The Garden Barn at Johnby Hall

Bird watchers will spend hours on the sofa watching the feeders outside – you may spot a red squirrel too. Your big open-plan space has a high, beamed ceiling, a dresser full of antique china, a squashy sofa and books, games and puzzles for rainy days. Otherwise you’ll be out wandering the estate, or joining walking and cycling paths galore. In the kitchen Anna leaves you a loaf of bread, cake, eggs and apples when they have them.

All is flexible: go up to the house for a big B&B cooked breakfast if you prefer, order a cold platter of meats, cheeses, bread and fruit if you know you’re going to arrive late. Down a corridor are two fresh, pretty bedrooms with excellent mattresses and chunky beams, plus a separate shower room. A courtyard is shared with B&B guests or wander the garden – there’s masses of space.

There are ten acres of woodland to explore, full of nuthatches, woodpeckers and many other birds. The pub is a one mile walk.