‘Our sixth visit, and a wonderful end to our holiday,’ write readers who stopped over at this wisteria-smothered hotel in an unspoilt New Forest village. Built in 1888, in Arts and Crafts style, it hosted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while he wrote The White Company. Now, whether or not in homage, its ‘comfortable, well-equipped’ bedrooms sport White Company toiletries. Most have a handmade, king-size bed, some a highly ornate four-poster, one has beautiful stained glass. Hayloft suites have a freestanding bath and private terrace. The big news this year was the arrival of chef Matthew Whitfield, from New York’s triple-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. He works with locally sourced and home-grown organic produce, apples from the orchard, eggs from the hens, to create dishes served in the Terrace restaurant, overlooking the ‘most attractive’ garden. Typical of his repertoire are glazed Pennington lamb belly, salt-baked celeriac, rosemary and hazelnut; turbot, curried mussels, Cornish saffron, broccoli and almond. Provenance is no less important at Monty’s Inn, where you might enjoy a ploughman’s with real ale from Ringwood Brewery. ‘As ever the ambience was great.’ (RC, MK-O). This hotel is also a member of Pride of Britain.