Paschoe House

Hidden down a drive in remote mid-Devon, this country house and fine-dining restaurant blends modern design with original features to startling effect. Originally the home of a wealthy local family, the house, built in Victorian Gothic style, has been given a bold make-over with sugar-pink walls up the staircase, bright butterfly wallpaper in the drawing room and a stuffed ostrich overlooking proceedings in the powder-blue bar. Taxidermy is a recurring theme. Despite quirky touches, the atmosphere is quietly refined with antiques and pretty coloured armchairs, wood-burning stoves in grand fireplaces, and shuttered windows overlooking the grounds. There are walks from the doorstep, tennis and a games lawn. Dinner is an ambitious affair with canapés and amuse-bouche followed by dishes such as trout with beetroot, yogurt and lime, and lamb with Provençal vegetables, potato purée and wild garlic. Bedrooms have a modern elegance, with soft colours, contemporary and antique furniture, while bathrooms have striking wallpapers. Home-baked treats, chocolates and flowers add a homely touch. Lazy breakfasts include fruit compote, pancakes and eggs Florentine.