We are very fortunate to quite often be invited to try out various hotels and of course we always appreciate the chance to see a new area and do a bit of exploring.
But it is not very often that somewhere truly takes our breathe away.
This is what happened when we visited the Watersmeet Hotel.
After a two hour journey from where we live in South Devon to the hotels location in North Devon, we were immediately struck by the beauty of the Woolacombe area as we passed the beautiful sandy beach.
As we continued to drive through the stunning village of Mortehoe with its rolling green hills and perfect sea view, we noticed ahead of us a beautiful building in pride of place overlooking the North Atlantic coast.
As soon as we entered the Watersmeet Hotel, we knew it was going to be something special.
The decor was classic and elegant, with little nods to the seaside all around - the color choices were calming and everything felt serene and peaceful.
I worry in such lovely hotels that we'll be greeted with trepidation when they notice that we're carrying a wriggly and often rather loud toddler - thankfully this was not the case at all, the reception staff were very welcoming - asking after our journey and chatting to Tyne kindly.
Our room was located almost directly adjacent to the reception, so only a few footsteps away from the entrance - this is was very considerate as it meant very easy access for us with a pushchair, with no stairs to contend with.
Our room was a family suite, and it was so impressive!
There was so much space you could easily have forgotten you were in a hotel room, it felt more like its own little holiday cottage - there was a good sized double bed and a single bed, with a wardrobe, chest of drawers, dressing table, small table and two chairs, and TV unit - but still so much free floor space.
The bathroom was also large, exceptionally clean and everything had been thought of - the L'Occitane bath products were a very nice touch, and the inclusion of usually-forgotten extras such as cotton buds and dressing gowns was very welcome.
There was a lovely deep bath with a shower attachment, and a seperate shower - the bathroom was actually a wet room which had fantastic facilities for disabled guests, which I thought was a great feature.
The best feature to our room was without a doubt the balcony.
It was much longer than I had expected, with a patio table and chairs outside - and the view was second to none.
The small beach below and the sight of the beautiful clear sea water breaking against the rocks was just such a stunning sight to behold.
After unpacking, we headed outside to the hotel's lawn area where there are tables & chairs, and deckchairs provided to allow you to sit back and take in that stunning view in comfort.
Light snacks and beverages are served here from the bar, and we enjoyed a delicious Devon cream tea while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
After our snacks, we went for a little walk around the area.
The rolling countryside is such a gorgeous setting, I'm not much of a walker but even I was tempted to go rambling off through the hills!
The nearby beach - which is literally no more than a 10 minute stroll away - is without doubt one of the best I have ever seen.
It seems to go on for miles, it is so clean, and there are little vans on the beach itself selling refreshments so you don't even need to leave the sand to fetch a drink or some snacks!
Woolacombe itself is a lovely little seaside town with plenty of little shops and cafe's etc - this really does seem the perfect spot for a traditional British holiday with the family.
Once we'd done some exploring, we headed back for the comfort of the beautiful hotel and got ourselves ready for our evening meal.
The sun was starting to set, and our balcony was the perfect place to watch and enjoy it.
The hotel restaurant - like the whole of the hotel - benefits from those stunning sea views, and we enjoyed the quiet surroundings as we dined.
We did get chatting to a family on the next table who were visiting from Essex, and who stay at the hotel every summer - obviously it speaks very highly of a hotel if families choose to return year after year.
There are two dining options at the Watersmeet Hotel - you can opt for the casual dining of the Bistro, or you can eat in the hotel's restaurant where this is an A La Carte menu.
The Bistro menu was varied and gave what I felt was plenty of choice - I settled on the steak with green peppercorn sauce with cherry tomatoes, pickled mushrooms and chips. (pickled mushrooms are not something I've tried before but they were actually delicious!)
Jon chose the burger with chips.
Both of us enjoyed our meals, and felt that the price was fair considering the setting - it was really no more than you would pay in any standard restaurant but you are getting an above average view and surroundings.
However I did feel that the children's menu could be improved upon - for children aged 5 and over the menu would be absolutely fine, there was a good amount of choice ranging from pizza and chips to roast dinners, and I wouldn't mind paying the £12.00 price for a child of this age.
However this was the only children's menu available and I did feel that £12.00 for a child of Tyne's age (or indeed any child under 5 who is likely to have a small appetite) was a little over priced - a Younger Child's menu offering smaller portions for half the price would have been appropriate and I feel that this should be considered so that all guests are catered for without the need for waste.
We all indulged in desserts, with Jon & Tyne enjoying the many flavours of ice cream on offer and myself enjoying the delicious chocolate brownie.
After dinner, Tyne slept soundly in bed whilst Jon & I sat out on the balcony enjoying the sounds of the waves below and star gazing - with no light pollution around we managed to spot 4 shooting stars that night, which we were rather excited about!
We slept so well that evening, you could hear the sea outside even with the patio doors closed which I loved and found so relaxing.
The next morning we enjoyed the beautiful pool facilities - the gorgeous pool area with hot tub and jacuzzi was just a few footsteps from our room.
There is also a lovely outdoor pool benefiting from that stunning sea view.
A special mention needs to be given to the Breakfasts at The Watersmeet Hotel - I'm not usually much of a breakfast fan, but oh my goodness - they were delicious!
There is a buffet of pastries, cereals and fruits available and a menu on your table offering a choice of kippers, various kinds of eggs, etc.
Jon & I opted for the Full Breakfast - myself with scrambled eggs and Jon with poached - we both thoroughly enjoyed them! The bacon was crisp and not swimming in grease as you so often find with hotel breakfasts, everything was just delicious.
We were so sad to say goodbye to the Watersmeet Hotel after such a wonderful and relaxing stay, but we were so impressed by it and by Woolacombe itself that we made a vow to return next Summer.
If you are looking for a quiet & romantic anniversary or honeymoon destination, a perfect place to spend a festive or New Years evening, a chilled out evening or two away from it all, or an ideally located family getaway on the doorstep of all the fun of the seaside - the Watersmeet Hotel ticks every box!
For more information or to book, please visit www.watersmeethotel.co.uk
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