Hotels


The Park Hotel is in a quiet corner of the bustling market town of Barnstaple and enjoys views over leafy Rock Park and the River Taw beyond. It is a short walk to the shops, bars and restaurants of the town centre, while the beaches, moors and rolling hills of North Devon stretch ready to be explored in every direction. The Hotel is elegant and comfortable, with modern amenities and attentive, personal service. Each of the luxury bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom, satellite television and tea and coffee making facilities, and room service is available 24 hours a day. Dining at the Park Hotel is always a pleasure. The beautifully furnished lounge bar and restaurant provide comfortable and elegant surroundings, whilst the food speaks for itself. The restaurant has a popular lunchtime carvery most days. The dinner menu showcases the finest in locally sourced, expertly crafted cuisine and, on selected Saturday nights, you can let your hair down and dance the night away at a dinner dance. Hotel facilities include a large free car park and complimentary use of Leisure facilities, including a heated indoor pool, at the nearby sister property, The Barnstaple Hotel.

Celtic Manor House
The Manor House was built in the 19th century and as The Manor House Hotel, before the resort was built, was recognised to be one of the finest hotels in the United Kingdom, winning the EgonRonay award for the best hotel in Wales for five consecutive years. The character of this lovely property has been retained and it now provides a total of 70 traditionally styled bedrooms, including three with four-poster beds. In addition, The Manor House is home to Le Patio restaurant, the Cellar Bar, Residents• Lounge, Manor Bar, Hedleys, and The Manor Suite. The Manor House is set in glorious landscaped gardens, with its own parking and direct access to The Resort Hotel. Guests also enjoy complimentary telephone calls to national landlines, high speed internet access and complimentary use of The Forum Health Club leisure facilities. Double and Twin Rooms are traditionally decorated room have queen-size bed or two singles en-suite with bath and shower. Alternatively within the original 19th century building are •Period rooms• rich in character and historic period features, complemented by traditional country house d•cor. The AA Rosette award-winning restaurant Le Patio, is a charming hideaway in the historic surroundings of The Manor House, echoing the simple, relaxed style of an authentic French bistro. Le Patio features a fabulous menu of satisfying, hearty dishes that change with the seasons and define regional, homely French cuisine. The cooking is of a rustic, country style and features classics such as Cuisses de Grenouilles, MoulesMariniéres and Creme Brulèe.

Golf courses
Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! It was founded in 1864 and is the oldest golf course in the England. It is over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, although most will agree that it•s a suitably stiff test at 6,650 yards, especially when the wind blows. The playing surfaces are second to none, boasting year-round fast and true greens, firm tees and tight fairway lies, which require crisply struck iron shots. To sum it up, this is true golf played out under big skies and against a backdrop of crashing surf. (6653 yards, par 72)

Saunton has two traditional links courses that have views of North Devon's beautiful coast with the river, sea and golden sands as a background. Saunton East is a heavyweight proposition that takes no prisoners. The strength of this course lies in the long par 4 holes that usually require a driver from the tee. The wind plays an important part in the decision-making process. But the perception of toughness is best captured by the story of a former club secretary•s dog who retired after a career haul of 20,000 golf balls - all found among Saunton•s colourful gorse, willow scrub and buckthorn. (6708 yards, par 73) Saunton West is a championship course in its own right and arguably needs more attention to course management than its wonderful neighbour the East. It needs thoughtful club selection from the tee and precision into well-guarded greens. It is somewhat shorter than the East course, and has some extreme doglegs calling for astute shot making. (6356 yards, par 71)

Burnham and Berrow is a memorable experience, the Championship course is a traditional seaside links, nine holes out and nine back. The first nine skirt the sand dunes and coastline northwards, turning inland and southwards and then following the coast road through Berrow, past the Church and back into Burnham. As with all links golf the challenging factor is the wind and its unpredictability, which means that the course can play differently almost every day. The greens true and quick and the course is guaranteed to be in good condition all year. (6793 yard, par 71) The Channel Course is excellent with several extremely good holes, which vie with some on the Championship Course. In 2006, nine new tees were added to make a nine hole, 18-tee course that is a real test of ability and a joy to play.

Royal Porthcawl G.C. has a magnificent setting sloping down to the seashore. The absence of sand hills usually found on links courses enables the golfer to see the sea from every hole and to enjoy memorable views south to Somerset and Exmoor, and northwest across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula. With holes facing into every point of the compass, the player is always tested by the wind and will probably need every club in the bag. King Edward VII bestowed the honour of Royal status on the club in 1909 and in 1932 the Prince of Wales visited the club with some of his friends who were members. The status of the course is sustained by the many amateur and professional events held at the Club over the years, the Amateur Championship (six times), the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the European Team Championship, the Home Internationals (eight times), the Vagliano Trophy, the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, the Dunlop Masters, the Penfold and the Coral Classic. (6885 yards, Par: 72)

The Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort opened for play in July 2007 and has already staged the Welsh Open. It is the first course to be built specifically for the Ryder Cup, golf's greatest team tournament. There are water hazards on half of its holes, the course has six signature holes and presents many memorable tests and risk-and-reward dilemmas. One of the features of the spectacular new course is its variety with many of the earlier holes having a links-like feel with some long rough and greenside swales, before the middle section of the course reveals the full extent of the lake-lined challenge. A tough finishing stretch culminates in a real sting in the tail at the 18th. (7493 yards, Par: 71) There are other two courses at the resort, the Montgomery and the Roman Road