Hipping Hall

From 15th-century dining rooms to newly refurbished stables apartments backing onto a secluded waterside lawn, Hipping Hall doesn’t do shabby. Elegance is everywhere, from the naval oak timber beams to the exceptional menus of chef Oli Martin. We had the four-course menu (£55) which in our case meant Hartlepool crab salad, Whitby trout with cucumber honey, Cumbrian Herdwick mutton and James’ honeycomb with apple crackling and douglas fir yoghurt. Double rooms with breakfast from £179. It’s genuine treat-yourself luxury – perfect if you want to make this a landmark journey. 015242 71187, www.hippinghall.com