In the heart of Constable country, Piers Baker’s 14th-century inn is ‘what pubs were meant to look like’, from the eye-catching sign outside to the beamed ceilings and wooden floors within. The panelled lounge, with ‘old books on the window ledges’, is home to a log-burning stove, sofas arranged around it. In the bar, a ‘convivial local gathering spot’, the walls are hung with original artwork, old photographs and advertising posters. The ‘restful, gracefully homey rooms’ are a mix of period and contemporary styling, with perhaps a brass, oak or half-tester bed. Two, above the dining room, are accessed from the ‘small, paved beer garden’ via a Tudor staircase – the twin had a bathroom separated ‘by a partition that didn’t reach the ceiling’. A Guide inspector noted with approval ‘a powerful rain shower’, ground coffee, Abahna toiletries, and the soothing chimes from St Mary’s church. Chef Jack Levine cooks ‘modern pubby food’ such as rare breed meats, and hake with squid ink sauce; there is also a vegan menu. A locally sourced breakfast with fresh-baked bread sets you up for a tour of the famous landscape.