PENTILLIE - A REAL FAIRYTALE CASTLE
A place so dreamy, where the glow of the sun is golden, a building of such stature, every corner of the grounds breathtaking - the stuff that fairytales are made of, right before your eyes.
Every so often, I stumble across somewhere that transports me to another time, it’s a rare find – a place evocative of a time bygone, where magic lingers and there is a sense of the many stories that unfolded before. Pentillie Castle and Estate is my latest find.
The Location
A country estate set on the Cornish banks of the River Tamar; Pentillie Castle is a thoughtfully restored 16th century grade II Georgian mansion, standing within 55 acres of woodland garden with breathtaking views - a country pile offering luxury, comfort and tranquility.
Its a special location as you feel as though you’re in Devon but you’re actually in Cornwall - situated in St Mellion, on the Devon and Cornwall border, just a 20-minute drive from the historical port of Plymouth, Pentillie is set at the centre of a 2000-acre estate with far-reaching views across to Devon, offering a gateway to explore both counties.
A little history..
Built by Sir James Tillie in 1698, his statue now stands proudly in the courtyard to the front of the castle. Tillie originally served as land agent to the nearby estate of Sir John Coryton and when he mysteriously died, aged 42, Tillie married his widow, joining the two estates and considerably improving his wealth. Before his death, he asked to be interred in a purpose built mausoleum at Pentillie so he would be ready for his resurrection – a statue of him still remains within the mausoleum. In 1809, William Wilkins remodeled Pentillie into a commanding castle, fit for its location over the Tarmar Valley.
The estate is now managed by the latest generation of the Coryton family who are keen to preserve the magic for centuries to come.
The style and interiors
The late Georgian mansion has been sensitively restored, with the help of Ruth Watson’s Country House Rescue in 2009, and now provides a luxury boutique style bed and breakfast and unique retreat in a traditional country house with modern touches; without compromise on comfort, this home-from-home is fused with lashings of grandeur, a focus on historical features and furnishings and heritage colour palettes that are in keeping with the original style of the house. Paintings are by local artists including Sammie Coryton’s Great-grandfather, who painted alongside Monet.
Pentillie’s extensive grounds have been featured in Sky One’s drama, Delicious, starring Emilia Fox, Dawn French and Iain Glen.
An opulent home-from-home
The Coryton family put the care of their guests first; inviting you to be enveloped in their family history, building unique relationships with staff along the way.
Pentillie offers a sanctuary for relaxation, peacefulness and discovery, with so much history surrounding the estate, its hard not to be drawn in, as I was. There is a solar-heated outdoor swimming pool and 55 aces of woodland garden, including a kitchen garden. Wander down the path to the bathing hut to take in the stunning estuary views or take the hill climb up to the Mausoleum, amidst the stunning woodland and beautiful roaming Peacocks.
The Corytons have futue plans to develop some Glamping-esque tree houses within the grounds, I am pretty sure this would be an experience not to be missed – watch this space..
A sensational supper, a bountiful breakfast..
Dining at Pentillie is as decadent as it gets - regular dinners are held every Thursday evening as well as on various dates throughout the year, with bespoke group dinners arranged outside of these dates; a fine-dining affair, taking place in the main dining room, seating up to 60 guests, with seasonal dishes including Dandelion and Parmesan gnocchi, duo of corn fed chicken and pan-fried catch-of-the-day.
Alternatively, the castle offer DIY Suppers, where the fridge is fully stocked with excellent homemade plates and picnic hampers are available on request – I am definitely going back for one of these on the jetty!
Breakfast will set you up to explore the estate with a buffet of homemade granola, cereals, pastries, fruit, yogurt and fresh juices including pressed Pentillie apple juice, followed by cooked dishes: a full Cornish breakfast, French brioche with maple syrup and bacon and Pentillie eggs-any-way.
Pentillie host a lively range of events throughout the year, such as the famous Pengrillie BBQ festival, a sizzling day of delicious food and live music, open-air theatre performances – this summer’s is Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Flotilla to Pentillie, where the Calstock Steamboat Rally bring their flotilla to the estate’s Quay.
So wherever your journeys take you this summer, make sure you explore this historical haven - Pentillie really is a dream waiting to be discovered.
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