Feathers all a flutter, bold and colourful, Derek, the resident peacock, pranced in all his finery, welcoming me to this idyllic location in Heddon Valley, in the heart of Exmoor National Park in North Devon. Surrounded by trees and fields of green, and edged by splashes of wild flowers, Â Hunters Inn stood as proudly as the fancy bird, and was my delightful pied-a-terre for exploring the area’s wild and wonderful beauty.
Hunter’s Inn History
The earliest record of Hunters Inn is goes back to 1823 when it was a large 18th-century thatched building. Its main purpose then was to provide pints of ale to shooting parties. When tourism came along, lodging rooms were added. Sadly, in 1895, a fire destroyed most of the building. Today Hunters Inn has ten rooms and an apartment, a restaurant, and bar. A lounge offers board games, chairs you sink into and a guest book that dates back years—A fascinating read.
The National Trust acquired Hunters Inn in 2018 and has teamed up with Bespoke Hotels. Together with other partners, such as the Butterfly Conservation, they work to save the High Brown Fritillary from extinction and to conserve the area.
The Arts & Craft-style Hunter’s Inn
Room at the Inn
Ten cosy en-suite bedrooms enjoying views over the beautiful Heddon Valley. The rooms have recently been refurbished to a very stylish standard. Room seven, affectionately named, Brown Fritillary, looks out over the front of the Inn. It is decked out in an attractive dark blue shade, has a walk-in wardrobe and a spacious ultra-modern white bathroom. All comfortable and cosy.
Each room has been individually styled. My stay at Hunter’s Inn was restful and made more so by the weak phone signal, adding the benefit of an unintended digital detox. At night the rhythmic ripples of the stream below proved to be an appreciated sleep aid.
Dining at the InnÂ
You won’t go hungry here. The restaurant offers a carefully chosen menu, including lunch, dinner and a hearty Exmoor breakfast. The charred mackerel with rhubarb chutney with a slice of pickled turnip shaped like a hat hiding homemade tartar sauce was delicious and my personal favourite. Exmoor steak, Plaistow trout, West County cheeses, Exmoor cider sauce and wild foraged pesto, were evidence of the chef’s choice of fresh, local ingredients.
The bar also has a wide drinks selection.
Gorgeous costal views near Valley of the Rocks
The grounds, both at the front and back cater for dining outside, taking full advantage of the natural elements, the tranquil setting and the silence, apart from Derek the peacock, of course. Wherever you sit the views are uninterrupted. In the restaurant floor-to-ceiling windows stare onto trees of all kinds and a copper beach tree adds that dash of contrasting colour to the picture postcard view. It is no wonder that this area inspired the romantic poets, Wordsworth and Coleridge.
Exploring the Area
Hunters Inn attracts a variety of guests. For hikers and walkers, where trails lead to Heddon’s Mouth, a rocky cove on the coast of North Devon just a mile away. Although some of the roads are narrow and at times rather scary, it’s worth a drive to the Valley of the Rocks, a destination of a rather barren yet dramatic coastal landscape.
Hunter’s Inn trees
The River Heddon runs to Heddon’s Mouth beach where catching and releasing trout along the one-kilometre open access double bank Exmoor stream is a popular activity. Arlington Court, a National Trust property, is in the vicinity with a bird hide to spot herons. At Lynton you can take the historical cliff railway down to the sea front in Lynmouth. There are a number of specialist operators that offer canoeing and kayaking. Cycling and horse riding are also popular in this sheltered valley.
About the National Trust
With 5.37 million members, over 50,000 volunteers and 10,000 staff, the National Trust is now the biggest conservation charity in Europe, caring for over 250,000 hectares of farmland, over 780 miles of coastline, and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves. In the UK, the National Trust is working with its partners to preserve UK wildlife, aiming to restore 25,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2025.
Aside from enjoying the warm hospitality, staying at the Hunters Inn is like giving back to conservation, preserving our countryside and the escape it provides from our daily, hurried routines. Staying here made life stand still, breathe, and stop long enough to see the purity and beauty of our natural world.
And of course there’s Derek, with his decorative and colorful coat of arms a dazzling reminder of all the living species we must protect that hide in this wilderness of Exmoor National Park.
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BeSeeingYou In: Exmoor National Park
Good to know: Exmoor National Park is a unique landscape of moorland, woodland, valleys, farmland and coastline
WOW! Factor: At only 693 square kilometres, Exmoor is one of the UK’s smallest National Parks but packs a big beautiful punch
Tip: Sudden changes in weather are a part of Exmoor’s charm, so dress accordingly
Author bio: Jane Wilson
