Fisherman's Cot - Tiverton, Devon

Although not a lot of information is known about the source of the hauntings at the hotel, guests report regularly hearing the soft laughter of an invisible female in the bar area of the hotel. Maybe the reason she’s heard so regularly at the hotel is that she had such a fantastic time when she stayed there in the past?

Guests have also reported hearing (and occasionally catching a glimpse of) the clattering of a headless horseman riding over the nearby 14^th century Bickleigh bridge.

Brief History

Bickleigh village itself is an incredibly old village that is absolutely steeped in history. In fact, Bickleigh was mentioned in the Doomsday book as Bichelei, meaning ‘Bicca’s Meadow’. The village boasts a castle, which used to be known as Bickleigh court. The castle itself is one of Britain’s oldest working houses and parts of the building date back to the 12th century.

The Fisherman’s Cot was thought for a long time to be the inspiration for the famous Paul Simon song, Bridge Over Troubled Water. Paul Simon stayed at the hotel overlooking the Bickleigh Bridge and the River Exe in the 1960s and during his stay in room 6, the river flooded its banks. For many years after this, the song was believed to have been inspired by these events, but those rumours were quashed in 2003 when Art Garfunkel stated that the song had been inspired by a Baptist hymn.

About

The hotel boasts 21 comfortable rooms, all of which are en-suite. All of the rooms are full of character and rooms 10 and 11, in particular, are said to offer fantastic views. That same character is echoed throughout the rest of the pub and the hotel, with beamed ceilings, open fires and a thatched roof. The restaurant of the hotel offers a combination of traditional and modern cooking and a range of starters, mains and desserts.

The hotel is licensed to fish in a ¾ mile stretch of the River Exe, meaning that fresh fish is almost always in abundance at the restaurant. Families are welcome at the hotel and there is a range of rooms that can sleep up to four people. The large picturesque grounds and gardens of the hotel are also perfect for letting off some steam with the family, or for just relaxing and watching the river go by.

Features

All en-suite bedrooms
Stunning views
Free Wi-Fi in every room
Free car parking
Breakfast included in the room price
TV in each room
Children/baby facilities
Hairdryer in each room
Disabled access
Pets allowed
Wedding license
Cosy restaurant
Pub serving real ales and a good selection of wine

Things to do

Bickleigh itself is a very small village, but explore a little further out in Tiverton and through the rest of Devon, and you’ll find plenty to see and do. Devon itself is a county steeped with history, and there are lots of museums and art galleries as well as a railway centre. The landscape of Bickleigh is perfect for going on long lazy walks, and Devon itself offers many miles of beautiful, tranquil coastline. There are also a number of family attractions throughout Devon, including amusement arcades, petting farms and beach activities.

Room Tariff

Double rooms are available from £82.95, including breakfast, based on two people sharing.
Twin rooms are available from £82.95, including breakfast, based on two people sharing.
Family rooms are available from £92.95, including breakfast, to sleep three or four people.

Related pages: The 5 Most Haunted Places in Devon