So will start with a funny story, I was meant to be going to London for a hospital appointment but it was cancelled last minute so as our dogs were already booked into kennels, we decided to take an impromptu break to Devon.
My daughter was getting married in Lockdown and we visited a couple of lovely hotels on the South coast and so I decided I would take my husband to one of the hotels which was super and situated right on the beach. I looked at many hotels before making the decision that it would be great to share this particular hotel with him.
The drive down didn’t feel familiar but hey ho, I haven’t got the best memory. We pulled into Woolacombe and again no stirring of the memory bank. We pull up to the glorious Watersmeet Hotel and I realise I had booked totally the wrong hotel and on reflection I think the hotel I was thinking of was in Cornwall!
Initial disappointment over and we took a step inside. We had such a warm welcome from Ania the hotel manager, she explained all the housekeeping details including the fact we could ask for fresh milk in our room, which was a great plus.
The hotel lobby had a lovely beachy seating area and is situated next to the indoor pool and steam room.
We went to our room on the second floor and it was a good size with a kingside bed, always good for a cuddly sized couple. The mattress wasn’t overly comfortable and we felt although there was a mattress topper the mattress needed to be replaced.
The room was hot due to the fabulous weather and we were provided with a good fan which helped cool the room down. If I was staying at the hotel again and a balcony room was available, I would definitely book it. Our room had an amazing view of the beach and we really enjoyed sitting and looking at the view.
The hotel is blessed to be situated right next to a great cove with a super sandy beach. You do need to go down a lot of steps to reach the beach so a warning that if you aren’t very mobile it’s not very accessible. My husband braved the steps and really enjoyed jumping in the waves although the water was cold. On our last day the surf was up and we had great fun watching the surfers ride the waves, apparently the water had been very calm for a couple of weeks so the surfers were out en masse to make the most of the swell.
From the hotel you can make out Lundy Island, home to Puffins and wildlife we were told. You can get a boat trip from Woolacombe or Ilfracombe over to the island.
Whilst hubby was jumping the waves I decided to lounge by the pool. There were sunbeds and great umbrellas to shield from the sun and I enjoyed languishing. Once I started to cook, I got into the pool, it was added to the hotel in the 70’s and was one of the first hotels in the area to have a pool built. It’s a great addition, overlooking the beach and a real sun trap.
The pool was an ok temperature, slightly cool to get in but warm enough to stay in and swim and better than most UK pools which can be just a tad too cool. I thought the pool area was a real asset to the hotel. There was also a great lawn where you could sunbathe or sit at patio tables enjoying a drink.
The hotel has two food offerings, the main restaurant is award winning and offered fine dining and is held in high regard. We chose the bistro which offered varied fair from Monkfish curry, fish and chips, rib eye steak, burger etc, we particularly enjoyed the rustic chips. Having a chilled glass of wine watching the sun go down on the beach was just sublime. We enjoyed it so much we booked again for the second night.
Breakfast was substantial, with a good continental selection (you could have this served in your bedroom) and a selection of hot offerings. The full English was delicious, good quality fare and plenty of it. Tea was served in a pot with extra water and a decent tea bag, its one of my pet hates when hotels skimp on tea bags.
The interior of the hotel is well appointed and chic, the lounge areas are comfortable and tasteful. An array of board games are on offer for those who can tear there eyes away from the view.
Overall, this hotel felt like it had an old-world charm, privately owned and managed by a husband-and-wife team, the staff were very pleasant and eager to please. We relaxed as soon as we stepped inside and would be very happy to return. If you are thinking of a relaxed, quality, charming honeymoon hotel the Watersmeet is perfect for a romantic break.
