Tudor Farmhouse, Clearwell, Gloucestershire - Explore & Book

"The tiny village of Clearwell - 250 inhabitants, a string of stone cottages, one pointy-steepled church - is not an obvious setting for a boutique gourmet hotel. To the east, the endless woodlands of the Forest of Dean; to the west, the deep meandering cleft of the river Wye, canoeists’ and hikers’ paradise, and border with Wales. If you’ve not heard of this region, that’s exactly why you should come. And this is where you should stay. Colin and Hari Fell took over this 17th-century farmhouse and its stone outbuildings 10 years ago, and have been diligently improving it room by room, dish by dish, smile by smile. Expect crackling fires and fresh flowers in the beamed dining room; feather duvets and monsoon showers in 20 smartly refurbished bedrooms; sweet, unpretentious service from Jenny and the team. Chef Rob Cox has put together a brilliant '20-mile menu': Gloucestershire game terrine with pear chutney, local Longhorn beef sirloin with lovage, girolles and rainbow chard, home-laid eggs at breakfast. Outside are 14 acres of rolling grounds, including herb gardens, hens and ducks, ponies and SSSI-designated wildflower meadows. Book a winter weekend of cosy, gastronomic loveliness with your partner, or come en famille for a summer week of river paddling and woodland adventures. Highs Fantastic, innovative cuisine - the 5-course tasting menu will rise to any special occasion (without breaking the bank) You’ll sleep like a log on pocket-sprung mattresses amid ancient beams and 2-foot-thick stone walls We loved the Loft suite, a gorgeous barn-for-2 with tall eaves and a claw-footed tub on heated slate floors Colin and Hari are always devising fun new activities: foraging tours, wreath-making workshops Clearwell Caves and Puzzlewood Forest are on your doorstep Lows There is no pool or spa; it’s not that kind of place A few bedrooms only have Velux windows - no views The villages here lack the perfect prettiness of the Cotswolds (but these are real, living communities) Clearwell is tiny - don’t expect much in the way of shops or eateries" - Michael Cullen