Drive through green countryside to come to this peaceful, family-run B&B steeped in centuries-old history. On a working dairy farm, John and Kathleen Mernagh’s 17th-century house adjoins the remains of a 15th-century Norman castle. Inside, rooms are ‘attractively decorated’ in period style: vintage furnishings, gilt-framed mirrors, a grandfather clock. ‘We were graciously welcomed by Kathleen. The fire had been lit in the lounge; tea and coffee were offered in a snug, along with Kathleen’s home-made biscuits.’ Up the wide staircase, bedrooms (two suitable for a family) look over the lawns and surrounding fields. ‘Our beautiful room had a comfortable super-king-size bed with good linen; lovely amenities and a bathtub in the tastefully decorated bathroom.’ In the spring and summer months, the hosts prepare a limited-choice home-cooked dinner using garden salads, and meat from the farm. Come morning, a ‘fresh, tasty’ breakfast, with home-baked bread and home-made yogurt, is ‘a highlight’ – fine fuel for climbing to the top of the castle tower, the best spot to get the lay of the land. (Rebecca Fishwell, Simon Simmons)