Hillside

It may look traditional but this 18th-century thatched country house, with a long conservatory overlooking the sea, has a pleasing Scandi-chic style thanks to its charismatic, art-loving Danish owner, Gert Bach. Rooms of stripped-oak floors, white walls and monochrome furnishings provide an elegant backdrop for Gert’s collection of abstract art. Fresh flowers, colourful rugs, bold lighting and a wood-burning stove prevent it from feeling too stark. It ‘feels more like a home than a hotel, albeit an incredibly chic one’. Bedrooms, most with sea views, are minimalist (white walls, wood floors), light-filled and have more art, plus ‘seriously comfortable’ beds covered with bright woollen blankets. Bathrooms are compact; tea/coffee is available downstairs and charged for. The garden with pond and fire pit is perfect for drinks before a simple, tasty two-course supper of dishes such as bouillabaisse and IOW ice cream, roasted trout and lemon brûlée tart; much produce is from the kitchen garden. Their hens produce the eggs for breakfast, a ‘surprisingly good’ feast with bircher muesli, local sausage and bacon, plates of cheese and meat.