“ So what I really want from Fowlescombe is actually that you come away feeling like you've stayed with a friend—if that friend was an amazing cook, had really beautiful guest rooms, and was a fantastic host—who'd looked after you really well and who'd really made the effort to show you around. Because actually there's nothing better than visiting a place with a friend, seeing it through their eyes and feeling like you've seen something a bit different.”
We’re in great company with Caitlin Owens, the proud new owner and managing director of Fowlescombe Farm, a quietly luxurious and restorative rural retreat of just ten beautifully designed suites, nestled at the heart of a 450-acre regenerative farm, set close to the wilds of Dartmoor in Devon.
Dating back to 1537, rich with ghost stories and Sherlock Holmes lore, this historic estate became the perfect canvas for Caitlin to realize her childhood dream of owning a hotel when she returned home to the English countryside ready to pave her own path.
In this episode, Caitlin takes us through her philosophy of doing luxury differently—learning from her time at Four Seasons but choosing intimacy over opulence, inviting overnight guests to participate in farm rhythms while opening her table to the local community, and pioneering regenerative hospitality that cares for land, nourishes guests, and sustains her family business.
Top Takeaways
[2:00] Caitlin's childhood dream of owning a hotel found its home when she returned during lockdown to rediscover the beauty of Devon’s countryside and the opportunity within her family’s farm.
[8:50] The estate, owned by the Fowle family since 1537, sits among Dartmoor's mystical landscape—rich in folklore, witchcraft history, haunting tales of ghostly hounds, and the backdrop for a Sherlock Holmes best seller.
[16:20] Rather than replicate Four Seasons' luxury through choice and opulence, Caitlin built Fowlescombe around removing decisions—curating an intentional experience that feels like staying with a trusted friend who takes care of every detail.
[21:20] Caitlin's favorite season brings the energy of new calves and lambs, bees buzzing through wildflowers, savory wild garlic scenting the woods, and the surprising sweetness of gorse on the moorland.
[23:50] Every suite designed by creative director Paul Glade prioritizes tactile luxury—soft wool from their own flock, stone quarried on the farm, English oak, and layered fabrics that invite guests to touch and connect with the sense of place.
[27:50] From childhood books to wellies in every size, every object at Fowlescombe has a story and is chosen intentionally so guests can connect to the place and carve out their own space on the farm.
[31:30] Overnight guests harvest eggs and make bread with the chefs, while local dinner guests tour the gardens before sharing the communal table—creating connections to the farm and community through food.
[39:20] Caitlin envisions a future where the community of people wanting to do luxury differently grows, and the concept of regenerative practices extends beyond farming to hospitality itself.
Notable Mentions
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Visit For Yourself
Fowlescombe Farm Website | @fowlescombe
