‘A place to dress up, to dream, to luxuriate’, this ‘one-of-a-kind hotel’ on a tidal island charms Guide readers with its ‘magical setting’ off the south Devon coast. ‘The surroundings, the history, the food and the secret pool are marvellous – a complete joy.’ ‘Romantic and timeless’, it steeps in an atmosphere that, for some, inspires grand gestures: ‘We got engaged!’ At high tide, arrive by sea tractor to discover an Art Deco extravaganza. The hotel ‘remains true to its 1930s roots’; every bedroom, from small doubles to sumptuous suites, is ‘sophisticated’. (A standalone suite straddling rocky projections of the cliff edge was in planning as the Guide went to press.) ‘Our large room opened on to a long balcony. In bed or in the roll-top bath, we took in the panorama of the sea.’ Ballroom dinners – black-tie affairs, with a live band twice a week – kick off with cocktails and canapés; informal meals may be taken under the glass ceiling of the Palm Court bar. One day, follow the cliff path to the Mermaid Pool; another, order a crab baguette in the centuries-old Pilchard Inn while the waves break on the rocks outside. (Bonnie Friend, Elizabeth Cule)