Great Bidlake Manor

4.9★

12 Guests
6 Bedrooms
6 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Electric car charging
Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Games Room
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

58 Customer Review(s)

John
October 2024

“A fabulous few days away with the family in an amazing location.”

It had everything we needed and more. A wonderful welcome cake awaited us together with some bubbly. Carole gave us a very thorough tour of this wonderful property on our arrival and answered all our queries.

It had everything we needed and more. A wonderful welcome cake awaited us together with some bubbly. Carole gave us a very thorough tour of this wonderful property on our arrival and answered all our queries.

- John, October 2024
Tina September 2024

“A beautiful manor in gorgeous grounds.”

Everything you need for an indoor winter or outdoor summer break. Comfortable beds, lovely pillows & linen. Tasteful throughout. Plenty of information on the app about the property, facilities and local amenities. A group of 12 of went to celebrate a big birthday and we used a recommended caterer ( on the app) to have a dinner party on the Saturday night. My only suggestion would be to allow a slightly earlier check in and later check out as 4.30 and 9.30 respectively do not give much time! We did request a later check out as no guests were arriving, however it wasn’t possible.

- Tina, September 2024

Thank you, Tina. Great Bidlake is a fabulous place to celebrate a big birthday! We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to providing the perfect venue for your next milestone event. We appreciate the feedback on arrival/check out times and we'll see if we can adjust them, but it's tricky because we want to make sure everything is spotlessly clean and prepared to our high standards. With a house the size of Great Bidlake, this takes a lot of time and effort and something we take pride in doing well. Property Owner
James August 2024

“Awesome house with everything you need for the perfect holiday.”

There is nothing but praise for the the house, so much living accommodation and bedrooms with en suites. It was clean and tidy we had a great week with the family. It is highly recommended and more than great value for the money.

- James, August 2024

Thank you James for your kind feedback. We are so pleased you and your family enjoyed your stay at Great Bidlake. Property Owner
Carolyn June 2024

“Fabulous holiday shared with all our family- from a 1 year old to a young at heart 84 year old!”

Beautiful home and grounds with every comfort you could possibly need. Stunning views and fabulous facilities- from the games room for the kids through to the [piping hot and powerful shower in every en-suite, everything is catered for. The house management is approachable, friendly and very quick to answer any questions or fix any issues (we had an internet outage during the stay). Perfect for exploring the coast, Dartmouth National Park, gorgeous villages and towns. We hiked, swam, shopped and of course ate and drank to our heart's content!

- Carolyn, June 2024

Thank you Carolyn for your super review. We are thrilled you all enjoyed such a wonderful time! Property Owner
Ralph May 2024

“The perfect location as a base for exploring nearby Dartmoor which we did, and ideal for us as a "Monday to Friday group" of old friends and colleagues (6 couples).”

Well exceded our expectations which were already high from the website photos and very helpful info provided.

- Ralph, May 2024

Thank you Ralph. We are so pleased to hear we managed to exceed your expectations! Please come and stay with us again, and explore Dartmoor some more. Property Owner
Peter April 2024

“Beautiful property.”

Very well equipped.

- Peter, April 2024

Thank you Peter. We make sure that Great Bidlake has everything and more that you could want in a holiday house. It's great to hear you enjoyed your stay. Property Owner
Maggie April 2024

“Our second visit to Great Bidlake and we had another wonderful family holiday.”

The house is absolutely superb, huge!.. but comfortable and welcoming. Extremely well equipped with everything you could wish for...and spotlessly clean. The garden and grounds are beautiful and so interesting with lots of new planting since our last visit. Three generations of our family plus dogs enjoyed every minute. Thank you to Carole and her team!

- Maggie, April 2024

Thank you Maggie for coming to stay again at Great Bidlake. We are carrying out a multi-year plan for the grounds at Great Bidlake, so please come back again and see the progress we are making! Property Owner
Mark March 2024

“Probably the best house we have ever stayed in.”

- Mark, March 2024

Thanks Mark - that's high praise indeed and we appreciate the recognition of our efforts to ensure our guests have their expectations exceeded. Looking forward to welcoming you again to Great Bidlake. Property Owner
Penny March 2024

“What a wonderful opportunity to stay in such a beautiful property.”

Perfect for our family celebration. None of us wanted to leave. Plenty of space to be together but also to not be in each others pockets. Perfectly positioned to visit all areas of Devon and Cornwall. Communication with the housekeeper was perfect, all questions answered quickly. Would we go back ??? Without a doubt.

- Penny, March 2024

Thank you Penny for your very positive feedback. Please come and stay again! Property Owner
Libby February 2024

“We had another great week all be it eventful week at Great Bidlake, Carole was extremely helpful and had great local knowledge.”

All three generations love the house and we are really looking forward to coming back next year.

- Libby, February 2024

Thank you Libby and it was a pleasure to have you and your family stay with us again. We look forward to welcoming you back next year. Property Owner
Sathyavathi September 2023

“Great Bidlake Manor is a beautiful and cosy stay with all kinds of luxurious creature comforts.”

We all had a very beautiful time in this property. Thanks for organising and facilitating everything Carole and Jonathan!

- Sathyavathi, September 2023

Thank you. We are pleased you enjoyed your visit. Come and stay again soon! Property Owner
Michelle August 2023

“We stayed here for a week with our Son and Daughter and 6 granddaughters.”

Our group ranged from 63 to 4 and everyone had a fantastic time. There is something to do for everyone. Unfortunately we didn't use the outside facilities as we had hoped to because the weather wasn't kind to us but there is plenty to see and do around the area. The house is stunning inside and out and very spacious. Carole and her husband (the caretakers) are very responsive and helpful. We would certainly love to visit again in the future. You will not be disappointed.

- Michelle, August 2023

Thank you Michelle. Great Bidlake is such a perfect house for a multi generational holiday. We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to welcoming you and your family again! Property Owner
Eileen Susan July 2023

“Delightful property for a family group aged 16 to 90.”

Despite the rain, we enjoyed walking in the gardens and orchards. Inside, the grandchildren’s wing, with solar, games room, and little kitchen were much used. The whole family enjoyed the dining room, sitting room and music room, which felt very elegant. The main kitchen was beautifully equipped for a largish group. We were close enough to Dartmoor for various excursions, and to two National Trust properties. Thank you to housekeeping team for caring for it so well.

- Eileen Susan, July 2023

Thank you Eileen. Thank you for recognising our hard working housekeeping team. They do a tremendous job in making sure Great Bidlake is top notch. Please do come and stay again. Property Owner
Laura June 2023

“Top marks for everything required in a holiday let.”

Perfection.

- Laura, June 2023

Thank you Laura. We greatly appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to Great Bidlake. Property Owner
Jan May 2023

“This is a truly stunning property and grounds.”

We were expecting a wing of the Manor House and we’re surprised that we had access to the whole house. The beds were comfortable and the house was stocked with everything you could possibly need. The grounds are lovely with baby rabbits everywhere.

- Jan, May 2023

Thank you Jan. We take a lot of effort to make sure Great Bidlake provides everything needed for a wonderful holiday (though we don't take any responsibility for providing the bunnies!). We hope to see you again. Property Owner
Danielle April 2023

“We had the most fabulous 3-night stay here in April, which coincided with our wedding and two birthdays, and Carol, the host, was extremely helpful in allowing us to celebrate with our family.”

We had me and my husband, our children, both our sets of parents and our grandparents stay for the weekend. Part of our group required a spare bed separate from their carer which was no trouble for Carol to organise for us which helped us massively. The house was immaculate and clean, and so beautifully presented. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfasts and meals surrounding the breakfast table at every opportunity. We hired a caterer for our meal on Saturday, in which they had no trouble setting up outside, although the rain through us and we ended up eating our hog roast inside but the house is so stunning that it really didn't matter. We had so many wonderful touches left around the house which welcomed us which we were so grateful for.. nothing seemed too much for Carol, she was beyond friendly and accommodating. All bedrooms were well-equipped with fresh robes, towels and bedding, and a cot was provided too. Every room was perfect for those as a full family or as a couple; every room was very private and closed off to other rooms, allowing for children staying to be close to their carers, yet allowing privacy from them too. Our elder family members thoroughly enjoyed having their own rooms with either a bath/shower (or both) in their room, which meant there was no struggle with mobility using bathroom facilities. It took us a while to navigate around the house, though this definitely added to the fun and wonders of the building. There are so many old features around the house which were amazing to look at. We took our two dogs and over the course of our stay, they were able to stay safely in the boot room; one of our dogs has problems with her hips so it was important for us that they had somewhere to stay. The outside grounds are just as beatiful; some of our favorite moments from our weekend were our 6 AM walks around the grounds with the dogs, and also sitting outside with a bottle of fizz watching the sunset. We had spoken about coming back again before we had completed our stay.. and we are so excited about booking again! If you are debating whether this house is the right one, this is your push to book it! It's the most beautiful property, so well taken care of... I could write so much about our stay. Thank you so much GBM, we had the most fabulous family weekend with you!! See you again soon! Danni and Jamie

- Danielle, April 2023

Thank you Danni and Jamie for your wonderful feedback. We are thrilled you had such an enjoyable visit. Please come again! Property Owner
Maggie March 2023

“Three generations of our family and our two labradors have just enjoyed the most wonderful holiday at Great Bidlake Manor.”

It is, without doubt, the best place we have ever stayed. The property is beautiful, cleanliness is second to none, bed linen/towels etc were top class, it was equipped with everything you could ever want. The grounds are well maintained but also home to lots of wildlife. Not one of us could find a single fault and none of us wanted to leave! Highly recommended!

- Maggie, March 2023

Thank you Maggie for your comments. Please come and stay again! Property Owner
Pamela February 2023

“A very special house in which to celebrate two big birthdays in our family.”

It is spotless, comfortable and very well appointed. We would love to return again one day. Thank you Carole.

- Pamela, February 2023

Great Bidlake is a superb place for special celebrations! Thanks for your comments Pamela and please do come and stay again soon. Property Owner
David December 2022

“This was our third pre Xmas stay (9/12) at Bidlake Manor, and again we couldn’t fault it.”

The cleanliness and attention to detail is second to none. We had 3 young children with us this time as well as 8 adults and the kids loved exploring the house. Many thanks to Carole the house keeper for welcoming us all again.

- David, December 2022

Thanks for your comments David and for staying with us again. We are looking forward to your next visit. Property Owner
Robert November 2022

“This was our second year running that we have stayed at Great Bidlake Manor and towards the end of our first stay, I booked again for this year.”

After our first stay I left a long and glowing review. Nothing has changed; our stay was just as good. We are a bunch of finicky old codgers and the fact that we hired for a second year shows how much we enjoyed the place.

- Robert, November 2022

Thanks for your kind feedback, Robert. We enjoyed having you to stay and look forward to your and your friends' next visit. Property Owner
Stephen November 2022

“From the communications and tour from Carole to departure, this was one of the most amazing places we as a group of 11 (and little dog) have ever had the pleasure of staying.”

The pictures and website really do not do it justice enough! As said, we were met by Carole for a tour, and found a gorgeous chocolate cake and 2 bottles of bubbly waiting for us - thank you! The house has everything you could possibly ask for and more, including space to simply chill! We will be back!

- Stephen, November 2022

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Stephen. We think the locally made chocolate cake is pretty good too! Looking forward to seeing you again. Property Owner
Sharon October 2022

“We had a fabulous stay.”

Their attention to the smallest details gives the holiday maker peace of mind while staying away from home. The property is stunning in a tranquil setting. All amenities are a stones throw away. We will definitely return.

- Sharon, October 2022

Thank you Sharon. We are thrilled to hear you had a great time. Please come and stay again soon! Property Owner
Laura October 2022

“The house was amazing and we had a great time there.”

Very well equipped, clean and well maintained. The Manor house is beautifully, modern, but full of character. We really enjoyed our time.

- Laura, October 2022

Hi Laura. Thank you for coming to stay at Great Bidlake. We look forward to welcoming you and your guests again. Property Owner
Elizabeth September 2022

“Second visit to this amazing house, fizz and huge cake makes a great start to the holiday”

- Elizabeth, September 2022

Thanks for staying at Great Bidlake again - we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Property Owner
Richard August 2022

“Excellent accommodation in a beautiful setting.”

Particularly impressed by hot water availability! Younger generation loved the games room. Very minor suggestions. The kitchen would benefit from a decent pair of scissors and some sensible BBQ tools would be useful.

- Richard, August 2022

Many thanks for your feedback (and we'll get some new scissors and BBQ tools). We are very pleased to hear you had a super holiday at Great Bidlake. Property Owner
Rob June 2022

“For a family gathering of three generations, we had a lovely time in this well-appointed, large house.”

We enjoyed the space, the large comfy bedrooms and en suites with plenty of hot water. The music room was hugely appreciated by all ages. The games room was a bonus and also enjoyed, though none of the TV’s HDMI ports seemed to work any more. The kitchen was spacious and well equipped although we. missed a coffee machine and were limited by the single sink, though the two dishwashers were very useful. The lack of kitchen storage containers was also an inconvenience. As for the entertainment facilities, we felt the TVs were on the small size, old and slow, as was the ageing BT Player; and a slight niggle: we couldn’t add a Sonos login without the owner’s password. Unfortunately, we had an ongoing problem with bees in the bedrooms. Though the first swarm was quickly dispatched, they soon came back. Also, the day after we arrived, the kitchen was literally teeming with flies. But after killing over 50 across 3 days, we got them under control. The gardens were lovely but we couldn’t access the full 13 acres because the outer parts were too overgrown. However, watching sunsets from the terrace was wonderful, and we really appreciated the BBQ and garden furniture.

- Rob, June 2022

Thanks for your feedback (sorry to hear about the bees and flies - this is very unusual) and we are very pleased you enjoyed your holiday at Great Bidlake! Property Owner
Joy May 2022

“Amazing property and setting.”

Everything was perfect

- Joy, May 2022

We are thrilled you enjoyed your holiday at Great Bidlake - thank you for your feedback. Property Owner
Linda April 2022

“We had a great stay at this beautiful Manor House.”

Just a couple of things that could have improved our stay, firstly for a house this size it would have been very useful to have had a utility room or just a second sink in the main kitchen. Or even just a washing up bowl in the kitchen. Secondly a fenced off area to let off the dogs would have been useful, as we enjoyed playing croquet on the lawn but it meant the dogs had to be tied up to stop them wandering onto farmland. On the plus side Great Bidlake Manor is a fabulous place for a family gathering. So much space for each generation. The baby grand was used every day, we all had great fun playing croquet although it did get very competitive!! The dining hall was the perfect setting for playing Murder at the Manor game. Carole the housekeeper who lives nearby is lovely and was very helpful recommending nearby walks and places to eat. We appreciated the abundance of logs that was available at no extra charge. Lots to do in the area, especially recommend the circular walk from castle drogo to the Fingle Bridge Inn, which had some good vegan choices on the menu. The Castle Inn at Lydford is a lovely candlelight atmospheric pub with a good menu. All in all we had a really lovely week and hope to return in 2023.

- Linda, April 2022
Angela April 2022

“This is our fourth visit to Bidlake manor.”

Carole, Jonathon and their team do a superb job in maintaining this wonderful house. The beds are so comfortable with top quality linen All the bedrooms have their own ensuite bathrooms. The kitchen is really well equipped. Bidlake Manor can comfortably accommodate 12 people of all ages without any problem. We will return for our fifth visit before too long. !!

- Angela, April 2022

Thank you for your wonderful feedback and for your continuous support. It means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you again to Great Bidlake sometime soon! Property Owner
Elizabeth January 2022

“We were very happy with the property and it met all our needs and more.”

Our only criticisms were - getting in at 5pm (advertised initially as 6pm) is far too late on a dark Winter's afternoon, could it not have been a little earlier say 4pm when it was still light. - having to leave at 9.00am puts pressure on your last evening as all tidying up had to be done on Sunday evening when you want to be still enjoying your holiday time. Most places allow you to leave around 10.00am or later, giving time for a breakfast and tidying up. - having to clear out the fire grates seems unacceptable, could this not be done by the clearing team. We have hired properties for many years on our January breaks and never been asked to dot his dirty job before. Guests should not be asked to this.

- Elizabeth, January 2022

We are very pleased your enjoyed your stay at Great Bidlake and many thanks for your valuable feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back. Our hard working team prepare the Manor to very high standards for our guests. This is something we take pride in - we like things to sparkle - and of course this takes time (in fact about 35 working hours per changeover). We've taken your thoughtful comments into account and will revise our procedures to be more flexible. Property Owner
Robert November 2021

“What an absolutely wonderful place to stay.”

When our group started our "Anniversary Weekends Away" fifteen years ago, of the three nights, all were party nights but now we are older we drank less this "Anniversary Week Away" than any weekend away. But what a great place to gently relax: clean, comfortable furniture and beds; spotless exceptionally stocked kitchen, twice; big roaring fires with plenty of wood supplied (this isn't usual, normally have to supply your own) large bedrooms and bathrooms, and loads of other rooms to relax in. We are five OAP couples from across the country and France and we arrived on Friday 26th November and departed Friday 3rd December but we loved the place so much that after being there for only three days, we actually rebooked for next year. If we had a criticism it would be that it took a couple of days for the place to warm up and if the place was full and you all wanted to watch a film in the TV Lounge, you would have to have a matinee showing followed by a second showing as you wouldn't fit everyone into the room at once. (Why not turn the upstairs sitting room into a home cinema?) If you are thinking of booking Great Bidlake Manor, life is too short to think about it, get it booked and enjoy the place and yourselves.

- Robert, November 2021

Thanks for the fantastic feedback! Very pleased you enjoyed your stay at Great Bidlake. Property Owner
Jennie November 2021

“Excellent Thank you”

- Jennie, November 2021

Thank you Mrs. Fitzjohn. We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay at Great Bidlake and look forward to welcoming you back. Property Owner
Andrew October 2021

“Super house, yummy cake and so nice to see the bottles of bubbly on arrival - so good we’ve rebooked for next year”

- Andrew, October 2021
Lynette September 2021

“There were 11 if us, family and friends celebrating my 70th birthday.”

You could get lost in the manor it is really big and everything you need is there. The whole setting is beautiful. I really felt like a lady a of the manor. We hired a private chef for my actuall birthday and the whole experience was magic. Carol was on call if you needed her and nothing was too much trouble. We all throughly enjoyed our week and couldn't have picked a more perfect place to celebrate and would love to return one day.

- Lynette, September 2021
Nina August 2021

“Great bidlake is perfect for extended family groups.”

The facilities were perfect and we all enjoyed our stay. Carole very friendly and welcoming.

- Nina, August 2021
Marilyn July 2021

“I have stayed in many holiday homes but have not previously stayed in one that absolutely fulfilled the requirements of three generations of family.”

The level of cleanliness and furnishings and equipment provided was second to none and the atmosphere of the home despite its size was really special.

- Marilyn, July 2021
Rachel October 2020

“The most beautiful property in a peaceful location.”

Very well appointed with everything we could possibly have needed.

- Rachel, October 2020
Helen July 2020

“Fantastic week away after being in lockdown for the past 3 months.”

The property was stunning and had everything we could need and the location was perfect to explore Devon and Cornwall - would definitely go back. Ideal for family get together or friends meeting up x

- Helen, July 2020
Christine March 2020

“We had a wonderful holiday experience .”

Three generations of the family stayed at Bidlake to celebrate my 80th birthday. Everyone was impressed with the accommodation particularly the bathrooms. The house was well stocked but there could have been a few more smaller dishes in the kitchen. Everything was so large. The cooker in the kitchen wasn't that efficient but we managed. All in all we had a fabulous time and would highly recommend Great Bidlake Manor to anyone. A glorious part of the country as well.

- Christine, March 2020
Steve January 2020

“Excellent, impressive, Manor House,beautifully presented.”

Perfect for our large family get-together.

- Steve, January 2020
David December 2019

“We stayed here from the 6/12/19 for a week.”

This was our second stay at at Bidlake and cannot recommend the place enough. It is spotlessly clean, Carol and her husband and the team do a great job and nothing is to much trouble. On both occasions we have stayed we have had problems that required people to come out and they were dealt with quickly. This place is great for family gatherings.

- David, December 2019
D October 2019

“Wow!! Great Bidlake Manor was a great family experience”

. We are a family of 9 who had a great time and a wonderful week at the Manor and would recommend and certainly book again. The autumnal weather was great and we had some lovely walks with the dog in the woods and around the Manor. Relaxing and refreshing and could not have asked for anymore. Thank you very much for the experience. the Regans and O'Sullivans

- D, October 2019
Christine October 2019

“Fantastic well equipped house ideal for our large group who holiday every year together.”

- Christine, October 2019
Sally October 2019

“The Manor was warm, clean, very comfortable and also very we’ll equipped.”

The booking and key handover was easy and there was oodles of hot water. Very impressed with everything.

- Sally, October 2019
Shawn August 2019

“We loved our holiday it was a great place to stay”

- Shawn, August 2019
Christopher June 2019

“Bidlake Manor is a great place for a family holiday.”

It is finished to a very high standard and all rooms are spacious and well equipped. The reason why our scores were not higher was due to the problems we had in one of the bedrooms. It appears that a previous guest had had an incontinent child or pet in the room, as the mattress, bedding and bed itself smelled strongly of urine. The caretaker did try hard to rectify the situation, but in the end we did have to abandon the room. I know there is only a short time to clean the house between lets , but the problem we encountered did put a cloud over an otherwise successful holiday.

- Christopher, June 2019
Maggie June 2019

“What a superb house.”

Everything was absolutely wonderful - great bedrooms, fantastic en-suites, well-equipped kitchen, great sounding piano... Rabbits. Sheep. We've never used Sonos before - very nice. Comes with its own wood & walking distance to the pub. I can't think of anything that wasn't lovely.

- Maggie, June 2019
Janette June 2019

“Bidlake Manor is a lovely place to stay.”

This was our second family holiday there and accommodated the 10 of us superbly. A family Birthday made even more memorable. Our two dogs could not fault Bidlake either, acres to roam.

- Janette, June 2019
John May 2019

“The people who met us at the property were very helpful.”

There were no problems. We thought it was excellent value for money, given the vast size of the property. We didn't really have time to take advantage of all the facilities on offer.

- John, May 2019
Peter January 2019

“This beautiful Manor House was everything we hoped for and more, exceptionally clean luxury accommodation which was very well equipped and the heated flooring and fires made it a lovely cosy retreat for a get-together for the whole family.”

The house has generous accommodation with enough room for people to have their own space if needed, but simultaneously providing informal and formal dining areas for the whole family and likewise with the sitting room. The open fires were the icing on the cake. We also loved the separate music room, the TV room on which to view either one's own DVDs or the wide selection provided. There was much else to take advantage of if so inclined, such as the study with a wide range of books, the pool room, darts board, second kitchen with full washing facilities etc. It was an idyllic setting and a really well furnished and thought out large family home that we felt privileged to have been able to experience. In fact, the whole experience made some wonderful family memories and we would love to return in the future.

- Peter, January 2019
David December 2018

“Beautiful house .”

We felt extremely well provided for. Plenty of utensils and it seemed that our comfort was paramount.. Local pub. The White Hart very friendly and welcoming --11 adults, 2 children and 3 dogs.... we had an amazing tme. Have already booked for next year. The house is clean, atmospheric, and well thought out. It is by far the best one we have stayed in.

- David, December 2018
Arran November 2018

“Great Bidlake Manor is an outstanding property ideally suited to quiet family getaways.”

It was immaculately presented and every comfort was provided. The games room was a real bonus but the beauty of the house and grounds was a permanent distraction for us. Thank you so much for a wonderful break away from it all.

- Arran, November 2018
Martin November 2018

“The House was amazingly comfortable, with many added comforts.”

The bedrooms were large with excellent en suite facilities. Every comfort had been thought of and the kitchen was well stocked with facilities to cook. There were provisions provided for us eg. coffee, tea, tin foil, cling film, dishwasher tablets etc. All in all the best house we have stayed in.

- Martin, November 2018
Lesley October 2018

“Staying in Great Bidlake Manor feels like a cross between a luxury country hotel and a family home.”

Everyone in our party, from the youngest to oldest, thoroughly enjoyed their stay. The addition of tea and coffee in the kitchen, plus all the logs for the amazing fires, were a wonderful extra you don’t normally get in self catering. Everything had been thought of to make your stay the best ever !

- Lesley, October 2018
Alena September 2018

“An absolute dream.”

Gorgeous home. Thank you for sharing with us.

- Alena, September 2018
Lorraine September 2018

“This Manor is a stunning place to stay”

- Lorraine, September 2018
Philip & Pauline August 2018

“Ideal setting for a family holiday; perfectly safe/secure.”

Very many outdoor activities a short drive away.

- Philip & Pauline, August 2018
M May 2018

“I have nothing but praise and thanks for the owners and caretaking staff at Bidlake .”

My one area for improvement would be the potholes in the approach drive , however it did not distract from having a good time

- M, May 2018

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Summary

Sykes Gem Awards 2024 Bronze winner for Best Historic Property
Over three levels
Five first floor bedrooms with option of being super king double or twin, all with en suite bathroom or shower room
Top floor super king double or twin bedroom and bathroom with bath, shower, hand shower, WC and basin
Ground floor dining hall with open fire
Sitting room with open fire
Library with open fire
Music room
Breakfast room
Kitchen
Hall
Boot room
First floor games room and small kitchen.
Central heating, open fire, underfloor heating with wood burning stove
Induction Hob, Microwave, fridge-freezer, tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, Smart TV, WiFi, Phone, Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot and highchair available on request
Outdoor table tennis table with bats and balls provided
Off road parking for 15 cars
Two 7kW Electric Vehicle Charging points available, payment via an App
Two well-behaved dogs welcome, there is a second pet charge of £25
Sorry no smoking
Professional catering available
Additional Z-bed available, by arrangement
Note: Retreats such as Yoga or writing workshops may be arranged with special approval of the owner
Note: Check-in time 4.30pm

The property

Great Bidlake Manor is an outstanding, Grade II* listed manor house on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, a mile from Bridestowe, recently renovated to a luxurious standard in partnership with English Heritage.

Since 1268 it has been the ancestral home of the Bidlake family, who are now celebrating 750 years as custodians, and was rebuilt around 1594 in the Elizabethan style.

The estate was once vast, but Henry Bidlake, an ardent Royalist, sold part during the English Civil War to pay fines to Cromwell.

Charles I reputedly stayed at Great Bidlake in 1644.The manor is surrounded by 13½ acres of gardens, woodland, two ponds (unfenced) and paddocks with uninterrupted views over rolling Devon countryside.

The gardens are split into different areas with, at the front, a lawned courtyard (croquet), mature planting and specimen trees, large terrace (lighting, barbecue, chimenea and outdoor table tennis table with bats and balls provided) surrounded by striking stone walls, and lawns with bench looking over the River Lew valley (lovely sunsets) and ample space for outdoor games.

To the rear of the house are a number of historic outbuildings, including an old cider press.

Approached via an impressive tree-lined drive, the house sits grandly facing its gardens and land, a wonderful fairyland for all generations for games, alfresco dining, relaxing and star-gazing (telescope provided).The house has masses of space and a multi-room Sonos music system.

An impressive dining hall with huge fireplace (open fire) bearing the family's historic coats of arms greets you.

Off this, a library and elegant living room, both with grand fireplaces (open fires); a cosy smart TV room; a fun music room with baby grand piano, guitars and other instruments; a big breakfast room (woodburner) off the kitchen (two dishwashers, microwave, fridge-freezer, electric range/ Induction Hob, Italian granite worktops); rear hall with boot/cloak room (good selection of outdoor games); ground-floor loo.

Two sets of stairs up to a huge landing called the 'Solar' with ancient barrel-vaulted ceiling and quiet seating area (chess board), leading to five gorgeous bedrooms with 6' zip-linked beds (or twin) and either en suite bathrooms or shower-rooms; a simple games room (pool table, darts, smart TV, PlayStation 3, beanbags) on this level leads down 3 steep steps to a second modest fitted kitchen (washing machine, tumble drier, microwave, fridge-freezer, oven/separate hob).

A further flight of stairs leads up to a sixth large bedroom (6' bed or twin) in the Tower on the second floor with its bathroom (suite plus hand-shower and separate shower) on the first floor.

All beds have fine Egyptian cotton linen; bathrobes provided.

Country Life magazine described Great Bidlake Manor as a rural idyll; it's a magical place for all kinds of gatherings with masses of room for everyone and easy access from the A30. Bridestowe: village (pub, PO/shop) on the edge of Dartmoor, 2 miles from beautiful open high moorland and on the Granite Way cycle/walking trail between Okehampton (small town, golf, tennis, indoor swimming pool, cinema) and Lydford.

Okehampton by road, 7 miles; Tavistock and Launceston (historic Cornish town), both 11 miles.

Good base for touring Devon and Cornwall (easy access to A30).

Floorplans

2nd Floor1st FloorGround Floor

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £500.

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About the location

Bridestowe, nr Lydford

Nestling among mature woodland on the western slopes of Dartmoor, the historic village of Lydford is a jewel in this area of outstanding scenic beauty. To the north, just half a mile away, the high tors come right down to the village edge, while to the south the River Lyd winds its way through Lydford Forest on its tumbling course northwards.

Note: Arrival after 4.30pm.
Note: Retreats such as Yoga or writing workshops may be arranged with special approval of the owner.
Note: This property has a refundable Good Housekeeping bond of £500
Note: Short breaks bookings at this property can only ever start on either a Friday or a Monday

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“A fabulous few days away with the family in an amazing location.”

“A beautiful manor in gorgeous grounds.”

“Awesome house with everything you need for the perfect holiday.”

“Fabulous holiday shared with all our family- from a 1 year old to a young at heart 84 year old!”

“The perfect location as a base for exploring nearby Dartmoor which we did, and ideal for us as a "Monday to Friday group" of old friends and colleagues (6 couples).”

“Beautiful property.”

“Our second visit to Great Bidlake and we had another wonderful family holiday.”

“Probably the best house we have ever stayed in.”

“What a wonderful opportunity to stay in such a beautiful property.”

“We had another great week all be it eventful week at Great Bidlake, Carole was extremely helpful and had great local knowledge.”