Trereife

At the south-western tip of Cornwall, with views to the sea, this handsome manor house, wrapped in parkland and formal gardens, gives a taste of country house living. Run by the Le Grice family (seventh generation), the house with its Queen Anne frontage feels more like a private stately home than a B&B. ‘The sitting room, like the dining room, is full of antiques, lovingly cared for and creating an atmosphere of bygone days.’ There are panelled walls hung with portraits, a parquet-floored hall, and an oak staircase leading to the largest bedrooms. The others are on the ground floor, each with an individual entrance from the courtyard. Done out in country house style with polished wood furniture, dressing table and perhaps a coronet bed or window seat, most have a bath as well as a shower. The vibe throughout is relaxed, with guests encouraged to ‘treat the sitting room and the grounds as though they were our own’; the latter include a lovely parterre. Breakfast is ‘the highlight of the visit’ with cooked dishes ‘full of good local ingredients’ plus Lizzie Grice’s medlar jam, courtesy of the walled garden. (Michael Bourdeaux)