Brownlands Country House Hotel

An early morning stroll could find you eavesdropping on a colony of rabbits or squirrels. Do the same at dusk and you may spy a deer or fox. Visit us in April or May and you will find the grounds afire with colour great splodges reds and purples from the giant rhododendrons, delicate shades of crimson and pink from the spring flowers pushing through the hillside turf.

Sir Norman Lockyer originally built our home for his retirement. Sir Norman was an eminent Victorian Scientist and Astronomer, who had achieved international fame by his discovery in 1868 of Helium in the sun. He also established the Norman Lockyer Observatory that still stands at the summit of Salcombe Hill.

Anyone for Tennis? Or how about an energetic round of putting? The tennis court is a marvellous way to build your appetite followed by leisurely 9 holes of putting soon to be 11 holes if our Green Woodpecker gets his way!

Within a few miles are golf courses and, of course, sailing, horse riding and walks are all around us. For the less energetic how about morning coffee or afternoon tea in the Garden Room.

Our menus are a careful balance of modern and traditional, prepared with great skill and care by our two chefs.
The entire menu is home-made from the bread rolls to the petit fours, all complimented by a comprehensive wine list covering most areas of the world. For our efforts we have been awarded Food and Restaurant accolades by the AA and RAC.

Time and tide it is said wait for no man yet we get the feeling they linger a little longer here. An impression fostered no doubt by our collection of clocks and we admit to an enduring affair with Horology, pointing out that one or two of them do add greatly to the feeling of time standing still!




For a pre-dinner drink or an after dinner liqueur, a nightcap, or lunchtime tipple, even an afternoon pick-me-up - you will find our cosy oak panelled bar is very relaxing.

We also have our very own spring water sourced from the hill above. The water is pure and soft and enjoys no additional additives except Scotch to taste!

At the end of the day our bedrooms are cosy and welcoming. There are two sizes to choose from, all en suite with the usual facilities, and all enjoy a lovely view, some look across the fields to Salcombe woods, others across Sidmouth and Lyme Bay. Last of all if good food and wine doesn't send you to sleep then the Sidmouth sea air will.