Cocooned within Royal William Yard, once a derelict historical site that’s been redeveloped into an energetic hub of wine bars, art galleries and a monthly food market, Residence One is Plymouth’s boutique darling. Conveniently perched on the coastal path that’ll take you to Drake’s Island and over to Mount Edgcumbe, each of the 14 rooms mixes its retained Georgian features – think wooden shutters, high ceilings and bay windows – with a white-washed palette and a splash of grey that subtly hints at a nautical vibe. Nip across the square for a croque monsieur in the morning at Bistrot Pierre before exploring the network of paths along the harbour. The brave will want to strip down for a dip in the shallow tide swimming pool at nearby Firestone Bay, but brace yourself, even the seagulls find it a bit nippy.

Encircled by the Teign Valley’s bluebell-strewn meadows, this 500-year-old, cob and stone longhouse has quickly become one of Devon’s coolest hangouts, largely thanks to ex-east Londoners Sam Perry and Jo Gossett’s bang-on-trend taste. Cow-hide rugs, achingly cool artwork and a playlist that flits between Bob Marley and Fleetwood Mac are a nod to their Hackney roots and nail the ‘urbanite in the country’ aesthetic. Lazing, grazing and gazing should be your most pressing pastimes: there’s scattered hammocks strung in the meadows, sheep-skinned love seats in the snug and an honesty bar stocked with Devonshire cider, wine from next-door’s vineyards and Dorset milk vodka to nudge you in the right direction. Should you be in pursuit of something a little more active, there’s a petanque court in the back garden.

The most westerly of the litter, The Pig at Combe occupies a
treacle-coloured Elizabethan abode set in 3,500 acres of rolling
countryside. ‘Derelict chic’ interiors are as hip as they are
homely; mink velvet chaise lounges sit next to four-poster beds
clad in jewel-coloured linens, boujee antique mirrors reveal
televisions and restored cabinets conceal bundles of scoffable
Devonshire fudge. Sustainability is strongly celebrated, with a
strict 25-mile food sourcing policy at its roots. Thankfully, the
kitchen is well-serviced by three walled gardens, fish fresh off
the boat from Brixham and Beer, and locally reared meat from
Honiton, the neighbouring market town. The herb garden plays a
pivotal part and offers up healing properties too – you’ll find the
just-grown botanicals muddled into massage oils in the Potting Shed
treatment rooms, as well infused into vodka cocktails in the Great
Hall.

Teetering on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, with one foot in Cornwall and the other firmly in Devon, the market town of Tavistock has a long history of attracting active travellers looking to hike, bike and foray across the wood-studded moors. Plunder the butchers, bakers and cream-tea-makers in the town for provisions – Pastificio is a top pick for picnic-perfect charcuterie – nip by the 700-year-old Buckland Abbey for your culture fix, then retreat to the warm enclaves of Rockmount B&B. It’s certainly no relic: pops of pinks, blues and yellows the colour of Smarties decorate the walls; nifty Nespresso machines dispense caffeine when the birds start singing; and should the weather suck, Netflix is on hand to binge that docuseries you’ve been meaning to watch all week.

Best suited to urbanites seeking a proper country escape (read: not Soho Farmhouse), River Cottage Farmhouse is the living, working nucleus of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s farm – made famous by the TV series that redefined the Devon/Dorset food scene. Hop onto the tractor (we recommend packing light) to reach the 17th-century longhouse, which sleeps six across three bedrooms. The rustic lodgings are every bit the quintessential rural retreat – all wonky wooden beams, wood burners and sheepskin throws. Outside your window you’ll find livestock grazing over wooden fences, eggs fresh from the hens and heckles from the resident cockerel each morning. Slip on your Hunters and head out into the Axe Valley to join the gardeners who grow, gather and harvest the produce.

Lord over Devon’s coastline from Lympstone Manor, a vanilla-coloured Georgian mansion that has been rejuvenated by chef Michael Caine. Gold-plated bathtubs, tall, elegant windows and jewel-coloured feature walls decorate the rooms, each named after a type of seabird. The Kingfisher suite is a striking palette of sapphire blues with enviable sunset vistas, perfect for sinking the complimentary G&T’s that are stocked in the room. Bumble along one of the surrounding coastal paths until you reach River Exe Café, where a steaming portion of fish and chips doused in vinegar awaits. Pepper seaside, newspaper dinners with the eight-course tasting menu that is served up at the manor. The heavy seafood influence comes from locally caught scallops, mullet and crab.