Where are we?
First, a surprise: The south of England is incredibly hilly. We are in East Devon, high above the Coly Valley, where the lanes are so old and narrow that two cars can’t pass each other. At the end of a long country lane, on top of a hill, we find our dream destination: Glebe House. The first impression? It’s not just the view that is breathtaking. You pull up in front of a white former Georgian vicarage and its outbuildings, with rolling hills, endless meadows and woods stretching out behind.
The hosts
Hugo, whose last name is, fittingly, Guest, grew up in this very house, where his parents ran a small B&B. In 2021, he and his wife, Olive, took over and reimagined the place according to their own vision.
The result is a creative, family-friendly guesthouse that has grown to nine colorful rooms, suites and cabins, including the Old Kitchen and the Crow’s Nest cabins. There is also a tennis court, a seasonal outdoor pool and a sprawling garden full of flowers, vegetables and herbs, part of a 15-acre smallholding.
Before moving to the country, Olive and Hugo lived in London, where Olive worked in advertising and Hugo as an insurance broker. For their big leap, Hugo retrained as a chef and spent several years cooking in acclaimed London restaurants such as The Marksman and Sorella. Quite admirable.
They now live with their two children in a small cottage on the property and run this sustainable guesthouse with a small team. Hugo focuses mainly on the food, while Olive looks after the guests and the growing art gallery, where much of what you see in the house is for sale. She also shaped the design: Together with the London interior designer Alexandra Childs, she created a charmingly eclectic style that perfectly suits the historic house.
As an artist, Olive even hand-painted wall panels and furniture herself. Each room is different, with vintage furniture, bold colors and sometimes wildly patterned wallpaper: wonderfully British and eccentric.
It may sound like a cliché, but it is absolutely true: You quickly feel at home here, as if visiting friends. There are open fireplaces, bookshelves, tableware from a local pottery and fresh flowers from the garden on every table. And then there are the freshly baked cookies waiting to welcome you, which you will rave about from the very first bite.
Food
The restaurant on the ground floor has around 25 seats and welcomes outside guests, too, for dinner most evenings and lunch on weekends. What’s cooking? A delightful mix of British and Italian: antipasti, risotto and pasta, all made in-house or sourced from local producers. Simply wonderful.
Also worth noting, and almost rare these days: Breakfast is included in the room rate, with freshly baked bread, homemade jams and eggs from the estate’s own hens.
Special
Guests can also order a picnic and book various culinary experiences: fermenting workshops, mackerel fishing, bread baking or a tour of a nearby vineyard with tasting and lunch.
The region
It is tempting to stay put, play a little tennis, read by the pool, gaze into the distance and let the hours slip by. But short trips are worth it: The beaches of the Jurassic Coast are only 15 minutes away. Glebe House recommends Branscombe and Beer, with their colorful beach huts and deck chairs.
Ideal for
A romantic weekend in nature, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from London. For food lovers who appreciate sustainability and farm-to-table cooking, for design fans who love British eccentricity and coziness, or simply for a countryside staycation that feels like visiting an eccentric relative with an estate, a pool and a tennis court.
Prices
Doubles from 184 euros per night, including breakfast.
Children
Welcome.
Booking & Contact
Glebe House Devon
Olive & Hugo Guest
Southleigh, Colyton
EX24 6SD
Devon / United Kingdom
