I had fallen in love with Pound Cottage since it came live on the Boutique Retreats website so I jumped at the chance to stay at this pretty little cottage, especially as the dates fell on the weekend of my anniversary. Driving to Devon straight after work, me and the other half arrived in Lustleigh just after seven in the evening and could see thatched beauty lit up at night. Entering the property, we were welcomed to the heavenly smell of fresh flowers, lush interiors, a luxury hamper and the lovely warmth from the preheated radiators.
After exploring the gorgeous cottage, feeling the luxurious bed sheets, admiring the locally sourced artwork and lounging on the beautiful antique sofa, we made our way over to The Cleave Pub, just steps away from the cottage. This popular pub is wonderfully welcoming and surprisingly peaceful, exactly what we needed after a hard day at work. We tucked into some delicious and traditional hearty food – I was served a wonderfully creamy chicken supreme with roasted new potatoes and vegetables whilst the other half enjoyed a trio of locally sourced sausages with mashed potatoes, onion gravy, peas and deep-fried sage. Pipping hot food, warm atmosphere and a roaring fire is exactly what was needed for a romantic meal on a chilly October night. Tucking into some pudding and finishing off our drinks, we strolled back to the lavishing cottage and sank into the majestic king-sized bed for a perfect night’s sleep.
We enjoyed a lazy morning in the cottage tucking into the hamper for breakfast; taking our time over eggs on toast and a hot cup of tea. The sun was shining bright, so we got up and dressed and took a leisurely walk around the village. Lustleigh is an adorable little hamlet filled with thatched houses and friendly neighbours with a stunning church in the centre of it all – we walked further past the village enjoying the quiet Devon lanes and the breath taking views.
We could have walked for hours through the countryside, however the weather was a little nippy and I was also promised a shopping spree as a part of our anniversary! Bundling ourselves into the car, we headed to the cathedral city of Exeter – less than half an hour away from Pound Cottage! We meandered from shop to shop, both independent and boutique whilst enjoying the city’s unique architecture. We went to the Princesshay which is filled with popular high street shops as well as a tasty food court – we sat down and got a spot of lunch with views over towards the Grand Cathedral, a truly impressive sight!
With bags full of clothes, souvenirs and trinkets, we returned to Pound Cottage for a relaxed afternoon. We were booked into an Italian restaurant for the evening, so I spent a few hours pampering and soaking in the spacious bath for two with a glass of bubbly and the sweet macrons that were provided in my generous welcome hamper. From the bath, I could watch the sun go across the autumn sky whilst relaxing in the steamy smells of sweet bath salts.
Getting out, I did my hair and makeup in the golden mirror and popped on my new dress to head to Berto’s in Moretonhampstead. This lovely establishment is wonderfully intimate, hidden in plain sight in the middle of this Devon town behind greenery. Genuine and authentic Italian food is served in a cosy setting and with its bring your own drinks policy, we stayed until late in the evening tasting pasta dishes, helping ourselves to delicious pizzas and enjoying the company of the owners and chef before escaping back to our home-away-from-home.
The next morning, we couldn’t resist putting our noses into Primrose Tearooms – we had seen it across from Pound Cottage and had heard fabulous things, so we just had to give it a try! With plenty to choose from, I had a bowl of granola with Tregothnan Tea whilst the other half enjoyed a traditional (and very generous!) English breakfast. We nabbed a seat in the window and it was lovely to see Pound Cottage from where we sat, knowing it was us who was staying there this weekend.
After a lazy brunch, we really wanted to enjoy the Devon countryside in the sunshine and decided to head to Canonteign Falls, just a short drive away from Lustleigh. There were two sets of waterfalls, one natural and one impressive handmade one – plus an array of forest, lakes and gardens to experience alongside a fabulous panoramic view from the top of Lady Exmouth Falls. We went back to Pound Cottage to enjoy a laid-back afternoon by the roaring fire - playing board games, chatting over a cup of hot chocolate and reading a good book in utter luxury.
Alas, all good things must come to an end including our romantic stay at Pound Cottage. Packing my bags, I went around each room one last time to admire the beauty of this thatched cottage before heading back to my home in Cornwall feeling refreshed and filled with fond memories.
Fancy yourself a last-minute getaway to the beautiful Pound Cottage? Take a peek at what availability we have for this stunning luxury cottage in Devon here.
