On discovering that the wines are supplied by Christopher Piper Wines of Ottery St Mary, Devon, I was not surprised to find that the list was interesting and well priced. Clarets started at stg9.50 and there was a respectable selection of decently aged crus bourgeoises at around the stg20 mark. We found the rooms prettily decorated, many with rustic but comfortable antique furniture. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the staff are welcoming, not surprisingly many guests return year after year. The dress code is very relaxed, even in the dining room, and country or sporting attire is quite acceptable.
Dogs are welcome except in the restaurant or on the river banks.
The hotel owns the fishing rights to 20 miles of beats on the nearby River Tamar, and the salmon and trout fishing is superb. They employ two intructors who are both champions in their own right. As well as the regular fishing, there are a number of courses during the season that cater for all levels, from beginners to advanced salmon casting. In the winter, there is plenty of shooting, from walked up and informal small drives to fully driven pheasant, duck and snipe. For beginners and the bloodless, there is clay pigeon shooting with a fully qualified instructor.