'It's like going back in time to more gracious living,' writes a reader after an annual visit to the Ashworth family's hotel in sub-tropical gardens in a 'stunning location' above Carne Beach. This 'country-house hotel by the sea' is pricey, but other readers secured a last-minute deal for a 'very comfortable and spacious room with great sea views', and were 'delighted by our visit'. It's the details that count – the books, magazines, fruit, flowers, cream tea… Sea-view rooms have a balcony or terrace. 'The building has been extended to offer more luxury suites, very sympathetically and with good taste to fit into the landscape.' In the silver-service dining room, sit down to an 'excellent five-course dinner', locally sourced – maybe pan-seared calf's liver, Dover sole with Café de Paris butter, or lobster, and 'a sumptuous selection of puds'. 'I particularly enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres trolley, a bit of yesterday, perhaps, but great!' You can eat more casually in (and outside) the Quarterdeck. 'Gardens in great shape for a winter's day, good indoor pool, tennis court.' 'A year spent without a visit to The Nare is a year wasted.' (Abigail Kirby-Harris, Ian Dewey, Peter Govier, and others)