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Moorland View Cottage

Staying at Moorland View Cottage, North Bovey

Moorland View Cottage is the perfect romantic getaway for anyone planning a holiday in Devon. Located in the quaint village of North Bovey, the backdrop to this luxury self-catering destination is the beautiful Dartmoor National Park.

*We were offered a complimentary stay at Moorland View Cottage in exchange for an honest review. This is not a paid advertisement. Words & Photographs by Gaby Dyson

Moorland View Cottage

If you’ve ever watched The Holiday and found yourself pining to visit a quaint rural cottage, like the one Cameron Diaz stays in when she falls for Jude Law, then you really ought to pay a visit to Moorland View Cottage. If that reference is lost on you then let me put it this way: Moorland View Cottage is exactly what I picture when someone talks about a romantic countryside retreat. The self-catering* thatched cottage offers guests everything from a fully stocked country kitchen to an authentic log-burning stove, a luxurious copper slipper bath and a chilled bottle of fizz on arrival. It’s a little slice of luxury in one of the most quintessential English villages imaginable.

Moorland View’s owner, Suzy Bennett, is a travel writer by trade and has clearly put her expertise to good use in the purchase and renovation of this pretty little holiday cottage. No detail of the cottage’s exterior or interior is left to chance. There’s a Kilner jar of fluffy marshmallows placed by the fireside and a row of Wellington boots sat patiently by the back door. More recently, Suzy has gone one step further to accommodate Moorland View guests and has partnered up with the talented Harrie Kivell (Boo to a Goose) to offer guests a private dining experience as part of their stay…

Moorland View Cottage

It should come as no surprise that the village of North Bovey is a little bit off the beaten track. We were originally supposed to visit Moorland View Cottage on January 31st but the unexpected onslaught of snow meant that we couldn’t get there by car. Although we could potentially have made the trip anyway, we didn’t want to take the risk of getting stranded on Dartmoor and we sadly missed out on the picturesque postcard scene of the village draped in snow. Thankfully, when we did get round to visiting the cottage, it was on a particularly sunny day in March. The weather was glorious and the country lanes that wound their way to North Bovey were scenic and clear.

The Living Room (image from website)
Moorland View Cottage
The view from the garden.

Moorland View Cottage is a little bit dreamy, to say the least. From the outside, the Devonshire cottage looks like it’s been plucked straight from the pages of Country Living Magazine and the moment you step inside it only gets better. Upstairs, the cottage’s luxury bathroom boasts a huge vintage copper slipper bath complete with White Company toiletries, fluffy towels and cosy dressing gowns. The master bedroom offers a luxurious king-sized bed and gorgeous views of the nearby moorland (during our visit, we spent a good hour the following morning looking out at the scenery, sipping on cups of tea and watching a family of jackdaws build their nest on the neighbouring cottage).

Moorland View
The stunning bathroom

A second bedroom offers twin beds should you need them and a desk on the upstairs landing provides you with everything you would need to explore the local area. There’s advice for eating in the local area, a leather-bound guest book, discounts for nearby Bovey Castle spa and a selection of postcards to send home.

Moorland View Cottage
Moorland View Cottage

Downstairs, the cottage kitchen may be small but it’s well-stocked with everything you would need to cook up a delicious dinner or make yourself a cup of freshly ground coffee. There’s a selection of Global knives, Brissi table linen, a dishwasher, store cupboard basics and a range of cookery books to inspire you. You’ll also receive a complimentary hamper that includes wine, snacks, and a locally-sourced farmhouse breakfast.

Moorland View Cottage
The cottage kitchen is well-stocked for self catering.

Meanwhile, the dining area occupies one-half of the living room. There’s comfortable seating for up to four people and you can sit and enjoy your dinner in front of a crackling fire. However, while the idea of preparing our own farmhouse breakfast seems like fun, we think it’s arguably preferable to have a private chef cook dinner for you during your stay…

Moorland View Cottage
The dining table

Private Dining with Harrie Kivell (Boo to a Goose)*

25-year-old Harrie Kivell offers a private chef service as part of a special Moorland View package. We’ve been following her business, Boo to a Goose, on Instagram for quite some time and we couldn’t wait to try her food on the evening. For £100 per person, Harrie will prepare a gourmet three-course meal in the cottage’s kitchen and provide you with a choice of dishes to choose from.

Moorland View Cottage
Harrie Kivell

Prior to our stay, we liaised with Harrie about menu ideas and had the opportunity to discuss any dietary requirements or preferences we had (see below for her suggested menu). She arrived around 6pm and had dinner on the table by 7pm. For our part, we just sat back and relaxed in the living room!

Seared Scallops were the first course to arrive at the table. These were beautifully cooked and accompanied by a crispy black pudding crumb and salty capers. These were followed by Pistachio Crusted Lamb with a delicious feta & grain salad to share. This course was so tasty we actually attempted to recreate it at home (with mixed results). Finally, we enjoyed a Chocolate Cremeux with Salted Caramel Ice-cream.

A Sample Menu (our choices are starred)
Moorland View Cottage
The Pistachio Crusted Lamb
Chocolate Cremeux with Salted Caramel Ice-cream & Caramelised Orange

All three dishes were restarant quality and Harrie certainly proved her spurs as a private chef. Her service was a wonderful addition to the stay and I was impressed to find that the kitchen was absolutely spotless when she left.

Moorland View Cottage

Our overall impressions of Moorland View Cottage

Our stay at Moorland View Cottage was a hugely enjoyable experience. The cottage would be an idyllic destination for couples on their honeymoon or those who simply want to retreat to a romantic spot in Devon. I honestly felt that Suzy had covered all bases in terms of what guests may need and the interior design was exquisite throughout. Harrie is a wonderful asset to Moorland View and I would certainly recommend an evening of her cooking if it’s within your holiday budget. We’re already planning a return visit and are feeling inspired to explore more boutique experiences that the West Country has to offer…

If our visit has inspired you to book a stay away at Moorland View, you can check the cottage’s latest availability online at www.moorlandviewcottage.co.uk/prices-availability

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