Spend Christmas By The Sea...

Sarah Rodi took a trip to two exceptional destinations in Devon to see what celebrating Christmas on the coast is really like...

LYMPSTONE MANOR

My girls gasped as we rounded the driveway and the dazzling white Georgian manor house appeared. “It’s like a palace,” they said, excited.

Lympstone Manor, a historic Grade II country house, overlooks the Exe Estuary in Devon and is just north of the seaside town of Exmouth. The creative vision of Michael Caines MBE, holder of not one but two Michelin stars for 18 years, this contemporary yet luxurious hotel certainly has the wow factor.

A porter helped us with our bags, and the girls sat happily on the elegant birdcage swing seats in reception while I checked in. And the connection the hotel has with the estuary and wildlife soon became apparent. Exe Estuary is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar Site in order to protect approximately 20,000 wading birds and wildfowl that live on and around the estuary. The rooms in the hotel are all named after birds, and ours, in the new wing, was a Grand Estuary suite called Avocet. It offered panoramic views of the estuary from our private terrace, as well as an outdoor fire pit. The suite comprised of a partitioned living and sleeping area, with luxurious velvet sofas, headboards, and gold accessories. The girls were very enthusiastic about the outdoor soak tub and the gold indoor bath, and couldn’t wait to jump in.

I, however, caught sight of the gin tray. Apparently Michael is an advocate of afternoon gin. I knew I liked his style!