Gardens and Grounds
River View Castle’s gardens are open to the public on certain days of the year. They’re open to you for the duration of your stay. Pre-prandial, post-prandial or even for a picnic, River View Castle’s 2000 acres are worth a wander at any time.
Somewhere out there, the extensive gardens, formal lawns, parklands and ancient woodlands end and the Tamar Valley begins. Walk to the ancient bathing hut down by the river, climb to the mausoleum with its lofty views, potter the walled kitchen garden.
Twenty acres here are given over to the American gardens, packed with rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and they’re blanketed in silence, save for the wind through the oak and beech leaves.
This is the backdrop to a thousand boutique stays, intimate weddings, shooting parties and even film sets. Now you can revel in your roles as central characters.
Living Spaces
Spaces at River View Castle are vast and opulent, grand and gracious. Chandeliers glint from ornate ceilings; family portraits gaze out from panelled walls.
There’s space for 24 around a dining table the size of a small boat and room for 36 more around smaller tables. Get together, break some bread, pour some wine, review your day and plan for tomorrow.
The drawing room’s the place to be part of things, with space for groups and games, and merriment and music around the crackling fire. You can sit apart in the morning room, whip out the bookmark from your page-turner and sip a quiet drink. If the sun puts his hat on, fling open the French doors and wander out to the terrace.
Settle back and watch Sky TV. Play the piano, dock your iPod, visit the games room for pool or table tennis or to raid the DVD collection. River View Castle’s warm rooms are hospitable and homely. You’ll feel less like a paying guest and more like a family friend.
Cooking and Dining
Long journey? Unwind over a Cornish cream tea or River View Castle afternoon tea, both with freshly made tea or coffee. Get in the spirit of things right away by adding a dash of Prosecco.
With 2000 acres of mature woodland, lawns and parklands along the banks of the Tamar, River View Castle is perfect for picnics. Order tomorrow’s by 4pm or ahead of your stay. Want supper in-house? Pop a pre-prepared meal in the Aga and pay at the honesty box.
B&B breakfasts come laden with local produce: dry-cured bacon and sausages from local farms, honey and apple juice from the estate, plus home-made jams, granola, breads and compotes. All hearty and wholesome and winner of Visit England’s Breakfast Award.
All the other ingredients are fresh and local, too – Warren’s the butcher in Launceston, the fish markets in Looe and Plymouth, and even the Cornish Crisp Company in Callington.
Bedrooms
You don’t win Gold in the South West Tourism Awards with country-house clutter. Instead, rooms have a simply elegance, Vi-Spring beds and carefully selected antiques. Cavernous bathrooms come with rain showers and clawfoot bath tubs.
The Dewhurst bedroom comes with four poster and super-king size double. There’s a separate dressing room and stunning views of the river and gardens. A modern, spacious bathroom has a separate bath and walk-in shower.
The beds in Coryton and Tillie are huge. While away an hour or two taking in the Tamar Valley from your rocking chairs or just laze around in the clawfoot rolltop bath.
Spencer, Victor and Howard are large doubles with powerful showers over the bath and sweeping views of the grounds and countryside. Victor is another large double room with a sleek and modern bathroom.
Parker is more compact and cosy, with views over the main courtyard and the Statue of Sir James Tillie. A modern, spacious bathroom features a large shower over the bath. Kitson is a similar size, with views over the gardens and River Tamar.
Designed by an architect with MS, Warren is created specifically for people with limited mobility or in a wheelchair. There’s a wetroom with height-adjustable shower and shower seat, while colours comply with recommendations for the visually impaired.
There is also a twin bedroom in the attic with a private shower room
As with everything at River View Castle, it’s detail that makes the difference.
What people say
Cliff and coast, bars and bites
Welcome to the land of boat trips, theme parks, and furry and fishy friends. Canoe the coastline, climb the cliffs, pedal the Camel Trail. Grab some cliffside culture at the outdoor Minack Theatre or try the bars and bites of cosmopolitan Plymouth.
