Dizzard 23

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? I’ve driven past Tackbear Road probably a dozen times over the years without realizing there was this little gem tucked away there. Dizzard 23 doesn’t scream “hotel” from the outside – honestly, it looks more like someone’s gorgeously renovated farmhouse, which I guess is sort of the point. This place sits right on the Devon-Cornwall border where Bridgerule gets properly rural, and when I say rural, I mean you’ll actually hear sheep in the morning instead of traffic. The whole setup feels deliberately understated, like they’re not trying to impress anyone but somehow end up doing exactly that.

What really got me was how personal everything feels. The owners (and I’m pretty sure it’s family-run) have this knack for making each room feel completely different – not in that forced boutique way where they throw random vintage furniture together, but more like each space has its own story. My room had these incredible exposed beams that you could tell were original, and the bathroom had one of those rainfall showers that actually works properly, which honestly surprised me given how old the building clearly is. The WiFi was solid too, which matters if you’re like me and can’t completely disconnect even in the middle of nowhere. Parking’s straightforward – there’s a proper car park round the side, nothing fancy but you’re not hunting for spaces or feeding meters.

I mean, let’s be honest about the location – you’re not walking to restaurants or shops from here. Bridgerule village is lovely but tiny, and if you want proper dining options you’ll be driving to Holsworthy or even Bude if you fancy the coast (which is only about twenty minutes, actually). But that’s kind of the appeal, isn’t it? The breakfast they do is properly local – I’m talking eggs from farms you can practically see from your window, that sort of thing. The evening gets beautifully quiet, no motorway hum or late-night revelers, just countryside sounds. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too – none of that corporate rigmarole, just genuine people who clearly care about the place and want to make sure you’re sorted. They even gave me decent recommendations for walks nearby, including this brilliant footpath that connects to the old railway line. It’s the kind of place where that 8.9 rating makes complete sense – it’s doing something specific really well rather than trying to be everything to everyone.