The Mill End Hotel is a familiar landmark for us, living on the north-tip of Dartmoor. It’s set in an idyllic location next to a long-standing Dartmoor stone bridge, hugging the mellow River Teign and surrounded by rolling fields and beautiful woodland.
The Hotel
The hotel itself has a genuine old-glamour charm. A stunning county house with nods to days gone by with original features and interesting keepsakes. I particularly enjoyed thumbing through the old visitor’s books, imagining guests who stayed in the 50s and 60s and wondering why they were visiting Dartmoor.
You’d be forgiven for whiling away your days with a good book and endless pots of tea (and maybe a scone or two) in one of the hotel’s comfy lounges, but for those eager to explore there’s plenty to see and do.
There are numerous walks right from the hotel’s doorstep, including one of our favourite Saturday morning stomps. You can follow the river until you reach Gidleigh before heading up the hill to Chagford, a pretty Dartmoor village bustling with residents and visitors making the most of the independent pubs, shops and cafes. Or you walk in the other direction from the hotel where you will reach Fingle Bridge and Castle Drogo, the last Castle to be built in England.
The Restaurant
We had visited the hotel a few years ago for a certain big birthday of mine, so we were extremely excited about the dinner invitation as we’d heard great things about the restaurant.
With summer extending beautifully in September, we were lucky to have a warm sun-filled evening to head onto the moor. The grounds are beautifully kept, with the soothing sound of the river adding to the peaceful atmosphere. There’s a walled garden in the grounds with a covered outdoor eating area, which I imagine would be perfect for long summer evenings or afternoon teas. However we headed indoors for a pre-dinner drink, accompanied with homemade parmesan crisps, whilst perusing the menu.
We were certainly spoilt for choice with the array of delicious sounding dishes. Head Chef Will has curated a wonderful menu with simplicity and seasonality at its core. Will works closely with the hotel’s suppliers to source the freshest ingredients and those that showcase Devon and the wider region for its amazing produce. The team make as much as they can onsite to reduce food miles and give guests a unique experience, this includes scones, breads, soups, souces and accompaniments. Their bottled water is also produced in-house using a sophisticated seven-stage filtration system.
The specialty menu changes daily, based on what’s available and in season – a real treat for any hotel guests as you will always get something different during your stay.
I must admit that homemade bread on the table is always a win for me, and this bread was so delicious. It was served with thick, yellow butter and a soft cheese made from yoghurt topped with honey and nuts. Divine.
Dinner
Now to the main event! We started with wood pigeon breast with smoked sausage, sweetcorn, lentils and hen of the wood mushrooms, and grilled mackerel with Whippletree farm beetroot, lambs lettuce, pickled red onion and orange salad, and horseradish crème fraiche. Both dished were beautifully presented and utterly delicious. You could almost taste the changing seasons in very mouthful.
For our main courses we chose glazed cheek and roasted pork fillet with black pudding, butternut squash, pearl barley, apple relish and sage sauce, and roast Creedy Carver duck breast with potato and mushroom tart, confit carrots, fine beans and celeriac puree. The meat was cooked to perfection and each dish had fresh vegetables to add colour and texture.
Then on to dessert… and I was oh so happy to see a tempting chocolate treat; Hot dark chocolate bonbon with coffee ice cream and Dartmoor Whisky cream, and we also tried the Pistachio and raspberry tart with raspberry sorbet. Chocolate, whisky and coffee are a wicked combination that I will have to try and recreate at home!
We finished the evening in the lounge with coffee and homemade fudge, enjoying the atmosphere and listening to stories from neighbouring guests.
Dinner at the Mill End Hotel is a real treat with the setting adding to its relaxed and uncomplicated nature. A must for anyone visiting the area or for those living close by. We will certainly be back.
The Details
Dinner
Two courses £37.50 – three courses £45
Visit the Mill End Hotel for more details and to book
