Stoberry House

Tim and Frances Meeres Young rescued this 18th-century coach house from ruin 20 years ago and transformed it into an ‘altogether excellent’ luxury B&B with a sweep of ‘beautifully laid out’ grounds. ‘Several hours could easily be spent idling about the carefully planted gardens, anticipating what delight is around the next corner.’ Find colourful prints, fresh flowers, packed bookshelves, board games in the sitting rooms; a well-equipped pantry has all the necessities for making light snacks. In the main house and studio (a stroll across the lawns), the ‘comfortable, well-appointed’ bedrooms are individually designed. ‘What a lovely surprise to discover we could park alongside our well-equipped studio suite.’ The truly romantic can arrange intimate picnics or afternoon teas in the gardens or on the grassy knoll overlooking Wells cathedral. Expect a ‘superb’ breakfast with a full (‘and I do mean “full”’) English and an ‘unrivalled’ continental spread: yogurts, Somerset cheeses, salami, freshly baked breads, Scotch pancakes, home-made jams; porridge has its own menu. ‘Frances cooks much of it, using produce from her potager.’ (Geoffrey Bignell, Peter Rogers)