Hotel Endsleigh, Tamar Valley, Devon, UK - Explore & Book

"What a setting! From the oak-panelled drawing room where we sit with Earl Grey tea and cream-laden scones, our gaze sweeps over a rainbow of flowering borders and a neat croquet lawn, across the Tamar, and loses itself in the dark conifer forests of the far bank: the start of Cornwall. There is not another building in sight. Immense copper beeches and Douglas firs stand sentinel over tumbling brooks, a Victorian shell grotto and an octagonal dairy house surely inhabited by pixies. It's little wonder that the Duke of Bedford, who 2 centuries ago owned a third of Devon, chose this spot for his hunting and fishing lodge. Now Grade-I listed and converted into an enchanting hideaway by Olga Polizzi and her hotel-inspecting daughter Alex, it draws a discerning, romantic clientele, who savour the fine cuisine, the private fishing, the landscaped grounds, the crackle of newspapers and fireplaces at tea time, and the deep, bucolic silence outside. In summer, those who can afford it block-book the place for lavish weekend weddings in the most idyllic of surrounds (married life, as my wife observed, could only go downhill after that). The 21 classically English bedrooms and suites are a study in painted wallpapers, roll-top bathtubs, book-lined shelves and snugly quilted beds; there's also a separate gatekeeper's cottage ideal for a couple with children. Highs A beautiful location midway between Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor; you've also got superb hiking and riding on your doostepWonderfully romantic (candles flickered throughout when we last visited), though families are warmly welcomed, tooThe beds (many of them kingsize) are blissfully comfy, and the widely spaced layout ensures total silenceWe loved the lavish afternoon teas, and lingering over pre-dinner drinks in the fire-lit lounge and librarySmiling, ever-helpful staff who are clearly passionate about the historic lodge and estate Lows The focus here is quiet refinement - it's not for those seeking a vibrant party atmosphereDinner is a set-price (though very tasty) affair, and it's a drive to other eateries if you fancy something more informalA few of the bedrooms are under the eaves or on the small side, but this is reflected in the ratesYou're as far from the sea as you can be in Devon or Cornwall (25 miles from Boscastle or Looe) - if you want seaside, try their sister hotel Tresanton" - Michael Cullen