Boconnoc House – Lostwithiel, Cornwall

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This stunning Grade II* listed manor house can trace its history back to Norman times and the Pitt diamond, which was once set into the coronation crown of Louis XV – at least until Marie Antoinette got her mitts on it for a hat. The Fortescue family spent 12 years transforming the property to create a quiet retreat, with sweeping landscapes that include the bubbling River Lerryn. Accommodating up to 40 guests, you can treat the place as if it were you own, whether you want to host a chandelier-swinging dinner party or merely want to escape the real world to play cricket on the estate’s pitch, watch deer in the park or knock back sundowners by the lake. If your idea of a good time is more horizontal, they can arrange for a local masseuse or yoga teacher to tend to your needs. If you can tear yourself away from the estate, the nearby Cornish coast beckons for long walks on sandy beaches and Daphne du Maurier fans can’t miss a stroll across Bodmin Moor. But by twilight, we guarantee you’ll be tucked up watching films in the library. This is the sort of place that lightens your spirit from the moment you pull up the drive.

Want to find out more? Visit the hotel's website.