THE PIG at Combe

Hidden within 3,500 acres of the Otter Valley, THE PIG-at Combe occupies a honey-coloured Elizabethan manor dating to 1572. Three walled gardens, old orchards and the produce of Devon’s farms and nearby coast make this perhaps the most deeply rural of the PIGs.

Story

The Combe estate appears in the Domesday Book, while the manor standing today was built in 1572 by Humphrey Beaumont. From 1615, it became home to the Putt family for more than 250 years; one member, Thomas “Black Tom” Putt, bred the Devon apple variety that still bears his name.

Combe became a country-house hotel in 1968, before reopening as THE PIG-at Combe in 2016. Original panelling, fireplaces, stables and even the old laundry were retained, while three historic walled gardens became the productive heart of the hotel.

Why we selected THE PIG at Combe

Centuries of Devon history

The estate has been recorded for nearly a thousand years, with its Elizabethan manor and centuries of family ownership giving Combe a depth of history unusual even among country-house hotels.

Three gardens, three purposes

Uniquely among the PIGs, Combe has three walled gardens: one for vegetables, one for herbs and one dedicated to infusions used in teas and drinks.

A forgotten Devon apple lives on

Former resident Thomas Putt bred the Tom Putt apple, an old Devon variety traditionally associated with cider making. It provides a lovely link between the estate’s history and the orchards and cider culture of Devon today.

Between Devon countryside and coast

The house is deeply rural, yet the coast is only eight miles away. Its kitchen therefore draws from both worlds: garden vegetables and Devon meat and cheese alongside locally landed fish.

Local life & traditions

East Devon is a landscape of orchards, small farms, cider makers and old villages, with the sea never far away. Apples have particular significance here, with farmhouse cider part of Devon's agricultural identity for generations.

Around Combe, that culture is still tangible. Nearby producers supply meat, cheese, bread and fish, while local vineyards and family-run cider farms sit among the Otter Valley's fields and orchards. The nearby village of Gittisham retains its thatched cottages and traditional Devon character.

Authentic experiences in the area

Explore three Kitchen Gardens

Walk through the vegetable, herb and infusion gardens with the gardeners, discovering what’s ready to harvest and how each garden feeds the kitchen, bar and wider house.

Taste Devon's cider heritage

Visit one of the family-run cider farms surrounding the Otter Valley, connecting Combe’s own Tom Putt apple story with a tradition that still defines this part of Devon.

Follow the River Otter

Explore the valley that gives Combe its setting, where the River Otter is home to one of England’s established wild beaver populations.

Head from valley to coast

Travel eight miles to the East Devon coast, exploring places such as Sidmouth, Beer and Branscombe before returning inland to Combe.

Protecting culture & land

At Combe, much of the estate's historic fabric has been adapted rather than erased. The Georgian stables became bedrooms while retaining original features; the old laundry still has its drying racks; and the former Georgian kitchen survives as a private dining room.

Outside, the three walled gardens remain productive, while the 25 Mile Menu supports the farmers, foragers, cheesemakers, bakers and butchers working across Devon today.

Location & surroundings

THE PIG-at Combe lies just outside Gittisham near Honiton, surrounded by 3,500 acres of the Otter Valley.

The East Devon coast is around eight miles away, while Honiton, Sidmouth, Beer and Branscombe are all close enough to explore. Ancient woodland and walking trails begin directly from the estate.

Key details

Address

THE PIG-at Combe
Gittisham, Honiton
Devon
EX14 3AD

Getting here

By train: Honiton is the nearest station, with direct services from London Waterloo and an onward taxi to the hotel.

By plane: Exeter Airport is the closest airport, around 15–20 minutes away by car.

By car: The hotel is around 1.5 miles from Honiton, just off the A30.

Facilities

Elizabethan main house

Bedrooms in the house & former stable yard

Potting Shed treatment rooms

Kitchen Garden tours

The Folly outdoor restaurant & wood-fired oven

More

Historic Georgian Kitchen private dining room

Three sitting rooms & panelled bar

Words from the owners

“You are only a custodian of any garden for a while.”

— Ollie Hutson, Group Head Kitchen Gardener, THE PIG

Every stay booked direct keeps value with the people of this place, so they can reinvest in culture, community and land

We believe travel should give back more than it takes; that it can protect cultures, not erode them.

That is why we connect you directly with each hotel’s own website. By booking direct, value remains in the hands of those who shape these places, enabling reinvestment into local culture, community, and land.