Devon

Hotel Endsleigh

There’s little to fault in this 16-bedroom, country house hotel, which is what you would expect from owner Olga Polizzi. Every detail of this former hunting lodge (previous owner the Duke of Bedford once owned most of Devon) is pitched to perfection from the stylish rooms to 100-acres of stunning, landscaped grounds.

Eat: This is excellent walking territory and all that country air is a good way to get up an appetite, which can be sated in the impressive dining room (where dogs aren't allowed) or in a lounge or private dining room (where they can join you). In summer the restaurant also has a fine terrace that allows for al fresco dining, with views of the beautifully laid out gardens. The kitchen makes the most of the high quality local ingredients and offers daily changing a la carte and fixed-price menus.

Sleep: The interiors are classic Polizzi, so expect luxurious without being intimidating. Public spaces are impressive but relaxed and comfortable. This is not a stuffy country house hotel. Dogs are allowed in all 16 bedrooms (there is a £20 charge and baskets, blankets and bowls are provided) and with over 100 acres of perfectly presented parkland (designed by Humphrey Repton) attached to the hotel, there is no finer weekend retreat for dogs old and young.

Walk: Should those 100 acres not satisfy your walking needs, the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers plenty of delightful Devon countryside, as does nearby Dartmoor. It's also only an hour's drive to North Cornwall and all the walking delights on offer there.

See also the Hotel Tresanton