Brightham House

About Brightham House

Brightham House is a Victorian-style townhouse in the village of Malborough, a couple of miles inland from Salcombe in the South Hams. Scott and Alistair run it as an adults-only boutique bed and breakfast and have taken it well beyond what that description usually implies: it holds a five-star gold rating, won an AA award for most unique B&B in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4's Four in a Bed.

The bedrooms are individually designed, with high-end beds, good linen and en-suite showers, and several look out over the surrounding countryside towards the coast. Communal space is unusually generous for a property of this size: there are guest lounges, a private honesty bar, a small gym, a hot tub in the garden and an orangery where breakfast is served. Electric bikes are available to borrow, which makes the run down to Salcombe or over to the beaches at Hope Cove and Soar Mill Cove much easier than the hills would otherwise allow.

Breakfast is cooked to order using local produce and is one of the things guests consistently single out. On one night a week the hosts put on an Italian feast, served communally, which most guests seem to join in with. The general tone is sociable rather than formal, and the owners' local knowledge is the main reason people come back.

It suits couples and small groups of friends who want a base for exploring the South Hams without paying Salcombe town prices, and who are happy in a house with no children. Salcombe itself is a short drive or bus ride, Kingsbridge is five miles, and the South West Coast Path between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail is one of the best stretches in Devon. Parking is available on site.