‘The garden was entertaining at mealtimes. There seemed to be more hens on the lawn this time.’ A trusted reader on a third visit captures the spirit of James Moffett’s manor house hotel in a ‘delightful Peak District location’. ‘Not posh, but straightforward’, it ‘continues to improve’. New arrivals are offered complimentary beer or Prosecco. The handling of a late-booking change was ‘most gracious’. Bedrooms, in main house and annexes, are traditionally styled, some have antiques, maybe a half-tester or four-poster. A small twin-bedded suite had a sitting room and fridge. All rooms have fresh milk. One sitting room has ‘a wood stove in a fireplace said to be several hundred years old’. The other is ‘essentially an interesting library with charming furniture’. In the beamed, candlelit restaurant, Mark Wilton’s ‘really good’ dishes include slow-braised lamb rump, bubble and squeak, honey-roasted baby carrots, red wine sauce. Vegans have their own menu. ‘Breakfast is help yourself, plenteous, varied and freshly cooked.’ A self-service free packed lunch with decent ‘freshly made sandwiches’ is provided for walkers. ‘All in all, amazing value. We will stay again.’ (John Barnes, DL)