This handsome country house hotel is the culmination of experience gleaned by chef patron Michael Caines over an exceptional career gaining Michelin stars. There are 21 glamorous guest rooms that take their names from birds of the Exe Estuary, as well as six Shepherd’s Huts arranged around a pond in the grounds. Indeed, the soul of the place revolves around the Exe and its wildlife. The birds of the estuary are featured in the staircase wallpaper, and the bedrooms, each decorated with a watercolour of their avian namesake, match the feathered colour schemes. One of the main reasons to come is for Michael’s exquisite and intelligent food. It was no surprise when he earned Lympstone Manor’s first Michelin star within six months of opening in 2017. There’s the new Pool House Restaurant & Bar, too, with its outdoor heated swimming pool. Michael also planted 17,500 vines in 2018. The first vintage was released in April 2022, Triassic Pinot Noir 2020. The name reflects the vineyard’s underlying terroir and pays homage to the Jurassic Coast nearby.

Doubles from £395

+44 (0)1395 202040; lympstonemanor.co.uk

 

Lympstone Manor

Lympstone Manor