‘We were welcomed with a complimentary Pimm’s,’ write Guide insiders, who dined at James Moffett’s historic stone manor house in the Peak District national park. And if it seems churlish to note that the Pimm’s could have been colder, they add: ‘This was our only criticism.’ In two lounges, ‘a jolly atmosphere’ prevailed. In the large dining room – ‘divided into several areas, each with a log fire’ – the efficient team served residents and locals. ‘The meal was really good in a refreshingly unpretentious way.’ Leek and potato soup, sea bream with a potato cake, hot pot, and panna cotta were enjoyed. The ‘good accommodation’ includes traditionally styled bedrooms in the main house and outbuildings. We do hear niggles (a cold room, a rushed dinner), but our readers love the spirit of the enterprise, the ‘undeniable charm’, such nice touches as a fridge with fresh milk, the offer of a free packed lunch, with ‘really good, freshly made sandwiches’. Walkers can pick up trails from the extensive grounds. A returning guest in 2018 concludes, ‘Not posh but straightforward. Amazing value.’ (Derek Lambert, SP, DL, and others)