On the edge of Dartmoor, Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa, rises as both a monument to history and a sanctuary of contemporary luxury. This Elizabethan manor, once tied to the court of Henry VIII, has been reimagined into a destination that balances grandeur with modern refinement. Sweeping staircases and centuries-old stone façades tell of a storied past, yet within its walls, an elegance emerges that feels distinctly of the now.
Arriving at Boringdon Hall is to step into another world, one where time slows and every detail is attuned to comfort. My Wellness Room embodied a refined simplicity, blending natural textures with soft, contemporary design. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Devonshire greenery, while neutral palettes and thoughtful touches created a space that felt restorative by nature. Service carried that rare balance of warmth and discretion, shaping a retreat that was both deeply personal and flawlessly polished.
The hotel’s award-winning Gaia Spa is a destination in itself, conceived as a temple of wellness and inspired by the goddess of the earth. Designed for adults only, it is a place where water, heat, and natural light combine to restore balance and invite renewal. Guests move through thermal pools, hydrotherapy circuits, and serene relaxation areas that encourage both movement and stillness. A collection of saunas and steam rooms, from Finnish heat to herbal infusions, allow the body to reset, while outdoor hot tubs bring you closer to the shifting skies of Dartmoor.
I surrendered to the Poultice Massage, a deeply restorative ritual of warmth and release that dissolved tension and quieted the mind. Treatments here draw on natural ingredients and intuitive touch, creating an experience that feels both grounding and transformative. Every moment at Gaia is carefully attuned to well-being, offering not just relaxation, but recalibration.
The experience extends into the Wellness Rooms and suites, designed as private sanctuaries where the principles of Gaia flow into the very fabric of the space. Soft, neutral palettes are elevated by tactile textures and contemporary design, while floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the Devonshire landscape as a living backdrop. A freestanding bathtub takes centre stage, encouraging slow rituals of restoration, while every detail, from the linens to the lighting, has been considered with well-being in mind. These rooms are not just accommodation, but an extension of the spa’s philosophy, spaces where balance, calm, and connection feel effortless.
If Gaia embodies the spirit of Boringdon Hall, Àclèaf is its heart. Awarded a Michelin star in 2023, this intimate dining room is the stage for Executive Chef Scott Paton’s artistry, a philosophy of cooking that is as much about narrative as it is about taste.
The room itself is refined and understated, candlelit and elegant, designed to let the food speak. Chef Scott Paton’s menus unfold as journeys through the seasons, where each dish carries both provenance and imagination. Devon’s landscapes are at the core, the freshness of the coast, the richness of the moors, the subtlety of the fields, each transformed with precision that respects the ingredient above all.
The tasting menu revealed itself as a series of experiences, each with its own voice yet all connected. A delicate opening of seafood, bright with coastal character, moved seamlessly into autumnal vegetables layered with depth and texture. Refined meats followed, balanced and assured, before desserts emerged as sculptures of flavour and form, indulgent yet exacting, as beautiful to behold as they were to taste. With every pour, the wine pairings illuminated the story further, chosen to enhance not only the palate but the emotion of each course.
Dining at Àclèaf is more than gastronomy. It is an immersion in seasonality, creativity, and craft, an experience that lingers long after the final note has been savoured.
What sets Boringdon Hall apart is not simply its accolades, though Michelin stars and international spa awards abound, but the way it brings together history, wellness, and gastronomy into one seamless experience. Guests can wander through centuries-old halls in the morning, retreat to Gaia’s embrace in the afternoon, and end the day immersed in a Michelin-starred narrative that speaks to both palate and spirit.
For couples seeking romance, culinary travellers in pursuit of brilliance, or those longing for a restorative escape, Boringdon Hall is more than a hotel. It is a story to live, where heritage, healing, and haute cuisine converge in perfect harmony.
The Luxe Resident 