Swimming pool, garden and grounds
Been for a dip in the heated indoor pool? Recover in the outside seating area right outside over burgers and bangers on the coal barbecue. Pour yourself a Prosecco. Wander the one-acre garden set over three terraces and potter down to the Wilder Brook at the bottom. End the day flaming marshmallows around the firepit.
Living spaces
You’ve plenty of spaces for socialising or recharging but you’ll probably want to make a beeline for the leopard skin-clad, gentlemen’s-club cocktail bar with its cocktail shakers, ice buckets, fridges and all the glasses in the world. Don’t feel obliged to roll up in a Jaguar and wear a cravat or cocktail dress, but it seems appropriate.
Out in the grounds, the 10-metre indoor pool waits for you to breach its surface and revel in water heated to 28 degrees. Dry off and there’s just time for a game of table footie before supper. At night, stream your Netflix and Amazon Prime Video over the BT Business broadband or bury yourself in a book from the shelf.
Cooking and dining
Prefer to swim, surf or play table football than cook in the semi-pro kitchen? Put your searing and simmering into the hands of the pros, with top in-house chefs from Seadog Catering, Tommy G's or Annie and The Flint. Stay lazy with takeaways from Lyn Bay Fish and Chips, Slice of Devon (pizza and seafood) and Tandoori Nights.
If you’re itching to baste, bubble, boil and braise, you won’t be disappointed with the two electric ovens and the five gas rings, backed up by three fridge-freezers and microwave. Fancy eating al-fresco after your dip in the pool? There’s room for 16 on the terrace with the coal barbecue ready to tackle your steaks.
Take deliveries from Asda or Sainsbury’s, get your meat from Mike Turton butcher’s and your green stuff from All Seasons’ Fruit and Veg. First Saturday of the month? Treat yourself at Ilfracombe Farmers’ Market. Stock up on fizz from Bray Valley Wines and stop off for a tasting.
Pop out to the pub for Tom’s Pies at The Thatched Inn in Ilfracombe, Devonshire duck breast or wagyu beef burger at The Pyne Arms, or scampi or linguine at The Rock Inn. Make a night of it at Giovanni and Luca’s for pasta, pizza and seafood. Or try contemporary British at New Coast Kitchen, or harbour views at the Lime Kiln Cafe.
Bedrooms
Torrs Park House sleeps up to 21 in eight stylishly appointed en-suite bedrooms. In an elevated position and surrounded by woodland, it’ll send you off to sleep to the lulling call of the gulls.
Bedroom one on the ground floor is one to squabble over, with its kingsize four-poster and TV, while bedroom two is a small double with TV and extra single. Bedroom three offers a kingsize and TV, while bedroom four provides a superking that can be split into singles.
Bedroom five is a kingsize with TV, and bedroom six a small kingsize with TV. Family- friendly bedroom seven will sleep three (or four on request) in a zip-and kingsize and singles, and bedroom eight is another with family flexibility, featuring a double and two singles with a bath.
Happy hens!
Swim in the pool, twist your way to success at table football, book our professional chefs and finish the day off around the firepit – all in-house. Or off-road it at Keypitts Quads with quad-biking, a 4 x 4 Land Rover experience, axe-throwing or motorbiking through the mud.
Nourish the body and soul and feel inspired by the ocean-front views at Saunton Sands Source Spa: let go of daily life and lose yourself in cosy robes and hot stones. Book Lathwell’s in Bideford for group-celebration dining, with every dish hand-made from scratch and fish caught by local fishermen.
Immerse yourself in adrenaline-fuelled adventures on the high ropes at The Ultimate High. Play the beautiful game in a bubble with Football Zorbing Barnstaple. Or coaster or stand-up paddleboard with Active Escape. Recover with the generous cake slices on offer with an afternoon tea at St James’ Tea Room.
Pluck up courage for an After Dark Harbour Ghost Walk, a paranormal-themed historical tour of Ilfracombe Harbour with plenty of scary stories. Enjoy a beach gallop with Mullacott Riding School. Take it easy on an evening drinks trip with Ilfracombe Coastal Cruises. And live it up at dusk in The Chill Bar and The Vivid Cocktail Bar.
What people say
Capybara, quiet beaches and cocktails
Meet alpacas, capybara and T-Rex at Combe Martin Dinosaur and Animal Park, see the UK’s only black leopard at Exmoor Zoo, or watch the sheep-racing at The Big Sheep. Follow the Tarka Trail by bike or gallop along quiet beaches with Mullacott Riding School. And kick back with cocktails at The Chill Bar.
