Ennys

With its acres of lovely gardens, grass tennis court, and heated swimming pool, Ennys is an idyllic, 17th-century manor house set deep in the Cornish countryside, 3 miles from St. Michael’s Mount. You reach it along a private lane, and I timed my arrival perfectly—the kettle had just boiled, and I settled down for afternoon tea in the spacious country-pine kitchen. Polished flagstones line the hallway leading to the comfortable sitting room with its sofas drawn round the fire and mementos of Gill’s extensive travels. Breakfast is the only meal served but Gill is happy to make reservations at excellent local inns and restaurants for dinner. Upstairs are three lovely bedrooms; one is a delectable four-poster, another has a king bed; and all have top-of-the-line bathrooms with “power showers”. In the adjacent building are two gorgeous new suites comprising a super-king bed (which can be arranged as a twin), a bathroom with walk-in shower and separate bath, a sitting room and mini-kitchen.  Gill has three lovely self-catering cottages for longer stays. St. Michael’s Mount is a “must visit.” A delightful day trip involves taking a train to St. Ives to visit the Tate Gallery, which displays the work of 20th-century St. Ives artists.