Bayards Cove Inn

Bayards Cove Inn

, 27 Lower Street, Dartmouth, Devon.

Bayards Cove Inn is a historic house in the centre of Dartmouth dating from Tudor times. It has a restaurant and bar, and seven luxury refurbished bedrooms above. The ferry slip for the Kingswear ferry is right alongside and it is just a few steps to the little beach at Bayard’s Cove that looks out onto the Dart estuary.

This is a hotel for lovers of ancient buildings. There is a jettied front and the exposed woodwork of the timber frame are just about everywhere. It is also a hotel for foodies, with a restaurant that has won numerous awards and acclamations. And should you really want to eat somewhere else, there are numerous other restaurants and pubs within easy walking distance.

The inn offers a fully cooked breakfast every day using local bacon and sausages, free range eggs, mushrooms and vine tomatoes, waffles and breakfast baps. A wide range of meats, smoked fish and local cheeses are on offer in addition to fresh fruits, juices, cereals and yoghurts and of course freshly baked pastries and speciality coffees and teas. Vegetarians and vegans are catered for too. Lunch is served until 3pm, with a range of choices, from burgers to  salad bowls brimming with taste and goodness. And this wouldn’t be Devon without cream teas and homemade cakes in the afternoon. To finish off the gastronomic day the evening menu features fresh fish (hardly surprising with the waters of the estuary just yards away), sizzling steaks, plus vegetarian and vegan options. The bar has a range of Devon lagers, ales and ciders, a selection of spirits and a comprehensive wine list.

There are seven comfortable and stylishly-appointed bedrooms, two of which are large suites suitable for families. All are fully equipped with contemporary comforts whilst retaining the character features of a house that has seen a few centuries pass by. En-suite shower rooms, central heating, televisions, DVD players, tea and coffee trays and hairdryers are provided and there is free WiFi throughout the building. Several of the rooms have sea views, most notably the Nelson Suite which is a fantastic attic room on the third floor, with an extensive view of Bayard’s Cove, Dartmouth Castle, the River Dart and the sea beyond.

The attractions of Dartmouth need little introduction, being perfectly situated between Dartmoor and the South Devon coast. If all you do is visit Bayards Cove Fort and Dartmouth Castle, stroll around the harbour, cross over to Kingswear and ride on the steam railway, explore the river on a boat trip and see the Newcomen steam engine, then you have barely scratched the surface.