
Dianne Jayne Giles
‘It might be difficult to convince yourself to venture outside of the house itself, but the grounds beg to be explored’
Vogue
There are loads of places—Tavistock, Dartmoor, Buckland Abbey, endless National Trust houses and gardens—to visit round Endsleigh, but actually one could very easily spend a week simply walking round the grounds and reading

But the real magic lies in the garden. Created by Humphry Repton for the 6th Duke of Bedford some 200 years ago, it spans idyllic woodlands, waterfalls, a rockery, an impressive arboretum, fairy-tale follies, avenues of arches laden with roses, a croquet lawn, formal gardens – and an abundance of picnic spots. So rambling are the grounds that, even after a long day exploring, you feel as though you haven’t even begun to scratch the surface. Et in Arcadia ego? Decidedly.
Tatler
Take long walks through the grounds, there’s a corridor stocked with Hunter wellies in every size. You’ve a good chance of spotting kingfishers, otters, falcons and even the occasional deer. There are many hidden follies (The Shell House, The Dairy Dell, Swiss Cottage) to so take our map as your guide. An hour’s walk along the River Tamar gets you to Horsebridge, where you can rest your legs and wet your whistles at The Royal Inn. (01822 870214 royalinn.co.uk). (Landowners permission required).
If map reading is not your strong suit, take a tour of the Garden with Head gardener Ben Ruscombe-King. Designed 200 years ago this was one of Humphry Repton’s last commissions and brings together a multitude of landscaping elements for which Repton was renowned. £75 (01822 870000 hotelendsleigh.com/garden)
There’s a ping-pong table, croquet hoops, giant jenga and sun loungers on the lawn below the rose walk.
If you’d like to get really close to nature, in the form of some beautiful Birds-of-Prey, a Falconry Session with David Buncle can be arranged in the garden (01822 810112 westcountryfalconry.com).
The Tamar runs through the grounds and the hotel is a member of Endsleigh Fishing Club, with six beats on eight miles of riverbank. Guests can fly fish for sea trout, brown trout and grayling, and enjoy some of the best salmon fishing in England. There’s a ghillie to show the ropes or give you tips (01822 610876 endsleigh-fishing-club.com). The responsibility to have a licence is that of the angler. Licences must be obtained before fishing from gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence
Endsleigh Sporting Club runs the shoot at Endsleigh, offering exceptional drives around the nearly 2000 acre estate. Famous for birds that are shot in Devon and picked in Cornwall, Endsleigh Shoot has built a reputation for presenting high, fast and challenging birds. Shoot days are typically run from the hotel with hospitality throughout the day provided from the excellent catering team. The steep wooded banks and long sweeping valleys provide the ideal topography for testing high bird shooting, with many teams well and truly beaten by the famous Swiss Cottage and Hatchery drives. Endsleigh’s small number of shoot days are in high demand – you can discuss availability with Scott via 07792297664 or scott@smasporting.co.uk. You will find more information on the shoot via their website endsleigh-shoot.co.uk