The Cotley Inn

A treat to stay at a pub with such a good food ethos, and its position on the Cotley Estate means close relationships with the farmers and producers – beef and lamb are sourced directly from the estate. They raise chickens and pigs, nurture a bountiful kitchen garden and award-winning head chef, Dan, follows the ‘nose-to-tail’ cooking principle.

You stay in one of four bedrooms in the stables, all are beautifully designed and come with coffee machines, robes and fresh milk delivered in the morning. Two are dinky, three share an outdoor terrace, and the largest has a bed on the mezzanine, a free-standing tub and a private courtyard. Breakfast, on your terrace or in the pub, is a generous continental spread. Dinner is a must.

The Waterloo train brings you to Axminster, 15 mins by taxi. Pick up the ‘Wambrook Wanderings’ guide for suggested walks from the door, Dorset is at your feet and it’s 30 mins to Lyme Regis and the coast.