Thatched cottages and sheep-dotted fields swaddle the single-track roads to this 17th-century mellow-stone Nadder valley house in an ‘unspoilt’ village. For Guide inspectors in 2018, the ‘dreamy bedrooms’, ‘tranquil garden’ and ‘sublime dining’ are the real draws. In the ‘airy sitting room’, plush sofas are interspersed with low tables bearing garden-fresh blooms, board games and books. A small snug ‘is a fine place to have a drink and read the paper’; the ‘beautifully maintained garden’ is a tempting alternative. Upstairs, tastefully decorated bedrooms vary in size. ‘Our marvellous second-floor room had a huge, cosy bed; spoiling organic toiletries in the sparkling bathroom. A comfy seating area provided plenty of space for our baby boys to roll around. The babbling river was the only sound at night.’ Chef Andy Britton’s daily-changing menu of locally sourced, seasonal produce (much from the kitchen garden) ‘is tremendous’. ‘So much effort went into creating an epicurean experience for the whole party. A spinach-lentil crumble, with a burnt-hay-and-oat topping, was heavenly; the wood pigeon breast was an unexpected treat.’ Breakfast is ‘glorious’.