Old Whyly

Set in ‘wonderful grounds which are impeccably kept’, with an orchard, hard tennis court and swimming pool, Sarah Burgoyne’s ‘beautiful house’ continues to impress. The former Georgian farmhouse is filled with antiques and artwork, its bedrooms traditionally furnished. Two have a separate private bathroom, two have an en suite. At night, Paris-trained Sarah cooks a three-course dinner of locally sourced ingredients. ‘She is a highly accomplished host and clearly a very talented chef,’ a reader relates. ‘We had lamb and sea bass, both faultless.’ Another reader found the cold beetroot soup ‘a delight’. Breakfast, too, is ‘simply lovely. All kinds of goodies, with an excellent cooked breakfast if you needed it. Juice from real oranges. Ample toast with very nice home-made jams and exquisite marmalade.’ Both children and dogs are welcome. There are ‘lovely walks nearby’ on an adjoining estate, and on fine days you can return to take tea alfresco. Wily old hands book well ahead for Glyndebourne and order a tiffin box. (Ian White, Peter and Cynthia Boden, and others)