A Devon hotel stay turns surreal as a couple reports spotting a mysterious large cat nearby
A husband and wife were celebrating a birthday at a hotel near Dartmouth, Devon, when they unexpectedly glimpsed a large, dark-coated animal moving across the field and into the surrounding vegetation. The moment was captured on video and later shared with viewers who asked whether the creature could be a big cat.
Karen Carter, who was toasting her partner’s birthday with prosecco, described the sighting from the hotel’s conservatory restaurant. After a relaxing spa visit, the couple stopped for a drink in the bar. Within minutes, Karen noticed movement on the hotel’s golf course. She and her partner were in dressing gowns and couldn’t pursue the animal immediately, but she managed to record a 36-second clip at 4:05pm on February 5.
The sighting occurred just 200 metres from the hotel, placing it less than 50 miles from Bodmin Moor — a region long associated with the infamous Beast of Bodmin Moor, with more than 60 suspected big-cat sightings reported since the 1970s.
Karen said, “We are both wildlife enthusiasts, and we’re unsure what this was due to its size.”
Experts and enthusiasts who study or follow big cats in Britain are largely convinced the footage shows a big cat, with many leaning toward a black panther as the most likely candidate.
Rick Minter, who hosts the Big Cat Conversations podcast, analyzed the clip and offered several considerations. He pointed to the animal’s shape, movement, and overall scale, noting a long, bulky body, a thick tail, and sturdy legs that could align with a large feline described as a panther. He also mentioned that in Britain, a black leopard is often considered the closest match to a black panther when discussing such sightings. He advised that having a reference point for size would help confirm the assessment, such as measuring the width of nearby trees for scale.
Other big-cat enthusiasts shared their impressions. Lisa Kay remarked on the footage’s impressive size, while Tasha Wilkie called it the best proof she had seen to date. Mandy Priest and Ruth Stephens echoed the sentiment, with Ruth labeling the animal a panther based on head shape and tail length observed in daylight footage.
Additional commenters who weighed in included observers who described the animal as big, bulky, and unafraid, noting that its appearance and movement matched that of a large wild cat more than any domestic species. One commenter, Diana, emphasized that the creature’s size, relative to a nearby tree, makes it unlikely to be a domestic cat.
In summary, the video has sparked discussion among wildlife observers and big-cat fans, reigniting questions about whether Britain’s countryside continues to harbor elusive large felines.
