furniture, bathrooms with many original features and fine linens. There are stunning views to the garden and the River Tamar below, and the estate including woodland and river frontage spans some 108 acres. The hotel is a member of the Endsleigh Fishing Club and owns seven rods, so guests can fish along eight miles of the best salmon and sea trout river in England.

For further details and to book the Hotel Endsleigh, contact a South West England Specialist travel agent. Click here for suggested itineraries from the Hotel Endsleigh.