The Luxury Devon Estate Where A Round Of Golf Is A Game Of Two Halves

The golf

Par 70, 6,143 yards

Nowhere does the soul-soothing delights of free-flowing, crystal-clear rivers and streams on golf courses as well as the front nine here. Not far from Okehampton, it ranks among the best golf courses in Devon and was originally designed by highly regarded architect, JF Abercromby.

You start on a tempting, downhill par 4, where water awaits if you attack and don’t quite catch it, as it does again just short of the 2^nd green as you gaze up to the hotel. If you play the par-3 3^rd from the tips, take your ‘A’ game as the green is closely flanked by more water 200 yards away.

On the par-4 7^th, you cross rivers and streams which then close in on you left and right up near the green. After the 9^th, you climb out of the valley for a different-feeling back nine, which closes with six varied par 4s, with the 13^th or 14^th by the entrance road potentially drivable depending on conditions.

The 18^th is a brute, doglegging awkwardly left against the camber to a green 433 yards away.

The hotel

This haven of tranquillity is idyllic if you get the weather my wife and I enjoyed. But there’s much more than just golf on offer, with off-roading, fly-fishing, archery, clay-pigeon shooting and more, plus a sizable indoor pool in the spa.

The bedrooms and public areas are just as they should be in a building of this character, and our room, looking out over the terrace and golf course, was a perfect place to just be.

We crammed in time in the pool, walks in the woods along the front nine, cocktails on the terrace and excellent meals in both the elegant Great Western Grill (it was once a railway hotel) and the more informal Smith’s Brasserie.

There are also 22 high-class, self-catering lodges on the estate. Oh, and the falconry display was hugely entertaining.

Best deal

The ‘Time To Golf’ break includes two rounds per person on the championship course plus accommodation for two nights with full English breakfast. Prices are from £369 per room, per night.

The ‘Time To Relax’ golf break offers a one-night stay, inclusive of full English breakfast, dinner in either restaurant and a round of golf per person from £464 per room, per night. Both offers are based on two sharing a Classic room.

(prices correct at time of publication in October 2025)

Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, TQ13 8RE
T: 01647 445000
E: info@boveycastle.com
W: boveycastle.com