The House
On stepping into the magnificent reception room guests will not fail to notice a number of interesting architectural features of the Georgian period, including a high moulded ceiling, magnificent fireplace and original fitted shutters. The hardwood herringbone parquet flooring and the sweeping staircase generates a feeling of luxury and relaxation. Licensed for civil ceremonies, the reception room at Courtlands is the perfect location for this once in a life time event, please visit our weddings page for more information.
Turning right from reception is the Music Room, leading through to the Drawing Room. The beautiful herringbone flooring follows on from reception with breathtaking views through five sets of French windows opening to the veranda and gardens beyond. Perfect for an elegant private dining experience or an intimate wedding reception, please refer to our Conference and Function pages.
The Courtlands Dining Room is directly opposite the main entrance, with oak panelling and a large open fireplace lending itself to an unforgettable private dining experience or an inspiring conference setting. Three sets of French doors open onto the veranda where guests can soak in the ever-changing view - grand and atmospheric this is a truly delightful room.
The inner hallway of the house leads past the stairway, which turns up through 180º below a magnificent glazed dome with glazed panels. The striking Billiard Room with its barrelled ceiling leads off from the light and airy flagstone floored atrium. The large bay window overlooks the grounds to the estuary beyond and the smaller side window frames the rose garden, both flood the room with natural light. The period décor, high ceiling and marble fireplace provide the perfect setting for an intimate wedding party and is also perfect for conferencing.
Courtlands Environment
Nestled in an elevated position overlooking the Exe Estuary, Courtlands house is at the gateway of England's first natural World Heritage Site - The Jurassic Coast. Spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods it covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.
Locally the Exe Estuary is sheltered by Dawlish Warren, an unusual double spit across the mouth of the estuary, which supports a variety of plant and animal communities, including the only remaining British mainland population of the sand crocus.
In this area of natural beauty enthusiast will note tidal flats, saltmarsh, reedbeds, sand dunes and enclosed grazing marsh. Exminster Marshes support regionally rare plants such as parsley water dropwort and flowering rush, and two species of nationally scarce dragonfly, the ruddy darter and the hairy dragonfly.
The extensive areas of sand and mud are of marine conservation importance, largely due to the presence of a polychaete worm known from only one other site in Britain, and also for eelgrass beds. The Orcombe rocks are a key geological feature displaying excellent coastal sectioning in the sandstones, siltstones and mudstones.
In the Exe Estuary in spring, you can see lapwings and redshanks and listen for rare Cetti's warblers. In winter, during floods or around high tide, there are thousands of waterbirds including black-tailed godwits and wigeons. Other birds of particular interest include Little tern, Little egret, Whimbrel, Common greenshank, Red-breasted merganser, Water rail, Pied avocet and Spotted redshank.