Corse Lawn House

‘I love it as a place to get away from the business of everyday life.’ Experience traditional hospitality at the Hine family’s ‘graceful’ Queen Anne house in the Severn valley. It earns a main entry thanks to its ‘rustic ambience’ and ‘old-fashioned values’: ‘crumbly scones taken by the fire; no piped music’; ‘it avoids lots of “Do not” signs’. ‘We liked the feel of a visit to a country cousin,’ say Guide inspectors. Gilles Champier, the ‘helpful, long-serving’ manager, is ‘always about’ (‘but not effusive: don’t expect small talk’). ‘The hosts understand how to make you welcome in an easy, unfussy way.’ Bedrooms are ‘relaxing and quiet’. ‘Our good-value, spacious room had armchairs, a sofa, a comfortable bed with quality sheets and blankets; a modern, well-lit bathroom. There was leaf tea in a tin; a good information pack showed local walks.’ Book ahead for dinner in the popular salmon-pink restaurant or the less formal bistro (‘busy on a Saturday night’). ‘Food is very tasty without being “arty-farty”.’ In the morning, ‘Gilles takes orders and serves breakfast at table: good orange juice, delicious marmalade.’