Category: Dartmoor & West Devon

Five-star hotels can sometimes feel a little intimidating if you are not used to them. Bovey Castle isn’t one of them.

We’ve experienced Bovey Castle as overnight guests and, most recently, on a return visit for afternoon tea. On both occasions, what impressed us most wasn’t simply the magnificent Dartmoor setting, the food, or the building’s grandeur. It was how comfortable the hotel made us feel.

Bovey Castle is luxurious, certainly, but remarkably relaxed. The team seemed to appear exactly when you needed them without hovering, and whether you stay overnight or visit for afternoon tea, you are welcomed in the same way.

That, perhaps more than anything, is what five-star hospitality should be about.

We last visited in October 2026, when we booked afternoon tea for three for a special occasion. We paid the full £47.50 per person ourselves, and Bovey Castle had no involvement in this review.

We paid in full for our recent visit to Bovey Castle, with no complimentary accommodation, food, or drinks provided. This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of these links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Our Bovey Castle Review

Our verdict is an easy 5/5.

It’s genuinely difficult to find fault with Bovey Castle. It’s luxurious, comfortable and deeply relaxing, and a visit feels special without ever feeling stuffy or overly formal.

We advise against judging Bovey Castle simply by the headline price of afternoon tea, dinner, or an overnight stay. You are paying as much for the experience as for the food, drink, or bedroom.

On our latest visit, we arrived at around 2 pm and didn’t leave until early evening. Afternoon tea was followed by a walk around the grounds, time to enjoy the views, and finally drinks in the Oak Bar.

You can easily spend several hours here as a non-resident visitor without feeling like you’re trying to fill the time.

Arriving at Bovey Castle

The Bovey Castle experience begins before you even reach the front door.

After passing through the entrance gates, you’ll take a long drive through the estate to the hotel. The golf course and surrounding parkland immediately convey how extensive the property is, and everything we saw was beautifully maintained.

We aren’t golfers, so we couldn’t review the course itself. What we can say is that it looks superb and contributes enormously to the sense of arrival. The hotel describes it as an 18-hole championship course, originally designed in 1926 by J F Abercromby.

Then the hotel itself appears. It’s an impressive arrival.

Cars are parked immediately outside the main entrance, which slightly interrupts the perfect country-house photograph, but for a practical reason. You can pull up outside reception, unload and use the hotel’s valet parking service.

Alternatively, as we did, you can park your own car.

After dropping off our passengers at the entrance, we continued past the hotel through two sets of gates, with the hotel to the right and the mews to the left, and followed the avenue down to a large gravel car park. From there, allow roughly five minutes to walk back to the main entrance.

We also noticed EV charging points on the road towards the car park.

For anyone with limited mobility, Bovey Castle has designated accessible parking closer to the entrance. There are two steps into the main lobby, but the hotel provides a wheelchair ramp and an accessible ground-floor toilet. As a historic listed building, not every part of the property can be adapted like a modern hotel.

Once you leave the main building, some estate paths are gravelled and relatively steep, so exploring the whole grounds can be more challenging.

A Castle That Isn’t Actually a Castle

Despite the name, Bovey Castle wasn’t built as a medieval fortress.

Its story begins with the Smith family of WH Smith fame. William Henry Smith acquired around 5,000 acres here in 1890, and his son Frederick subsequently built the grand country house as a family retreat. The present building dates from the early 20th century and was designed in the grand Neo-Elizabethan style.

The Great Western Railway bought the estate in 1928 to convert it into a golfing hotel, and it opened as a hotel and golf resort in 1930. At the time, nearby Moretonhampstead had its own railway station, at the end of a branch line from Newton Abbot, making this part of Dartmoor much more accessible to visitors arriving by train.

That railway connection remains visible today. The hotel’s main restaurant is the Great Western Grill, named in recognition of the Great Western Railway era. The hotel itself says the restaurant was created to pay homage to that history.

Today Bovey Castle forms part of the Eden Hotel Collection, which in turn is part of Rigby Group (RG) plc.

What Does Five-Star Mean at Bovey Castle?

Bovey Castle is more than a five-star hotel. It holds five AA Red Stars.

Red Stars are the AA’s Inspector’s Choice accolade, recognising hotels regarded as particularly outstanding within their classification. Bovey Castle first announced in 2018 that it had achieved five Red Stars following an anonymous inspection across areas including service, bedrooms, bathrooms, food, public spaces, cleanliness and maintenance.

The dining has its own accolades: the Great Western Grill currently holds three AA Rosettes, while Smith’s Brasserie holds one AA Rosette.

In 2026, Bovey Castle went considerably further, winning Gold for Large Hotel of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, effectively naming it England’s best large hotel for the year.

Having visited both as overnight guests and as non-residents, we think those accolades make sense.

Is Bovey Castle Intimidating?

Not at all.

This is perhaps the biggest misconception we’d like to dispel.

Bovey Castle is undoubtedly grand, but we found it exceptionally welcoming. The surroundings may be formal, but the atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed.

You don’t need to be accustomed to five-star hotels to feel comfortable here, and we never felt anyone was judging who was staying in the most expensive suite, who was there for lunch, or who had simply arrived for afternoon tea.

We wore smart casual clothing, which felt exactly right. Bovey Castle describes the dress code for the Great Western Grill as smart casual, with smart denim acceptable but very casual clothing and sportswear discouraged.

Our advice is simply to make a little effort while wearing something you feel comfortable in.

Afternoon Tea at Bovey Castle

Afternoon tea was why we returned in October 2026.

All three of us had stayed at Bovey Castle before and said then that we’d like to come back for afternoon tea. A special occasion provided the perfect excuse.

We booked online, directly with Bovey Castle hotel around a week beforehand.

Traditional afternoon tea was £47.50 per person during our visit, with Champagne and other options also available. The hotel currently serves afternoon tea daily between 1 pm and 4 pm, although we’d always check the latest menu and availability when booking.

And arrive hungry.

Afternoon Tea in the Great Western Grill

We were shown to a table beside the windows at the far end of the Great Western Grill.

It’s a beautiful room: elegant and undoubtedly formal, yet somehow still comfortable.

A grand piano was being played when we arrived, providing background music as the final Sunday lunch tables finished their meals. Perhaps three or four other tables were having afternoon tea.

From our window we could look out across the grounds towards Dartmoor.

If you’d particularly like a view, ask for a window table when you book, though we wouldn’t mind if you can’t get one. The Great Western Grill is a lovely room, no matter where you sit.

What Was the Afternoon Tea Like?

Superb.

Our afternoon tea arrived on a traditional three-tier stand, with a separate plate of warm savouries.

Each person received one of each item, plus a plain and a fruit scone.

The presentation was exceptional.

Everything was explained when it arrived, but with so many different items, it would have been difficult to remember them all. Thankfully, the printed menu stayed on our table, and we kept referring back to it as we worked our way through each tier.

It became almost like a tasting menu.

We ate in the traditional order: savouries first, then scones, then cakes and pastries.

Our favourite savoury was the ham hock and mature Cheddar quiche. It was extraordinarily light, with pastry that was about as good as pastry gets.

Everything was excellent. If we had to choose a least favourite, it would probably have been the small beef baguette, largely because we’re rather particular about baguettes after eating plenty in France. Our companion thought it was fabulous, so we’d put that firmly down to personal preference rather than criticism.

Scones, Cakes and Tea

The scones were as light as you could wish for.

If we were being extremely picky, we would have liked separate spoons for the jam and cream rather than sharing one, and had all three of us eaten both scones, we might have wanted a little more of each.

We’re quite sure that asking would have solved the problem. Not everyone finished their scones anyway, and the staff were happy to box what remained for us to take home.

The standout sweet item for all three of us was the Dartmoor honey and lavender macaron. It was memorable enough that we were still talking about it afterwards.

Tea itself was also excellent. We chose different teas, including a Sri Lankan blend and English Breakfast, and both were beautiful.

Our first cups were poured for us, and the teapots were topped up as needed.

We also all noticed something wonderfully mundane: the teapots didn’t drip. Anyone who regularly drinks loose-leaf tea will appreciate how surprisingly noteworthy that is.

Dietary Requirements

None of us had any special dietary requirements, so we experienced the standard afternoon tea.

However, we were asked about allergies and dietary requirements twice, which was reassuring. Bovey Castle also states that it can cater for allergies and intolerances and offers vegetarian and vegan choices.

If you have particular requirements, we’d mention them when booking rather than waiting until you arrive.

Is Bovey Castle Afternoon Tea Worth It?

For us, absolutely.

£47.50 per person isn’t inexpensive for afternoon tea.

But looking at it purely as £47.50 for sandwiches, cakes, scones and tea rather misses the point.

The key is not to rush. We took our time with each course, which gave us plenty of time to talk and enjoy the surroundings and the food. There is plenty to eat, and for us afternoon tea effectively replaced a main meal.

Afterwards, we explored some of the hotel and grounds before returning for drinks in the Oak Bar.

For a special afternoon that lasted several hours, we thought it was very good value.

Make an Afternoon of Your Visit

This might be our most important piece of advice.

If you have time after afternoon tea, it’s worth seeing a little more of Bovey Castle before you leave. Take a leisurely walk through the grounds, enjoy the terrace if the weather is kind, or perhaps stop for a drink in the Oak Bar.

On the day we visited, clean blankets were available for anyone wanting a little extra warmth outside, while reception offered Wellington boots for those planning a more ambitious exploration.

A member of the hotel team, we think perhaps the duty manager, spotted us trying to take a photo together on the terrace and, with gentle humour, marshalled us into position before taking the photograph for us.

It’s a tiny thing, but it typifies the service.

There always seemed to be someone nearby when needed, yet the service never felt intrusive.

Even the washrooms reflected that standard: spotless, regularly maintained and supplied with proper individual cloth towels.

Walking Around the Bovey Castle Grounds

From the terrace we followed the paths downhill towards the lakes.

The views back towards the hotel are tremendous.

We didn’t go far because daylight was beginning to fade, but you could immediately tell you could spend a considerable amount of time exploring.

Bovey Castle sits on a 275-acre estate and offers activities beyond walking, including archery, falconry, fishing, and off-road driving.

You can also walk beyond the immediate estate.

One particularly interesting option heads towards North Bovey. Bovey Castle offers a guided three-hour circular route that starts on the South Terrace, follows the River Bovey through woodland, and heads onto open moorland towards North Bovey and Easdon Common.

We haven’t walked that route yet, so can’t review it, but it’s one we’d be interested in trying.

Do bear in mind that some paths around the estate are gravelled and can be steep.

Drinks in the Oak Bar

After our walk, we returned to the hotel and settled into the Oak Bar. Again, it is a beautiful room with excellent service.

We ordered two mocktails and a large Pinot Grigio for around £45.

It wasn’t cheap for three drinks, but by then we had spent a lovely afternoon at Bovey Castle and were happy to stay a little longer and enjoy the Oak Bar.

Bovey Castle adds a discretionary 12.5% service charge to food and drink bills, which is shared among the hotel team. As our afternoon tea was prepaid, we left a cash tip because we felt the service was exceptional. If you’re visiting with a prepaid booking or gift voucher and want to leave something extra, it may be worth having cash with you.

Staying at Bovey Castle

Our afternoon-tea visit wasn’t our first experience of Bovey Castle.

We had previously stayed overnight in January 2024, in what we think was a Superior Castle Room.

Our room overlooked the park and was sumptuous, with a beautiful bathroom and shower. We ate dinner in the Great Western Grill, walked around the grounds and enjoyed breakfast there the following morning.

Breakfast was excellent, combining a buffet with hot dishes ordered from the menu.

But perhaps the greatest advantage of staying is simply that you don’t have to leave. After dinner or a drink, you don’t have to drive home. And waking up somewhere this beautiful is an experience in itself.

Room rates vary considerably by date, room type, and availability, so rather than quote prices that will quickly become outdated, we suggest checking current rates for the dates you’re considering.

👉 Check current Bovey Castle room prices and availability on Booking.com

For us, staying overnight is the literal icing on the cake.

What Facilities Does Bovey Castle Have?

Plenty is included when you stay at Bovey Castle. Hotel guests get complimentary WiFi throughout their stay, plus tea and coffee-making facilities, bathrobes and slippers, toiletries, and a TV in their room.

An overnight stay also includes use of the swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and gym, along with the putting green and croquet lawn. There’s a daily falconry display when the weather allows, while valet parking and concierge service are also available.

The estate has tennis courts, and you can book a surprisingly long list of other activities, from archery and clay pigeon shooting to fishing, off-road driving and guided walks. Some cost extra, so it’s worth checking what’s available and booking ahead if there’s something you particularly want to do.

There’s also a boutique shop in the hotel selling gifts, local products, clothing and outdoor accessories, as well as a separate golf shop.

Bovey Castle Lodges

Self-catering lodges are also scattered throughout the estate.

We haven’t stayed in one, but all three of us commented during our walk that we’d happily come back and try one.

The current lodges have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and living area, and private outdoor space. They can accommodate up to eight people, including up to six adults. Pet-friendly lodges are also available.

Lodge guests can still enjoy the hotel facilities, including the pool, leisure facilities, tennis courts, and croquet lawn. You can also book spa treatments, activities and meals in the hotel, or have food delivered to your lodge.

For a family or group sharing the cost, the lodges could work out surprisingly well compared with booking several hotel rooms, while giving you the extra space and flexibility of self-catering.

👉 Check current Bovey Castle Lodge prices and availability on Booking.com

Bovey Castle Spa and Pool

We didn’t use the spa during either visit, but we’d certainly consider it on a future stay.

Bovey Castle’s leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and gym, while treatments and spa days can be booked separately. Non-residents can also book access to the family leisure pool, subject to the hotel’s current arrangements.

That’s one of the great things about staying at Bovey Castle. You could spend a few hours relaxing in the spa, head out for a walk across Dartmoor, find a quiet corner with a book, or combine all three. Different people can spend the same weekend here in completely different ways.

Is Bovey Castle Child Friendly?

Yes.

We saw children during our visit and the atmosphere certainly didn’t feel adults-only.

The hotel actively caters for families, with family rooms and lodges plus activities including falconry, archery, Bovey Rangers and opportunities for younger visitors to meet some of the estate’s animals. Children are also welcome in the Great Western Grill, while Smith’s Brasserie provides a more informal dining environment.

Designated family swimming times apply, and under-16s cannot use the thermal suite or gym.

So although Bovey Castle works extremely well for couples and special occasions, it shouldn’t be dismissed as an adults-only country-house hotel.

Is Bovey Castle Dog Friendly?

Yes, although dogs aren’t allowed everywhere.

Dog-friendly rooms and lodges are available, and Smith’s Brasserie has dog-friendly tables. Dogs aren’t permitted in the Great Western Grill or Oak Bar.

If you’re bringing a dog, we’d check the latest arrangements when booking, particularly if you plan to eat in the Great Western Grill.

Things to Do Near Bovey Castle

You could quite easily spend an entire weekend at Bovey Castle without leaving the estate. And in many ways, we’d recommend doing exactly that.

If you do want to explore Dartmoor, however, we would start with Haytor and Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

We’ve visited both, and they provide very different introductions to Dartmoor: Haytor for the landscape and views, and Widecombe for one of the moor’s best-known villages.

Nearby Moretonhampstead and Chagford are also worth exploring, while Becky Falls offers woodland walks and waterfalls.

If you’d rather leave the car where it is, the walk towards North Bovey looks well worth it.

But you don’t need an itinerary packed with Dartmoor attractions. Bovey Castle is one of those rare places where doing very little is part of the pleasure.

Practical Tips for Visiting Bovey Castle

A few things we’d recommend after our visits:

• Allow plenty of time. Don’t plan to rush away afterwards. If you have time, enjoy a walk around the grounds or stop for a drink before you leave.
• Arrive hungry. Afternoon tea is substantial.
• Don’t rush the food. Treat it almost like a tasting menu.
• Dress smart casual. Make an effort, but don’t make yourself uncomfortable.
• Arrive early if dining. Enjoy a drink on the terrace or in the public rooms before your booking.
• Self-parking is straightforward. Drop passengers at reception first if you like, then continue to the main car park.
• Just ask. Don’t worry about knowing exactly where to go. From our experience, somebody will help.
• Bring suitable footwear if you want to walk. Some estate paths are gravelled and steep.
• Be considerate when taking photographs. We felt completely comfortable taking pictures, but other guests may be paying considerable sums for privacy and relaxation.
• Check current prices and arrangements before travelling. Menus, spa access, activities and accommodation rates can change.

Would We Return to Bovey Castle?

Without hesitation.

In fact, the question is probably what we’ll return for next.

Sunday lunch in the Great Western Grill is tempting. The others are interested in the spa. We’d like to explore more of the estate, perhaps walk towards North Bovey, and all three of us liked the look of the lodges.

And we’d certainly stay overnight again.

Bovey Castle succeeds at something surprisingly difficult. It feels special without constantly reminding you how special it is.

Despite the five-star surroundings, it never felt exclusive or intimidating. Whether you’re checking in, sitting down for dinner, or arriving for afternoon tea, the experience is the same: you feel welcome.

If someone asked us whether Bovey Castle was worth visiting, we’d have no hesitation in saying yes. Just go and enjoy it.

Over to you … have you recently travelled to South West England? What worked for you? What advice would you give to others? Please leave your comments below or join in the discussion in our Facebook Group.