Hotel Endsleigh

Olga Polizzi’s cottage-orné with tall chimneys, verandas, gables and dormers, in an Arcadian landscape on the River Tamar, is full of flair – and of history. Built as a fishing lodge for the 6th Duke of Bedford and Duchess Georgiana, it has a thatched dairy, and Grade I listed parkland created by Humphry Repton, who confessed ‘I never so well pleased myself.’ Readers share his sentiments: ‘The grounds are simply spectacular, a valley of unreal natural beauty.’ Guide trusties who had previously stayed only once were ‘welcomed as though we were regulars’. A fire roars in the stylish, spacious drawing room, afternoon tea is laid out in the library, and bedrooms are chic and uncluttered. ‘Our room, up two very steep sets of stairs, was welcoming and bright.’ Dine in the panelled dining room, or outdoors, under a parasol. Tom Ewings’ ‘excellent’ short menus include dishes such as John Dory, herb potato beignets, shrimp, caper and potato beurre noisette. Breakfast brings organic porridge, free-range eggs, local sausages. (Chris and Erika Savory, SG}