‘Set in large gardens, this lovely old house feels like a big family home, with many pictures, books and magazines.’ Trusted Guide correspondents this year enjoyed Barbara Garnsworthy’s ‘relaxing’ hotel, in a former dower house within Cranborne Chase. ‘We love it in many ways,’ concur other regular visitors. Some guests raise caveats – ‘too-hasty housekeeping’; ‘a mishmash of hangers’ in the bedroom wardrobes – but it remains ‘an agreeable, quiet place to stay’, ‘especially in the summer, when we take tea on the lawn’. Choose carefully among the individually decorated bedrooms: the largest have antiques, and a roll-top bath in the bathroom. ‘Our huge room overlooking the garden had a comfortable, but very high, four-poster bed. A welcome flask of fresh milk appeared in the room each day.’ Dine in: the ‘interesting’ daily-changing menu has ‘a wide range of choices’, perhaps English asparagus, Old Winchester cheese; pork medallions, glazed shallots, port. (‘We would have loved to see more fresh, seasonal veg, though.’) At breakfast: ‘We can vouch for the excellent scrambled eggs.’ (Jill and Mike Bennett, and others)