Knocklayd House is near the highest point of the village of Kingswear with panoramic views, from the mouth of the River Dart and the open sea to the historic town of Dartmouth, the Britannia Royal Naval College and up river towards Dittisham.

A comfortable family house, it is a very special place to stay if you wish to enjoy the delights of the River Dart and the South Hams, one of the most charming and unspoilt parts of rural Devon.

Jonathan and Susan Cardale moved to Kingswear in 2004 from Culzean Castle in Ayrshire where Susan managed the Eisenhower Apartment (an exclusive little hotel in the top of the castle) and Jonathan was general manager of the castle and country park, the National Trust for Scotland's flagship property. Before that Jonathan was a navigator and ship driver in the Royal Navy and Susan was a midwifery tutor. They spent three years on a diplomatic posting in India before Jonathan left the RN in 1993 (as part of 'the peace dividend'). Twelve years before, they lived two years in California; so between them they have a wealth of experience of making friends around the world, and of looking after people and making them feel welcome.

Knocklayd has been the Cardale 'family seat' since Jonathan's late parents returned to the West country in 1967 after 3 years in Ulster ("Knocklayd" is the second highest hill in County Antrim). Susan and Jonathan have now extended and refurbished the house to provide all modern comforts for their guests.

Susan is an expert cordon bleu cook and can create delicious evening meals, as well as great English breakfasts (see Tariff page). Jonathan is an enthusiastic amateur historian: with West Country seafarers on both sides of his family, his particular interests are maritime and local history.

Former guests may remember a warm welcome from aged Labradors Jack and Jess, but they have now gone to doggie heaven. Molly the little woolly white Hearing Dog for Deaf People (retired) is all the keener to welcome visiting dogs for some company, provided they are happy to sleep in the doggie dormitory next to the Aga.

The real joy of staying at Knocklayd is the warm and friendly welcome everyone receives, and the special pleasures of a comfortable family house in such a fantastically spectacular position.

01803 752873