Bovey Castle, Devon

A touch of Agatha Christie and a hint of the Orient Express at every turn, the sound of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and jazz music filling the corridors.

It's fair to say Bovey Castle is no ordinary golf complex.rnrn Brought to life by entrepreneur Peter de Savary and opened at the beginning of spring 2004, Bovey Castle breaks no, make that smashes the mould when it comes to luxury hotel and golf complexes.

Much like the delicious sloe gin - just one of many special touches which illuminate every guest room - it leaves you feeling warm and happy inside. Just as with the liquid refreshment, whether you choose to slowly savour the experience or enjoy a swift taster, the result is always the same.

Staying for any length of time at this exquisite retreat is nothing short of intensely pleasurable. De Savary, the man who created Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands, refers to the project more like a loved one than a business venture.

And although the term 'no expense spared' is often bandied around in these days of spin doctors and expensive marketing campaigns, at Bovey (pronounced Bovvy) this really is the case.

Grand oak-panelled drawing rooms, large open fireplaces, ornate stairways and scenic garden terraces. This is grand country living on the grandest scale.

Guests seduced by the romantic name and grand location in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park might be disappointed that there are no turrets or indeed a drawbridge at this property, which was built as a home for the heir to the WH Smith empire in the early 1900s.

That's because Bovey Castle is more country house than castle in appearance. But spend a few days at what is already being described as England's answer to Skibo and you'll soon realise that this is an utterly uniquely place.

Located 30 minutes drive from Exeter, the fact that Bovey Castle lies well off the beaten track is perhaps its greatest attribute.rnrn Once inside the walled courtyard you feel a sense of detachment from the outside world which remains throughout your stay. On one side is the grand hotel and the other the rolling expanse of Dartmoor. Nothing else seems to matter.

Inside the grand foyer are rows of pristine Wellington boots and racks of fishing rods which serve to remind you that this area of Devon is a haven for outdoor pursuits. Golf, fishing in two well-stocked lakes or 24 miles of private river bank, tennis on all-weather or grass courts, croquet on the perfectly-manicured lawn, trap shooting, archery, boating, quad racing, horse riding, falconry and of course hiking. The list seems endless.

Highlighting Bovey's close links with outdoor pursuits is the fact that dogs are welcome and canine guests, much like their owners, can be pampered during their stay in special on-site kennels.

But for all Bovey's excellence in outdoor pursuits it is inside the hotel which really sets it apart from the competition.

Like a portal to another world, crossing the threshold is much like stepping back in time to the colourful 1920s. Art deco interiors are pleasing on the eye and reminiscent of a period of great social and technological change.

Much like Skibo Castle and de Savary's other famous creations in the United States and Caribbean, the decor is unique, the style so random and the result just perfection.

Each area public or private is individually furnished to a lavish standard and complemented by eclectic, eccentric and downright strange accessories. A telescope here, a palm tree there and so on.

But like everything at Bovey, it is the attention to detail which really catches the eye. Fresh flowers in the vase by the four poster bed, delicious shortbread in a jewelled casket on the bureau, the feint sound of jazz music playing on the radio and the aforementioned empting sloe gin in the decanter by the window.

Rooms look out over the brooding Dartmoor National Park and garden terrace below, where guests can enjoy a rather interesting falconry display every morning.

This theme of unique decor is continued in the public areas of the hotel, From the wonderfully named Cathedral and Adam Rooms to the Piano Bar and Snooker Room.rn