THE PIG-at Combe
Rolling parkland surrounds this stately Elizabethan manor house, which is 16 miles east of Exeter and has been converted into a hipster retreat run with energy and enthusiasm. "Fun not formality" is the guiding principle, evident from the moment you step into the grand entrance that now holds a lively bar. Public rooms have a shabby-chic coziness, with blazing fires and deep, soft sofas, while the individually decorated guest rooms are spacious and have fabulous views, as well as bathrooms equipped with roll-top baths and powerful showers. The two restaurants—including one in the garden—use produce sourced from the kitchen gardens or from within a 25-mile radius, which then create such dishes as black truffle risotto, pigeon breast, rump steak, and hake fillet. A range of treatments is offered at the Potting Shed, and you can explore nearby Gittisham, once described as "the ideal English village" by King Charles III.
