With its towers and battlements, wood-panelled walls and ornate ceilings, this Victorian-folly castle set in acres of grounds still manages to be ‘very relaxed; we never felt we had to be on our best behaviour’. ‘Like staying in a friend’s grand country estate,’ adds an inspector, ‘supremely enjoyable.’ Owners Simon and Wendy Bennett are ‘never intrusive, always attentive’. Plenty of activities are on offer: tennis, a private cinema and a games room. Bedrooms, spread between castle, stables, orangery and separate buildings, range from big to vast. Eccentrically furnished with antiques, sale-room finds and bold wallpapers, they might include a four-poster, roll-top bath or fireplace. ‘Our room had an open fire which we were encouraged to light, an enormous bath, lashings of hot water!’ New chef Justin Woods offers modern British menus of ‘gorgeously cooked local food’, such as braised beef cheek and roasted roots, and more-ish puddings, including damson Bakewell. ‘Magnificent breakfasts’, too, for which children can collect the eggs. ‘A magical home from home.’ (Heather Cole, and others)