Great Bidlake Manor

About this property

… Great Bidlake Manor is an outstanding, Grade II* listed manor house on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, 1 mile from Bridestowe, recently renovated to a luxurious standard in partnership with English Heritage. It has been the ancestral home of the Bidlake family since 1268 and was rebuilt around 1594 in the Elizabethan style. The estate was once vast, but Henry Bidlake, a Royalist, sold parts of the estate during the English Civil War to pay fines to Cromwell. Charles I reputedly stayed at Great Bidlake in 1644.

The manor is surrounded by 13½ acres of gardens, woodland and paddocks with uninterrupted views over rolling Devon countryside. The gardens are split into different areas with, at the front, a lawned courtyard, mature planting and specimen trees and a large terrace surrounded by striking stone walls. To the rear of the house are a number of outbuildings, including an old cider press. Approached via an impressive tree-lined drive, the house sits grandly facing its gardens and land, a wonderful fairyland for all generations for games, alfresco dining, relaxing and star-gazing.

The house has masses of space. An impressive dining hall with huge fireplace (open fire) bearing the family’s ancient coats of arms greets you. Off this, a library and elegant living room both with grand fireplaces (open fires); a cosy TV/DVD room; a fun music room with baby grand piano, guitars and other instruments; a big breakfast room (woodburner) off the  kitchen (dishwasher, microwave, freezer, fridge, electric range/gas hob, Italian granite worktops); rear hall with boot/cloak room; ground-floor loo. Tumble-drier in outhouse. Two sets of stairs up to a huge landing called the ‛Solar’ with ancient barrel-vaulted ceiling (quiet sitting area), leading to five gorgeous bedrooms with 6’ zip-linked beds (or twin) and either en suite bathrooms or shower-rooms; a simple games room (pool table, darts) on this level leads to a second modest fitted kitchen (dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, fridge-freezer, oven/separate hob).  A sixth large bedroom (6’ bed or twin) is in the Tower on the second floor with its bathroom on the first floor. 

Damages Deposit £500.  Country Life magazine recently described Great Bidlake Manor as ‘a rural idyll’. It’s a magical place for all kinds of gatherings with bags of room for everyone and easy access from the A30.

Accommodation

- Electricity costs are included
- Heating costs are included
- This property has central heating
- This property has underfloor heating
- The property has a woodburner
- This property has an open fire
- There is a piano
- There is a broadband internet connection
- There is one television
- There is one DVD
- There is a games room
- There is a snooker table
- Linen and duvets are provided free of charge
- Towels are provided free of charge (but please bring beach towels)
- Parking is off the public road on the grounds of the property
- Two travel cots are available
- A highchair is available
- Smoking IS NOT allowed at this property
- There is one fridge
- There is one freezer
- There are two microwaves
- There are two dishwashers
- There is one tumble drier
- There is one fridge-freezer
- There is one washing machine
- There is a phone
- Pets are welcome by arrangement- Pets allowed at the property- Has open fire or wood burner
- Property is completely detached- Property has a large garden- Property has countryside views- Property is near a golf course
- Property has a piano
- Arrangements for shooting can be made- Property has a games room- Property is non smoking
- Property has a snooker table