Ilsington Country House Hotel

Ilsington hits all the right notes for a classy country-house break. Whether you're more of a wellies or flip-flops sort of person, there's plenty to appeal: the wild tors of Dartmoor start at the doorstep - that's once you've finished exploring the 10 acres of grounds - and a health club and spa pool to de-stress. The scenery is so fabulous that a new restaurant with floor-to-ceiling picture windows was added in 2006 just to bask in the views across to Haytor Rocks. The kitchen goes the extra mile in its quest for quality ingredients, foraging for wild herbs in the hotel's grounds, and curing fish and meats in-house; together with quality locally-sourced materials, these form the basis of a modern menu with its heart in the French classics. Home-cured bresaola with hazelnut and orange salad, cep meringues and a balsamic reduction might get things under way, while main courses range from red mullet fillets with parmesan polenta, cauliflower purée and red pepper essence to a straight-up combination of seared beef fillet served with fondant potato, wild mushrooms, garlic butter and cep jus.