Dittisham Hideaway’s Weekend Blog

Suggested stay at Dittisham Hideaway, Devon for those lazy holidays away

It’s great being able to book a break away, you’ve waited a while to add that ‘out of office’ reply on your emails and your switching off for some much needed time away.

But what do you do while your away? Some like to plan absolutely nothing, relax , read a book or 2, have a lie in, and maybe even push to a morning stroll, well we have you covered. Where others (me included) like to plan it all and do as much as I can while visiting a destination (see our next blog).

Here is our guide to ensure you make the most or as little of your stay as you wish.

Relaxing Break guide
On arrival, you will have received your email containing information with your check in codes, after 4pm your accommodation will be ready for you to settle in. Take use of our electric wheelbarrows to transport your luggage to your home for the next few days, unpack those bags and crack open the bottle of wine we have left you chilling in the fridge. Perhaps you can munch on some crisps from your welcome hamper whilst browsing the many places to dine in our area.
Our top suggestion for your first night with us would be Ferry Boat Inn, or the FBI as us locals call it. We recommend you take the short 5 minute drive into Dittisham, park at the Level carpark and walk down. They offer great service, stunning River Dart views, wonderful food and local drinks.

Head back to Dittisham Hideaway for your first nights sleep and you wont be disappointed in your bed for the night, with the very best Egyptian cotton linen, and locally sourced 100% British wool duvets from Devon Duvet you are bound to have a great night rest.

Start your first full day at The Hideaway with a much needed lie in and listen to the birds hooting in the trees around you, you may even hear the running water of the nearby stream too. These are sounds you wont hear in the day to day bustling life.
Cup of tea, bowl of oats and a round of toast to start the day, all items can be found in your welcome hamper. Why not take a seat outdoors on your private terrace, grab a blanket if a little chilly. What a way to start the day!
It might be worth, if you wish, to start to warm up the hot tub. Using the bag of complimentary logs we have left you, use these to stoke the wood-fired burners, be sure not to stir as this will take longer to heat, keep the lid on. As these do not run on electricity they do need a little attention to get it hot.

A short stroll around the hideaway is next on our recommendations of things to do here, following the 15 minute circular trail around the Hideaway you will walk past our Treehouses, Vintage Airstream and Shepherds Lodges. Along with way you will come across our Wall of Art painted by Mark Bell a local artist who has cleverly put together ‘Dancing to the sounds of Nature’. At the top of the Hideaway are our apple trees and vegetable garden when in season, Boules pitch and the best view in the house with a bench to sit on overlooking beyond the River Dart towards Paignton.

Surely its now lunchtime? We suggest a short drive up to Gardentime our local garden centre for a relaxed laid back snack. They’ve got everything from paninis to salads and pies. The shop also offers some great items to purchase with many local goods on sale.
While you are that way pop into Fast Rabbit gardens its just like a secret garden with seasonal plants and flowers around every corner set in 43 acres, with plenty of benches situated around the gardens to take in the gorgeous colours all year round.

On your drive back pop into one of the local supermarkets or local farm shops in Dartmouth or Totnes where you can find great local produce for a BBQ, don’t forget to grab some charcoal.
Using your BBQ on your terrace, rustle up your dinner and dine al freso or perhaps you prefer to be indoors in the comforts of your accommodation.

Wakey, wakey rise and shine, open those curtains or take a look up to your skylight and enjoy what ever the UK weather has brought for you today. Don’t fancy cooking this morning? Pop down to The Embankment, in Dartmouth. Park up alongside the river If you are lucky or alternatively there are plenty of car parks nearby. Riverside you will come across the former GWR ticket office, offering outstanding estuary views in a truly classis bistro restaurant. The Embankment restaurant has Elly Wentworth at the helm of the kitchen so its bound to be spectacular.

As you are in Dartmouth, the historical Naval Town, take a stroll around the local area, an easy circular walk around Dartmouth takes you past some of the towns top history spots and allows you to bask in the atmosphere of the heritage of Dartmouth. A Visit to Dartmouth Castle wouldn’t go a miss, open daily in the season while open weekends off peak.
Grab some seaside fish and chips for lunch from Rockfish, they really cant be beaten. Freshly caught, local and with one of the best views around, just watch out for our flying rubbish bins – the seagulls.

Back to the Hideaway to wind down for the evening, your likely stuffed from all the food you have eaten today, maybe a light salad, some toast, or a liquid dinner is on the cards. Grab a book to read, pop on your favourite programme or sign in to Netflix, whatever you choose to do, just relax.

Before leaving Dittisham for your onward journey, why don’t you make use of your complimentary ferry voucher we have provided for you, park down at the Ham Car Park just past the church in Dittisham, walk along the rivers edge (tidal permitting) towards the FBI and you will see the pontoon, at the start of the pontoon you will see a hand bell, give this a ring and Dave will pop along on the little wooden passenger boat.
Dave with his wealth of knowledge and friendly demeaner will come and collect you and take you across the River Dart to Greenway, here you can grab and ice cream and watch the world go by on the water or take a short walk up to Greenway House, the holiday home of the famous Agatha Christie, for a nose around the National Trust treasure.

We hope you have found our guide useful, we also have a more adventurous blog to read and maybe can combine the 2 with ideas.