The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa

Must be a pub, with a name like that? Perish the thought! In fact The Devonshire is an extraordinarily welcoming country house hotel set among the rolling acres of the Duke of Devonshire's Bolton Abbey Estate, just a few miles outside Skipton, North Yorkshire. It is quite a grand sort of place – of course it is, given that the other Devonshire family seat is Chatsworth. But it isn't stuffy or even particularly formal, and with only 40 individually designed rooms and suites there's a genuinely familiar welcome backed up by some highly polished service. Located in a brilliant North Yorkshire location, with the Great Outdoors right on your doorstep, and dogs welcome too, the whole thing's a treat and can't be faulted.

The Devonshire's array of portraits, antiques and mementoes keep the ducal connection very much in mind. This place exudes luxury and comfort, with great facilities, including an excellent restaurant and a spa with gym, state-of-the-art vitality pool and other relaxation inducing facilities. Guest rooms vary in size and aspect, but most have lovely rural views, and those situated in the original 18th-century part of the hotel (the 'Old Wing') have ornate fourposter beds. Even the lowest room category – "Classic', housed in the 'New Wing' – comes with king-size beds, lots of space for seating, mini fridges and complimentary water and tea and coffee, welcome treats and more. All rooms have good wifi, Freeview TVs and en-suite bathrooms with Noble Isle toiletries. Deluxe, Luxury and Superior rooms sometimes have super-king-size beds and a bath as well as walk-in shower, plus they are more spacious and have better views, while the hotel's suites, situated on the ground floor of the New Wing, all have large four-posters and separate sitting rooms and predictably glorious views. Throughout, there's a keen sense of modern country style and classy little extras: umbrellas at the door, hot chocolate delivered to your room at night – or, at the other end of the scale, the hotel's own helipad out on the lawn.

Don't forget, all guests have complimentary access to the Devonshire's Spa, housed in a separate building, Treatments can be booked and there's a gym, sauna and they are building a natural outdoor pool. Eating and drinking are similarly as relaxed or posh as you want them to be. There's a lovely cocktail lounge available for a drink or two, a bright and  contemporary brasserie serving lunch and dinner, and a dog-friendly bar, while the more upscale Burlington restaurant, which looks out onto the hotel's courtyard garden, offers both delicious seasonal tasting menu and a la carte options.