Day 9: Endsleigh

Distance: 6.9 miles
Littlest Hobo count: 2 (today it was a cat, luckily he didn't stay with us for too long)


Today is the first of our two easy days that end in fancy hotels. The 6.9 miles didn't really feel like much, even with a few Cornish hills. Of course, it wasn't all forward progress because little did we know, we had to walk about a mile off our route to get to the Hotel Endsleigh. And all of it down, since the hotel sits along side the River Tamar.

We crossed the river at Horse Bridge.


That meant we were leaving Cornwall and entering Devon. We've walked through a whole county!

But back to this hotel. The walk down, or rather the climb out tomorrow, are worth it to experience this place.


Our room is the one above the front door.


It was built in 1810 by the Duchess of Bedford as the family's hunting and fishing lodge (yes, this was not their primary residence!) and was known for its gardens. The Duke was a big fisherman and had his estate manager and labourers alter the river in order to make it a salmon river. Guests at the hotel can fish the river with the help of the Endsleigh ghillie. We aren't sure if that's a person or a thing.


The house stayed in the family for six generations, until 1953 when the family had to sell it to cover estate taxes. (See Julia's comment on yesterday's blog for her family connection to the place!). It's been operating as a super fancy hotel since 2004. To say that we do not blend in here is an understatement. When we arrived, the reception person mentioned that she had seen us walking in when she was driving down to work and thought we must be lost. Surprise, surprise, we have a reservation. She covered her shock well and carried on. When she asked for our car license plate and we pointed out that we walked, she wrote "taxi".
After cleaning up, we felt ok going downstairs and sitting in one of the smaller side rooms.


We didn't dare go into the big drawing room. It was full of people who know what a drawing room is. (no one was actually drawing) Since we have no clue, we stuck to the small sitting room, where we sat. It was so nice and relaxing. A young man I will call William served us tea.
Tonight we had a fabulous dinner. I had fish (brill) and Al had lamb, even after spending the last few days walking past fields like this.


And now to bed and tomorrow we're doing it all over again. A bit longer walk ending at Lewtrenchard Manor. I was hoping to get Branson to drive us up to the main road, but I think he's already taken off with Sibyl.