Fingals Apart

Whether you're looking for a romantic haven or an idyllic family retreat, you've really hit the jackpot at this gorgeous collection of luxury self-catering cottage apartments, tucked into a quiet Devon valley near the River Dart. Set in the grounds of the owners' Queen Anne manor farmhouse, the accommodation has a quintessentially English feel and can host anyone from couples to groups of up to 12 in beautifully peaceful surroundings.

A 19th-century mill house conversion retains many of its period features (like the brick and stone arch for the mill wheel) and splits into two separate apartments – 'Lower' with two bedrooms and 'Upper' with three bedrooms. There's a lovely, rustic, homely feel here; and you can rent both apartments together for larger parties. There are also four other architect-designed self-catering spaces, namely an oak-framed barn, the smaller Wisteria Suite, a separate stand-alone house (Barberry Brook) and the beach-house-style Folly. They are all beautifully furnished, filled with oriental carpets, antiques, objects d’art – often quirky – and original paintings by local artists. Each has a sense of light and brightness, with balconies, big windows, sitting rooms and private patios overlooking the gardens, stream and Devon hills.

If it wasn't already clear that this is a one-of-a-kind experience, the excellent facilities seal it. There's a grass tennis court, croquet lawn and table-tennis terrace, gym and exercise space, dedicated games room, and even a piano for anyone so inclined. Best of all though is the 8m x 4m heated indoor pool, housed in a conservatory full of exotic plants and featuring a huge mural painted by an artist friend of the owners. The pool opens out onto a balcony over the stream and onto the patio in the summer, while a sauna has a large window looking over the stream. Drag yourself away and you're just a mile from Dittisham, a beautiful village sited on the edge of the river Dart, with Agatha Christie's recently restored summer house and gardens across the river, and renowned Devon beaches and Dartmoor National Park only a short drive away.