Hotel Endsleigh – Milton Abbot, Devon

This delightful Regency cottage orné is set down a mile-long drive in its own secret valley. Built for the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, its 100-acre gardens were laid out by Humphry Repton, whose plans included placing hidden chimneys in the woods so they could see smoke curling prettily above the trees. Today, over a delicious meal, you can gaze on the same view from lovely terraces. Repton’s raised herbaceous border, the River Tamar and the tumbling woods beyond are a mesmerising sight. With its wooden floors and doors, Endsleigh brings to mind an endearingly old-fashioned Scottish shooting lodge, artfully blended with contemporary luxury and owner Olga Polizzi’s stunning eye for design. The 19 bedrooms are stylish (think hand-painted chinoiserie wallpapers, rolltop baths and snugly-quilted beds) and include three suites in the stable block. One is perfect for families, another for honeymooners, while the newest is a quirky and delightful conversion of the former hayloft. As for the grounds, they’re a fantasy of fairytale dells and grottos, cascades and crags.

Doubles from £240

 +44 (0)1822 870000, hotelendsleigh.com