Marlfield House

‘Ambitious’ and ‘very stylish’, the Bowe family’s Regency-style mansion (Relais & Châteaux) stands in extensive, ‘well-kept’ gardens, its ‘inviting’ interiors packed with fresh flowers, period paintings and antiques ‘to fascinate the eye’. Guide inspectors in 2016 enjoyed a ‘guest-centred’ experience, with ‘friendly, attentive’ staff. There’s plenty of space in which to lounge: low-slung armchairs sit by a fire; ‘a grand piano in the imposing entrance hall adds a sense of style’. Check in to country house-style bedrooms, each with a marble bathroom. ‘Our pleasing room, up two flights of stairs, had beautiful orchids, easy chairs, a super-king-size bed with a firm mattress and soft pillows. In the well-lit bathroom: a small bath, a reluctant shower.’ Ruadhan Furlong’s classic dishes, perhaps ‘tender’ scallops or ‘expertly cooked’ steak, are served in the Conservatory restaurant (white linens, Wedgwood china). ‘We could’ve happily eaten our way through the tempting menu over successive nights.’ Opt for informal meals in the Duck restaurant overlooking the kitchen garden. Come morning, wake to a ‘sumptuous’ breakfast with ‘fine’ leaf tea, then head out on an ‘atmospheric’ wooded walk in the grounds.