I have stayed in this castle many times which has a small dance floor used by George III on the first floor and an apartment for two people on the second floor which includes it's own kitchen and bathroom.
It's a magical place with it's own manicured garden amongst a natural rolling landscape high up in the beautiful Devon countryside. It's has a stone bridge which is an ideal place to sit down and eat, looking at the beautiful vista at the same time.
There are over 200 steps to the entrance to the apartment on the second floor so you will have to take this into account. The kitchen is compact, well designed and is easy to use and the seating adjacent to the church style windows gives one of the best views at any dinner table.
A folly is a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park. There are over 300 follies in the UK which are financed and built by the aristocracy or the landed gentry. Whilst visiting Europe over the last 400 years on their so called grand tour, the buildings that they saw inspired them to create something similar in the UK.
This folly was built by Lord Haldon to celebrate his close friend, Lawrence Stringer who was the founder of the East India Army. For more information click the following link: http://www.haldonbelvedere.co.uk/about-hb/
The battlements are open when you hire the apartment and a great place to drink and look at the views of the Exe Estuary on one side and the city of Exeter on the other side. The cost of hiring the apartment is suprisingly affordable for a 3 day minimum hire is around £100 to £120 per day depending on the time of the year.
Haldon Belverdere (Lawrence Castle)
Higher Ashton near Dunchideock
Exeter
Devon
EX6 7QY
01392 833846
Cost: ££
www.haldonbelvedere.co.uk/