We hear a perennial chorus of approval from fans of Wendy and Simon Bennett’s family-friendly Victorian fantasy castle in the Eden valley, between Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. ‘No pretentiousness, just welcoming staff.’ ‘A very personable hostess,’ wrote one reader in 2018. ‘It felt as if you were staying with a family friend.’ Bedrooms are highly individual, with maybe a four-poster, corner cabinet of china, working fireplace, or turret wardrobe. ‘Bathrooms appear ancient but have a big bath, a shower with copious hot water, good toiletries.’ Annexe rooms have a patio or garden. ‘Dinner at the large dining table with other guests was fun. The food was amazing.’ ‘Good home cooking,’ writes an inspector, ‘onion soup or pâté, roast lamb, fig tart or cheese.’ ‘Great breakfast choices, and special touches such as coffee, tea and home-made cake in the bar.’ There are ‘roaring fires, comfy sofas’ in the Great Hall, drawing room, music room, library. ‘My children loved the games room and cinema. How we wish we could have stayed longer.’ (Dana and Charles Irons, Jan Wallace, Steven Williams, and many others)