Hipping Hall

Jason 'Bruno' Birkbeck divvies up menus in a crisp modern style. Gorge yourself on seasonal delights like roast breast of squab pigeon, pan-fried Ardignac foie gras, Sauternes soaked grapes and Sauternes jelly, or oven-roasted fillet of line-caught sea bass, hand-rolled macaroni, girolles, spinach, mushrooms and truffle essence.

With all this good food, you would think that the rooms might not match such high standards, yet the Vispring beds are so comfortable that many guests ask after the make. Rooms are light, spacious, dotted with exposed beams and with sash windows looking out onto the garden. The bathrooms feature copper slate or silver-green slate tiling, under-floor heating and some gorgeous products like lemongrass & geranium bath salts, from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

Here on the border of three counties you have access to great walking and myriad waterfalls. The Brontë sisters attended school here in Cowan Bridge, just two miles from the pretty market town of Kirkby Lonsdale in the Lune Valley, which Ruskin once described as 'one of the loveliest scenes in England - therefore in the world!