The Plume of Feathers
Newquay, Cornwall
This smart bar/restaurant with a menu of hearty classics resides between Newquay and Truro. The coast is still close enough for a wander on Fistral, but there is a lovely five-mile circular around Ladock Wood to be explored down the road, with Lanhydrock House and Tehidy Woods both nearby if you haven’t had your fill of autumnal forests. Doubles from £110
The Turtley Corn Mill
Avonwick, Devon
Sandwiched between the moors and the beaches, you will be spoiled for choice here when it comes to deciding where to explore. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast before heading out on foot or by bike. If you are feeling adventurous, you can head off to Dartmoor for its rugged scenery, waterfalls and ponies. Food here is simple, but done brilliantly, with a great wine list. Doubles from £130
The Castle Inn
Lydford, Devon
This 16th-century Devonshire inn is packed with character, with low ceilings, wonky walls, cosy corners and open fires. You are right on the doorstep of wild and windy Dartmoor as well as the National Trust site of Lydford Gorge, with its woodland trails and waterfall. A warm glow from the windows lures you into the bar for a good coffee, their own gin or a local pint. Doubles from £100
The Grosvenor Arms
Shaftesbury, Dorset
This gorgeous coaching inn combines Georgian features with contemporary design. Spend your days exploring Shaftesbury’s cobbled streets or on walks through the stunning surrounding countryside, discovering ancient woodlands and prehistoric hill forts. Return to this cool inn to sink into the main bar’s sofas with a pint or sample bistro food and wood-fired pizzas in the airy restaurant. Doubles from £98
The Cotley Inn
Chard, Somerset
A gorgeously rural pub in a leafy Somerset valley. Its position on the Cotley Estate ensures close relationships with the farmers and producers and the freshest, most seasonal ingredients. You stay in one of four bedrooms in the stables, all of which are beautifully designed. Doubles from £125
The Queen’s Arms
Sherborne, Somerset
It’s peaceful and remote here in Corton Denham, but just a short drive from charming, honey-hued Sherborne. The menu is filled with modern dishes made with local, sustainable ingredients. Set in the dramatic hills that form the border between Dorset and Somerset, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to walks, including the Macmillan Way and Monarch’s Way. Doubles from £140
Lord Poulett Arms
Hinton St George, Somerset
This 17th-century thatched inn offers rooms with views of the village. Choose a table by the fireplace in the downstairs pub or in the Provençal-style courtyard. Walks leave from the door to the 13th-century, Grade I listed church or the famous Spreading Oak tree, or you can drive to stately homes Montacute House or Forde Abbey House and Gardens, in 20 minutes. The Blackdown Hills AONB and Jurassic Coast are only half-an-hour away. Doubles from £110
Crown & Anchor
Ham, Wiltshire
Cosy up at this foodie inn in a chocolate-box village before pulling on your boots for a stomp: join the Wayfarers Walk or the Test Way, Kennet & Avon Canal or Wessex Ridgeway, which takes you past the mystical Avebury Stones. Once you’ve blown away the cobwebs, settle down in front of the roaring wood-burner and choose a pub classic from the seasonal menu. Doubles from £110
The Holford Arms
Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Owner Will and his team at this traditional Cotswolds country pub brew their own craft beer, make jams, chutneys and cider with apples from the orchard, and fill their menu with heritage vegetables, salads, fruit and herbs from the garden. Westonbirt Arboretum is close by for walks full of spectacular autumnal colours. Rest your head in one of the pub rooms or the luxury chalets or bell tents in the gardens. Doubles from £64
The Stackpole Inn
Pembroke, Pembrokeshire
This is a slice of rural heaven, close to unspoilt walks on the Pembrokeshire coast. Follow the path round past Stackpole Quay and St Govan’s Chapel to the cliffs at Linney Head. The Stackpole, is a great base – stylish and welcoming, with tasty rustic food. Super bedrooms have comfy beds, seaside colours and excellent bathrooms. Doubles from £125
The Pheasant at Neenton
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Opposite the pretty church, surrounded by the Shropshire Hills, is an 18th-century pub that’s now owned by the locals. The front bar is cosy the second bar is painted a deep chestnut, and the dining room is in an oak-framed extension, its windows filling it with light. There is an orchard in the beer garden providing fruits for the kitchen, which tunes its award-winning menus to the seasons. Doubles from £90
The Cholmondeley Arms
Malpas, Cheshire
The vaulted ceilings of this grand pub would once have looked down on pupils hard at work, but since the schoolhouse’s conversion to a pub, a livelier atmosphere presides. The old headmaster’s house is where you will sleep, with a breakfast that will set you up for a walk and maybe even a swim at Alderford Lake. If you’re just looking for a drink, there are 360 varieties of gin. Doubles from £110
The Fleece Inn
Lancaster, Lancashire
This country inn in the pretty and historic village of Dolphinholme makes a perfect base for exploring some of North West England’s most beautiful landscapes. The Forest of Bowland is on your doorstep and coastal walks from Morecambe are a short drive away. The rooms are pretty and cosy and the menu is honest and fuss-free, from braised pork belly to black pudding Scotch egg. Doubles from £90
The Black Bull
Sedbergh, Cumbria
With the Dales Way footpath at the door and Howgill Fells 10 minutes away, this is a place for the serious hiker, but there are gentler strolls if you are just after some fresh air. Provenance is key to everything that comes out of the kitchen, with owners Nina and James, winners of many awards for their food and restaurants, baking fresh pastries, smoking their own meats and sourcing as much as they can from their own kitchen garden. Roll upstairs to rooms with crisp style and deep, soothing baths. Doubles from £145
The Meikleour Arms
Meikleour, Perth and Kinross
With its own ale, more than 50 malts and a bevy of artisan gins, you’ll find a toast for every occasion at this lovely country inn. Much of the food here comes from the estate – vegetables and herbs grown in the walled garden, scallops hand-dived on the west coast and venison from the Meikleour Forest. Stroll along the Tay to spot ospreys, otters and kingfishers. Stay in a 19th-century coaching inn or serviced cottages. Doubles from £100
The Allanton Inn
Nr Duns, Scottish Borders
Welcome to the sleepy back of beyond: Allanton, population 100, is an untouched corner of the rural idyll that most people skip on their rush north. Stop off at this cute little inn and you are rewarded with patchwork fields, rolling hills and the River Tweed pottering off to the coast. The style is charming and the food a treat. Head out into the elements and fish, walk or play a bit of golf. Doubles from £105
The Pheasant Inn
Hexham, Northumberland
In the heart of stunning countryside, this charming inn oozes tradition, with brass beer taps, vintage photos on stone walls, and a wonderful fireplace. Sup house ales such as Timothy Taylor’s and Wylam and tuck into delectable dishes from cheese soufflé to slow-roasted Northumberland lamb. Stay over in great-value bedrooms in the old hay barn and explore Northumberland National Park for walking, cycling and stargazing at the Kielder Observatory. Doubles from £110
Rose & Crown
Barnard Castle, Durham
This peaceful Pennine inn has pretty rooms, local ales and fabulous walking, from leisurely strolls along the river to serious yomping on rugged fells. The menu is full of delicious dishes – the local Raby Estate venison pie is a treat. Doubles from £115
The Brisley Bell
Dereham, Norfolk
This charming 17th-century pub offering hearty pub food overlooks the village common. Choose from two elegant dining areas, a book-filled garden room or a cosy snug with an open fire. Enjoy hand-drawn ales in the garden on sunny autumn days. Norwich and the North Norfolk coast are easily accessible for adventures. Doubles from £122
The Swan Inn
Swinbrook, Oxfordshire
This lovely old pub sitting on the River Windrush started life as a water mill. Outside, creepers blush red in the autumn sun. Inside, low ceilings, open fires, beautiful windows, stone walls. Seasonal menus brim with local produce, offering delicious delights such as roast partridge with a red wine jus. Bedrooms in the old forge have 15th-century walls and 21st-century interior design. Batsford Arboretum is close by for stunning autumn colours. Doubles from £130
The Greyhound Inn
Wantage, Oxfordshire
This 18th-century red-brick pub is set on a quiet road in the heart of a small village close to the Uffington White Horse. Pick up a map from the bar for walks; there are fantastic horse-riding and mountain biking routes too. Return for a pint next to the fire, and retire upstairs to bedrooms with country antiques. Doubles from £95
The Merry Harriers
Hambledon, Surrey
Walkers are in for a treat here; there are miles of trails from the front door, including The Greensand Way. Bedrooms are fresh and pretty, some beamed, some panelled, all with rural views. It might be remote, but there’s lots going on – llamas to visit, jazz in the garden, a pub quiz once a month. Ingredients for heart-warming pub favourites are sourced from no further than 15 miles. Doubles from £130
The Cat
East Grinstead, Sussex
Let the dog romp on the South Downs; retire to The Cat for a steak and ale pie. This 16th-century freehouse with its Victorian extension stands opposite the church in a small village near Ashdown Forest. Comfortably modernised without losing its character, it is much loved by walkers and opera lovers (Glyndebourne is 20 miles away). The kitchen has won awards and the drinks list champions Sussex wines.
The Dorset Arms
Withyham, East Sussex
Set back from the road, the striking façade of this inn oozes history and charm. Inside: thick beams, an ancient Sussex oak floor, and an enormous log fire in the bar. Pooh Bear’s Hundred Acre Wood (also known as Ashdown Forest) is walkable via footpaths through the Buckhurst Estate. Come back to six lovely bedrooms housed in the attractive red-brick cottage detached from the pub. Doubles from £90
The George & Heart
Margate, Kent
This historic coaching inn in the heart of Margate Old Town has been refurbished with personality. It is a three-minute walk to the seaside for coastal walks or a 10-minute walk to Walpole Bay for a swim with the locals in its tidal pool. Alongside delicious pub food you’ll find craft beers, fine wines and tasty cocktails. Doubles from £95
