‘Situated in stunning scenery and set in a delightful garden’, this 19th-century country house hotel (Relais & Châteaux) is now firmly on the gastronomic map, with the kitchen the province of Michelin-starred chef patron Hrishikesh Desai, formerly of the Gilpin Hotel (see Windermere). On four nights, an Indian influenced tasting menu in the Michelin-starred Cedar Tree restaurant showcases Desai’s skills, with produce from the walled kitchen garden, in dishes such as roast stonebass fillet, satay-spiced mousse, carrot and crab, lime-leaf emulsion. On other nights, you can dine more casually in Bistro Enkel. ‘It was good before, but since the new chef has taken over you can’t fault anything,' reports a reader. Built in the 1820s for a rumbustious family named Thompson, the house features bedrooms in restful, pale shades, ranging from standard doubles to junior suites with a seating area and espresso machine. Best is the Hayloft Suite in the old stables. Trusted readers enjoyed their 'well equipped and lovely room'. In the Thompsons’ time the children would ride Phoebe the donkey round the billiards table; these days it’s a tad more formal (no shorts or flipflops at dinner). (Maria Johnston, and others)