Budock Vean Shortlist*

In an 18th-century manor house, this spa hotel and golf resort has been owned by the Barlow family since 1987. Guide readers praise the ‘attentive’ service and ‘magnificent’ facilities. ‘Tastefully furnished’ bedrooms have views over the grounds (‘I have never heard such loud, beautiful birdsong’). They are supplied with bathrobes and slippers, swimming towels, and Cornish biscuits and water. In the evening, menus ‘suit all tastes’ – a four-course dinner in the restaurant, or a less formal option taken in the conservatory, bar or lounge. Walk through the ‘pretty’ garden to reach the Helford river, where boat trips, paddle-boarding and kayak explorations offer adventure on the water. All on site: tennis, croquet, snooker and an ‘excellent’ swimming pool, sauna and outdoor hot tub.