When we secured our trip to the UK, Ira immediately started looking for places to go. This is what he does. So for our anniversary in 2023, he booked us a stay at the Bovey Castle in Dartmoor National Park. We were all looking forward to seeing castles, but I never dreamed that we would be able to stay at one, too. After barely getting settled in Exeter, we were off to the castle. Driving in England is a hair-raising adventure. Driving in the England in Dartmoor National Park even more so. The roads were narrow and winding. Sometimes, we stopped long minutes to let cars coming from the other direction pass. It allowed us to enjoyed the scenery on the way there, except Ira got car sick and Bodhi fell asleep. As we got to the Bovey Castle, the car ahead of us pulled over and young boy and his mother came out. He bent over, pale and about to lose his lunch. Motion sickness in Dartmoor is a thing.
The Neo-Elizabethan Manor House was built by the son of Viscount Hambleden as a country retreat in the late 1800’s and was later used as a convalescent home for officers during World War I. After Lord Hambleden’s death, the estate was sold to The Great Western Railway to be converted into a golfing hotel.
We arrived early, before our room was ready which is typical for us, so we decided to walk around the grounds and see what was available for us to do. Everything was absolutely stunning. There were ponds with amazing statues and lots of wide open green spaces.
Thank goodness they gave us a map or we surely would have been lost. There were hidden paths and fun things to find, such as an adorable little toadstool table and chairs.
One of the favorite finds of both Bodhi and Ira was the croquet area. Of course we played, but I’m not sure if we were playing by an actual rules. I remember playing as a child, but when you are a kid who follows rules?
We also got to play tennis on grass courts, something neither Bodhi nor I had done before. The ball doesn’t quite bounce the way it does on paved courts so it was a learning experience. After that, it was time to dress up for our fancy dinner. We had been looking forward to this all day!
Seriously, we have the best kid. It always amazes me that we can take him everywhere with us and he is so well behaved* (*usually).
As our first day came to an end and the chill settled in with the setting of the sun, it was time to enjoy our room.
Who would have thought there would be a Bodhi sized fluffy robe? He was super stoked to take a bath and put it on.
Time for bed so we could get up early for our archery lesson!
Under the Bodhi Tree 