Daisybank Cottage

Deep in the New Forest, Ciaran and Cheryl Maher have created a smart B&B in an Arts and Crafts, Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired house. It gains a full entry this year on the strength of glowing reports. ‘Ciaran and Cheryl are the best hosts, so friendly and kind,’ writes one reader. ‘They enjoy spoiling their guests, and love to share their local knowledge,’ The bedrooms are ‘amazing, with special added touches’. All have an espresso machine, a mini-fridge, handmade chocolates and luxury bath products. The Marryat Suite, opening on to the garden, has a copy of Captain Marryat’s classic, The Children of the New Forest. In the Gardener’s Cottage, redesigned by an award-winning local architect, the Dandelion Suite has under-floor heating, a volcanic-limestone bath, a separate rain shower and a private patio. The breakfast, too, is ‘amazing’, another reader writes. You are asked to order the night before from a menu of farm produce, home-made granola, American pancakes with maple syrup, free-range eggs, gluten-free and vegan options. ‘Our only advice is to stay longer.’