Ashley Manor - Grandeur between coast and country

Summary:
An immaculate country manor set among three acres of North Devon’s rolling fields, this handsome Grade-II listed manor is the epitome of elegance - styled in natural tones reflective of its rural setting and historical standing. Nestled between the wilds of Exmoor and the county’s breathtaking cliffs and beaches - this is a home that makes the most of both coast and countryside.

The Space:
INSIDE

Imagine the very best boutique hotel, then imagine having it all to yourself.

Ashley Manor’s stylishly sympathetic restoration enhances its signature period features, from the Victorian tiled floors to the vaulted ceilings, the sweeping staircases to the enormous windows and expansive bucolic views.

Through the corniced brick portico, you get your first taste of the indulgence to come. The traditionally-tiled hallway stretches through the house. In the vestibule, the gentle white walls are punctuated by the striking celadon green doors. To the left, the library in a soothing tinted blue to escape into the pages of a classic.

Opposite is the main sitting room. Bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy captivating views from the plush sofas, especially from the giant bay window.

Off the main hallway, with its centrepiece staircase, is the magnificent dining room. Make mealtimes an event for up to 14 friends and family seated around the grand dining table.

The large country kitchen, with its flagstone floor, white walls, and two range cookers, speaks to its honesty of past times when cooks and kitchen staff catered for the masters and mistresses of the manor. There’s also a refectory dining table for a relaxed morning coffee.

From the kitchen is a further shower room with WC. Then onto the snug room with large smart TV, exposed stone walls, deep greens and reds, and plush u-shaped sofa tempting you or the children to gather round and share movie night. The adjacent games room - replete with cocktail bar and table tennis table - leads onto the garden. Adjacent to the kitchen is a boot room and a utility room with a washer and dryer. Step down into the cellar and you will find the large cinema room with 70-inch smart TV - a real escape for the children.

BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS

There are seven bedrooms on the first floor; two with super king-size beds and en suite bathrooms (one with a separate shower and one with overhead shower), two bedrooms with king-size beds and en suite showers, and three with zip-and-link beds, one of which has an en suite shower room, and two that share the family shower room. There is one further family shower room on the ground floor.

OUTSIDE

Explore three-and-a-half acres of prime Devon landscape. Enjoy some gentle playtime with a little badminton, croquet or bowls on the front lawns before settling down for a light picnic lunch. Afterwards, take a soothing dip in the large wood-fired hot tub among the mature gardens, or dine al fresco on the large table to the side of the house where you'll find the barbecue and fire pit.

Guest Access:
Fresh Escapes will provide access details to the property exactly 48 hours before you check in. Ashley Manor is for your exclusive use. All seven bedrooms are on the first floor, but three of them are accessed by a further, small flight of stairs.

The Neighborhood:
Sleepy villages, traditional inns and hostelries, wild moorland, rugged cliffs, and expansive sands - Ashley Manor is perfectly placed to enjoy them all.

20 minutes away is the ancient river-port town of Barnstaple. Grand buildings tell the success story of its rich history - from the historic and opulent to the functional (the Pannier Market is one of Britain’s largest indoor markets). Peruse the wealth of family-run and big-brand shops before lunch in one of the many delis and brasseries. By evening, choose from fine dining, to eclectic contemporary eateries, to laid-back bites.

Immerse yourself in Devon’s wild side - the abundance of nature that calls Exmoor home. This breathtaking National Park is the domain of its iconic red deer, the Exmoor ponies, as well as providing sanctuary to some of the UK’s rarest butterflies. It’s one of Britain’s finest landscapes - broad open moorland, deep wooded valleys, babbling streams, and rugged coastline.

Some of Devon’s finest beaches are just half an hour’s drive. The sands of ‘Westward Ho!’ are spacious and welcoming. Perfect for a family day out and with dog-friendly zones. North of the Taw estuary is Saunton Sands - an ideal surfing beach. A little further up, beyond the National Trust’s striking Baggy Point, is Woolacombe Beach, with its wide sands, broad vistas, dunes, and cliffs. A beach picnic here is a must but not to forget Putsborough - three miles of golden sands stretching north towards Woolacombe and Morte Point and south towards Baggy Point. It's one of the finest delightful beaches in the South West - the sea is inviting, the surf is of the highest quality, and the surroundings are simply stunning. It is perfect for walkers and children with many rock pools to discover.

Getting Around:
Ashley Manor is easily accessible by road - just five minutes’ drive from the A377 Exeter-Barnstaple road. And there’s ample parking for up to 10 cars.

Umberleigh train station is less than 10 minutes’ drive. There are hourly trains to Barnstaple and Exeter, from where there are direct mainline services to London, the Midlands, Wales, northern England, and Scotland. Umberleigh is a ‘request stop’, so passengers need to signal to the driver or the conductor to board or alight.

Other Things to Note:
Two travel cots and two high chairs are provided.

We cannot accept hen or stag parties - only mature same-sex groups.

Interaction with Guests:
The Curlews is professionally managed by Fresh Escapes. A Devon based privately owned Vacation Rental and Management company who are here to ensure your stay runs as smoothly as possible.