All under one roof

One of the reasons why staying in our Estate lodges could be for you, is the ability to have your entire family under one roof. Unlike hotels where you might need to book multiple rooms, our spacious lodges can accommodate everyone together. 

This setup is particularly good for larger families or those staying with extended family members, like grandparents. Shared living areas in the lodges encourage families to spend quality time together, socialising and creating lasting memories in a luxurious and comfortable environment during your family lodge holiday in the UK. 

Our luxury lodge facilities include:

• Spectacular views over the grounds and Dartmoor National Park
• Rooms that are individually styled across 3 floors, fashioned from local granite and vaulted with English oak
• Open plan kitchen, lounge and dining room
• Decking and balcony area with outdoor furniture and BBQ’s (summer months)

Enhanced privacy

Privacy is a huge perk when it comes to staying in one of our lodges. Unlike hotels, where common areas can be crowded and noisy, Bovey Castle lodges provide a secluded space just for your family. This private environment allows you to enjoy your holiday without any disturbances. Getting the chance to spend this uninterrupted time together, can help your family bond and make unforgettable memories.

Embrace our unique activities

Nestled in the picturesque Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle offers lodges surrounded by breathtaking nature and wildlife. This setting allows families to immerse themselves in the great outdoors, creating unforgettable experiences. Our estate offers a wide array of family-friendly activities right on your doorstep:

Outdoor adventures: Explore nearby hiking trails, go on a family bike ride, or try something new like archery, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, bee keeping and so much more.
Golf: Our 18-hole championship golf course offers stunning views of the Devonshire countryside, perfect for golf enthusiasts.
Spa & Leisure: Relax in our award-winning spa, take a dip in the indoor swimming pool, or work out in our state-of-the-art fitness centre.
KidsZone: We offer a dedicated kids’ club with a variety of activities to keep the little ones entertained while parents unwind.

Dog friendly accommodations

For many families, dogs are part of the family. Our lodges are dog friendly, so you don’t need to leave your furry friends behind, and the holiday can be enjoyed altogether. Making for a more enjoyable and stress-free holiday, with your pooch by your side.

Home cooked meals

Another advantage of a lodge stay is the opportunity to prepare home cooked meals. The lodge comes with a fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to cook your favourite dishes, just like at home. This is especially convenient for families, especially those with dietary restrictions or picky eaters.

Cooking your own meals can be more cost-effective than dining out, and indulging in a homemade dinner in the comfort of your lodge adds to the homely feel and enhances the holiday experience. If you prefer, there is also the added feature of lodge dining, which gives you the option to dine in the comfort of your own lodge too, whilst choosing from an exquisite range of home-style dining and meal options, all cooked with AA culinary excellence.

Holiday on your own schedule

We understand that if you have young children, you can often have routines that are hard to stick by when travelling. That’s why, our Estate lodges provide the flexibility to stick to these routines more easily. Children can go to bed early in a separate room, while adults stay up without worrying about disturbing them. 

Maintaining a familiar routine can make the holiday more relaxing, for both parents and children, ensuring everyone enjoys their time away from home.

Stay longer for less

This autumn settle down for several nights in one of our Estate lodges, the perfect intimate sanctuary, with our exclusive Stay Longer for Less offer. Choose from…

3/4 nights for a 20% discount

5/6 nights for a 30% discount

7+ nights for a 40% discount

Does a family lodge holiday in the UK sound right for you? Book your family lodge staycation with our discounted offer or call us on 01647 445 000 to speak to a member of our team.

Bovey Castle, in Dartmoor National Park, is opening its doors to the general public for free on Sunday, September 22^nd  between 12 noon and 4pm, for its ‘Bovey Harvest Celebration & Open Day’, where visitors can check out the venue and grounds where famous names such as Olympian Tom Daley have tied the knot.

It comes as the resort recently won the gold award for Large Hotel of the Year in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, while also claiming gold in the Large Hotel category at the Devon Tourism Awards.

As well as receiving complimentary guided tours of the 60-bedroom manor house, elan spa and the new kitchen garden, there will be live music and various activities that guests can try out for free on the day – including archery, falconry, ferret racing and kids’ crafting, as well as exploring the wildflower meadow and driving range.

Other activities including laser clay shooting and Land Rover 4×4 tours are available for a small fee.

BBQ food, coffee, cake, and ice-cream is also available to buy, as is the opportunity to dine in the venue’s award-winning 1AA Rosette Smith’s Brasserie.

Dean Gunston is the General Manager at Bovey Castle, and is hoping to emulate last year’s open day attendance when hundreds of people turned out to explore the picturesque hotel and grounds, which includes an 18-hole Championship golf course and 22 self-catering country lodges.

Dean said: “This is a great opportunity for locals and holidaymakers to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the fascinating history and prestige of our venue – not to mention the scenic backdrop of Dartmoor itself.

“Last year’s open day proved so popular that we have decided to bring it back for this year so that couples and families have the chance to capture memories on a special day out in the countryside – whether that is trying your arm at archery, watching mesmerising falconry and exploring the hotel and grounds – or even meeting the world’s oldest ferret, Suki, who resides with us!”

Book your place here

A day for dad 

10.00am: Start your UK luxury family break by arriving at one of our luxurious private lodges, designed to help you escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Kick off your stay with a selection of breakfast hampers delivered straight to your door, or make it a family affair by preparing breakfast together in your self-catering kitchen.

12.00pm: After breakfast, step outside for a leisurely stroll around our beautiful grounds, soaking up the morning sun. If you prefer, take a guided Dartmoor Tour to explore Devon in all its glory, or experience the true art of falconry with expert guidance from our internationally-renowned falconer. 

1.00pm: Enjoy lunch at our award-winning Smith’s Brasserie, then challenge your family to a round of golf on our 18-hole championship course, where you can test your swing. For younger or less experienced players, we also have a putting green and driving range.

6.00pm: End the day with a home-style dining experience in your lodge. Watch the sunset while enjoying a classic summer BBQ on your balcony or decking, with all ingredients provided by us. From Teriyaki Mediterranean prawns and scorched lime skewers, to our succulent Bovey Castle burgers, this is a meal you won’t want to miss. Finally, unwind and ready for another day of adventure.

A day for mum

10.00am: As our luxury private lodges provide the perfect blend of privacy and access to top-notch amenities, why not start your morning with a refreshing swim in the Elan Spa pool with your family. If you manage to get some alone time, indulge in our spa packages and treatments, there to help you relax, unwind and ground you. 

1.00pm: In the spirit of ‘me time’ during your next luxury family break in the UK, treat yourself to our Afternoon Tea experience, featuring sweet and savoury treats paired with quality tea or Champagne. Spend the rest of the relaxing afternoon in your scenic lodge, shaded by woodland and bordered by lakes and manicured lawns.

6.00pm: For dinner, indulge in the award-winning cuisine at the newly reopened Great Western Grill. Our relaxed, yet elegant atmosphere is the ideal spot to enjoy the finest dishes, made from local produce. As the evening slips into dusk, stroll back to your luxuriously furnished lodge and enjoy a well deserved sleep in your comfortable bed. 

A day for young children 

9.30am: For those children who are real animal lovers, there’s the chance to meet our friendly chickens and ferrets, available to enjoy right on your lodge doorstep in the morning.

12.00pm: After a hearty breakfast and a friendly meeting with our chickens and ferrets, let the kids dive into our summer adventure activities during your luxury family break in the UK. From swimming and tennis, to falconry displays, there’s plenty to keep them entertained.

3.00pm: Later on, explore Dartmoor National Park and all the natural beauty it has to offer. Visit Canonteign Falls, home to England’s tallest waterfall, or enjoy the panoramic views at Burrator Reservoir. After a busy day, retire to your room as a family and indulge in a delicious home-style cooked meal. 

A day for older children

1.00pm: Give yourself a child-free afternoon by signing the older kids up for Bovey Bushcraft, where they can channel their inner Bear Grylls. Meanwhile, you can relax at the spa or enjoy a drink on the South Terrace. 

3.00pm: In the afternoon, choose from a variety of on-site activities. From bike riding and archery, to off-road driving and beekeeping experiences, there’s something for everyone. 

6.00pm: Wrap up your family holiday with an intimate evening meal in your home from home style luxury lodge. 

Planning the perfect summer family holiday in Devon has never been easier. Spend your summer days exploring our beautiful grounds, creating everlasting memories with your family in our luxury lodges, and enjoying a range of unique onsite activities that promise fun, laughter and good times. 

Book your family summer stay today or call us on 01647 445007 to speak with a member of our team.

Companies included within the top 30 are recommended by their own employees, and the rankings are seen as an influential tool in helping hospitality organisations retain and recruit talent.

In the survey of Eden’s 500-strong workforce – 150 of which are from Bovey Castle – more than 80 per cent agreed that the company cares about its people, creates a welcoming work environment, and provides recognition for a job well done.

It comes as Eden Hotel Collection has seen vacancy levels reduce by 62 per cent across the Group over the last three years, while the business’s 90-day retention rate has risen to 96.4 per cent over the same time period.

A key driver behind this has been the introduction of a new reward and recognition programme for staff to celebrate each other – called The Happy Hub – which promotes feel-good hormones amongst teams via a social recognition wall, instant rewards through gift vouchers and peer-to-peer e-cards.

Lisa Redding, Group People Director at Eden Hotel Collection, said: “This recognition underlines our commitment as an organisation to create an environment where people can thrive and develop, while having fun along the way.

“Seeking and acting upon feedback from our people has been key to our success in building a positive working culture where they can be the best version of themselves, which not only benefits their own lives, but upholds a great experience for our guests too.

“It was particularly pleasing to see that more than 90 per cent of our staff felt like the company cares about its people – which has been supported by our Happy Hub initiative which has generated more than 400 pieces of recognition in under three months.

“Recruiting and retaining the best talent is also a priority for us and underpins everything we do, so it was also useful to gather constructive feedback to ensure we are continuously enhancing our working environment for our people to aid our ongoing growth.”

Dean Gunston, General Manager at Bovey Castle, added: “There’s a real team spirit that runs throughout our workforce – whether it is covering someone else’s shift at short notice, or recognising a colleague when they have gone the extra mile for a guest – which truly makes this a great place to work.”

Mark Chambers, Managing Director at The Eden Hotel Collection, commented: “It is no secret that the hospitality industry has struggled with recruitment for a mixture of reasons, but at Eden we are making headway in bucking this trend by creating an attractive environment to forge a long-term career that is based on feedback from our people.

“Our low vacancy and high retention levels underline the great culture at all of our hotels. While it is vital that we conduct regular health checks with our own people, participating in external surveys such as Best Places are equally important to understand how we compare to the wider market to ensure we remain one of the leading hospitality employers in the UK.”

Our restaurants, the 3 AA Rosette Great Western Grill and 1 AA Rosette Smith’s Brasserie, will both be served by the new 1400 sq m facility, which will grow herbs, vegetables and specialist seasonal ingredients such as edible flowers as chosen by its chefs.

The garden features a vegetable bed, cut flower bed, potager bed, tiered garden beds with perennial planting, a soft fruit bed, and salad beds as well as a pair of greenhouses and a polytunnel.

Visitors will also be able to roam around, explore the space and even enjoy a drink or canapé as part of their visit – with plans to host horticulture-inspired activities within the picturesque countryside setting, including garden tours which will take guests through the entire process up to harvesting.

John Mann, Head of Estates at Bovey Castle, said: “This project has been created completely in-house, drawing on a wealth of knowledge from across the team over the last six months and we are really excited to see the results.

“Our kitchen garden will be an active food source supplying the kitchen, but also as enrichment experience for our guests who can get a full sense of that farm-to-table ethos, enjoy an al fresco canapé and even take part in activities and workshops such as seed sowing.

“Sustainability is a huge priority for us and the Kitchen Garden will allow us to minimise our food miles, as we can grow a portion of what our chefs need just a few metres from the kitchen.

“It’s part of a wider push to recycle everything we use and work with local suppliers wherever possible – and you can’t get more local than this.”

We will also see the walled Victorian garden, used to supply the kitchen in the past, converted into a wildflower meadow to encourage greater biodiversity in the 275-acre site, with 60 fruit trees also planted.

A ferret from Bovey Castle is in the running to become the oldest of its kind as it gears up to mark its 15^th birthday this summer!

Say hello to Suki

Suki, who is a female silver ferret, is preparing for her major milestone in the grounds of Bovey Castle, where she has lived for the past six years greeting families with her furry friends Henry aged two, and Lilly and Grace, both aged three.

Ferrets live for around six years, but can live up to ten years if in good health, according to the RSPCA.

Suki’s age has been revealed ahead of National Ferret Day (April 2) by Hannah Bathard, Activities Manager at Bovey Castle, who has helped to care for Suki since 2009.

She said: “While I don’t know Suki’s specific birthday, I have a photo of her from September 2009 when she was around eight weeks old, which means she will be at least 15 this July – which is phenomenal.

When we found out there was a National Ferret Day, we felt it was a fitting time to share Suki’s amazing life with the world.

She used to be a working ferret and was given to Bovey Castle around six years ago after she retired by her then owner Martin Whitley, who runs falconry displays at the hotel, and has nurtured ferrets since he was a child.

Suki has always thrived off socialising with both humans and her fellow ferrets, which I think has been the key to her longevity – along with a healthy mixed diet of high protein ferret nugget and off-cuts of meat!”

Meet Suki and her friends

Suki and co have a dedicated structure packed full of hay and tunnels in the grounds of 5 AA Red Star manor house hotel, Bovey Castle, where visitors can pay them a visit.

Hannah added: “Every day at 9am a member of our activities team hosts a 30-minute session where visitors can get hands-on with our ferrets and then go on to feed breakfast to our rescue chickens.

“The sessions are very popular, so we’d urge families to book in advance – especially now that Suki has had her moment of fame!”

For more information about visiting the ferrets at Bovey Castle, head to www.boveycastle.com/meet-the-chickens-and-ferrets