Soar Mill Cove Hotel

It’s just a ten-minute walk to a beautifully uncrowded beach through National Trust land from this ocean-facing hotel, purpose built for families and fun. Spectacular cove and countryside views are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows in the smart, contemporary bedrooms, which open on to patios and the garden (dogs are welcome). Long-time owners Keith and Jenny Makepeace know how to make their visitors happy, offering extras such as a complimentary cream tea for people booking direct, with books and board games in the bedrooms. Returning guests who are disabled reported that staff ‘went out of their way to help’. Lunch might be a crab sandwich in the sunshine on the new dining deck with pirate ship play. At dinner, Ian MacDonald, in his 21st year here, uses prime local produce in his short, tempting menus, including kids’ portions and a vegan option. ‘The fishcake with salsa verde was all fish’ in a ‘light, thin, crispy’ coating. ‘The shin of West Country beef was tender and moist.’ Nor does the full Devonshire breakfast disappoint: ‘In particular the bacon and the creamy scrambled egg went down well.’ (Stephen Rees, and others)