After 36 years of marriage it was time to rekindle our romantic feelings. Four nights at Hareston Manor did the trick. Although very close, and an easy drive, to the fascinating naval city of Plymouth, Hareston Manor feels a world away as it is hidden down a rural lane and surrounded by trees and rolling hills.
The Manor is at least 600 years old, and the attached chapel is even older. There is much information about its history that you can enjoy reading as you settle with your wine beside the (new) and ferociously efficient log burning stove.
You will not be disturbed as you make yourselves at home here. Bring your favourite dishes and tipples, and pull closed the thick new curtains. The rest of the world can wait a few days, although there are televisions and WiFi if you do feel the need to keep up with external events.
After cooking, dining, and raising your glasses, you can watch the embers glow as the logs burn down. It is hard to drag yourself away, and open the thick old wooden door into the ancient hallway. It would be spooky there, except that electric light switches are never far away. Open the next thick wooden door, climb the carpeted stairs and enter the bridal suite. A huge room, with original wooden beams, and a wonderfully comfortable four poster bed. Next door is another bed (but why would we want that ?). It leads to the biggest bathroom I have ever seen, with bath, shower and all that you could possibly require.
The night storage comes on at night (on the colder evenings) and so you awake to a warm cosy bedroom and no rush to get up. One of you might need to find their way down stairs to the kitchen to make good coffee in the percolator (but that has always been my husband’s job!).
The grounds and gardens are beautiful and it’s easy to understand why people choose to get married here in the summer season.
Maybe we should consider renewing our marriage vows here next summer ?
Can be booked on booking.com (location Brixton, Devon) or Google Hareston Manor Weddings
