The Falcon

Well-being is at the heart of this ‘rather lovely boutique hotel’, a reinvented 16th-century coaching inn, where guests enjoy nature walks, yoga and the run of Castle Ashby's pleasure grounds. Lord and Lady Northampton (‘Spenny and Tracy’) have ‘lavished attention on it to reflect their core values and interests’. The interiors have earthy, mossy tones designed to connect with the surrounding countryside. Some bedrooms have a balcony, some interconnect for a family, all have an espresso machine and organic toiletries. ‘This is a lovely hotel, with excellent staff,’ wrote readers this year, though they blenched as the prices mounted. In Eyas, Russell Bateman’s ethically sourced tasting menu might feature spring truffles, Orkney scallops, Herdwick lamb. You can eat more casually from a lounge menu, say bavette steak with peppercorn sauce, hand-rolled pasta, a Caesar salad. ‘Wild swimming in a lake designed by Capability Brown gives you amazing glimpses of Castle Ashby itself’, while the Italian gardens, orangery, arboretum and menagerie await exploration. (John and Elspeth Gibbon, JK)