Willington Hall

Reached down quiet lanes near Tarporley, Willington Hall stands as a handsome Victorian country house wrapped in ivy and surrounded by its own parkland and grazing fields. It's the kind of independent retreat where log fires, panelled rooms and long views over the Cheshire plain do the talking. Guests come to slow right down — a proper dinner, a nightcap, a lie-in — before wandering out into open country the next morning. Family-run in spirit and refreshingly free of corporate polish, it feels like staying with well-heeled friends who happen to own a rather lovely house.

An independent country house that trades bustle for birdsong and genuine character. It's worth the drive, easy to remember and exactly the sort of hideaway you'd recommend to a friend.

• Romantic Escape
• Weekend Escape
• Peace & Quiet
• History Lovers