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Such landscapes in the south of England as have inspired countless artists, poets and musicians! Nature and history pervade everything here: the fine old country houses on the Downs, the Wessex valleys and hills, the moors strewn with rocky peaks, the coves and fishing villages in Devon. Beginning at Arundel Castle, we end up at the former home of Lawrence Olivier and lose ourselves in Winchester, the former royal capital. After a brief detour to Jersey - the heart of the Channel Islands, we at last can take in the landscapes of Dartmoor and the impressive Jurassic Coast where birds dance on the breeze...
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur: suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
*Total price provided for information only, based on accommodation for two people in a double room for the number of nights per property as indicated on this page, exclusive of recommended activities, properties that cannot be reserved online and restaurants.
Hotel and restaurant in the woods. Gravetye Manor is a truly enchanting place; both close to the pleasures of London, yet far from its hustle and bustle. This beautiful Elizabethan manor sits proudly amongst the winding pathways and abundant flower beds in the English natural and wild gardens created by William Robinson, the father of the English natural garden and a former owner of the estate. This quintessential English country house’s charm is evident in the wood panelled restaurant with crackling log fires. All year round, the sweeping countryside views, first-class cuisine and attentive yet unobtrusive service ensure an unforgettable experience.
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The road from West Hoathly to Amberley crosses the East Sussex National Nature Reserve which has been designated as an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). There is a succession of untamed landscapes here: farmsteads, forests and hilltop villages. When you get to Clapham village, the view is breath taking. That these landscapes have remained unchanged for centuries is down to the Dukes of Norfolk who have protected them from property market predators. Bringing joy to us all...
The small city of Chichester is picture postcard perfect. The Georgian architectural style evokes the city's zenith in the 18th century. The roads leading from the market cross still follow the original Roman tracks. The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum just 7km north of the town is a collection of 40 historic buildings from the 15th century that were taken down, restored and rebuilt in a wonderful open air park. Opened in 1967, this is a quintessentially English museum.
Hotel and restaurant in the country. Amberley Castle’s idyllic setting beside the River Arun places this medieval survivor in some of the loveliest English Countryside. The majority of guest rooms and bathrooms have been individually designed by the Brownsword family to provide the highest standards of luxury and comfort. Enjoy the calm and warm ambience of our lounges and library complete with roaring log fires on cold winter days. Amberley Castle is renowned for the quality of its cuisine – superb locally sourced seasonal ingredients are matched with whatever is fresh that day. Feeling serene and secure behind the castle’s portcullis and battlements, many of our guests venture no further than our beautiful gardens which include a putting course, croquet lawn and tennis court.
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The descendants of the Dukes of Norfolk - the country's most important Catholic family - still own this castle. The imposing grey citadel and dungeon have overlooked the small village of Arundel since the 11th century. William Turner painted it several times, including the well-known 'Arundel Castle on the River Arun, with a Rainbow', which today hangs in the Tate museum. (1824). The castle also featured as the set for Nicholas Hyunter's beautiful film 'The Madness of King George' (1994), which won accolades at both the Oscars and at the Cannes Film Festival.
Hotel and restaurant in the country. Cheerful sage shutters and immaculate sweeping lawns welcome visitors to Chewton Glen. A luxury country house hotel and spa set in 130 acres of Hampshire countryside on the edge of the New Forest National Park. The location, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach at Highcliffe, makes it the perfect country house resort for a family holiday. Hidden away in a wooded valley you will find the hotel’s luxury treehouses. The restaurant is as formal or relaxed as the mood takes you and is a nexus of beautiful conservatories, intimate dining spaces and a stunning wine room. The luxury health spa is dedicated to personalised service and indulgent spa experiences.
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In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia in Bovington
Clouds Hill is a cottage in Bovington which was the retirement dwelling of T. E. Lawrence, the famous author of 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom.' He was killed in a motorcycle accident nearby in 1935. The Tank Museum is the largest museum in Europe dedicated to armoured vehicles (300 vehicles), and it has a permanent exhibition covering the life of the man who was an officer and a spy, an author and an adventurer.
Set foot in Winchester and you are stepping into history. The former royal capital has preserved several buildings constructed in the Middle Ages. Building of the splendid cathedral was commenced in 1079 using Isle of White stone, and it houses the bones of the early English Kings (as well as Jane Austen's tomb). It also has the longest nave in Europe. The nearby Hospital of St Cross opened in the 12th century and is the oldest charitable organisation in England.
Hotel and restaurant in the country. It was on the island of Jersey that exiled Victor Hugo wrote some of his most beautiful poems. This is readily understandable upon visiting this magical island edged by wild beaches. A poetic atmosphere envelops you the moment you pass through the gates of this 14th century manor house. In the grounds there are majestic fountains and delightful little wooden bridges, and the suites boast silky soft fabrics and state of the art bathrooms. The old crypt is now a smoke house for the kitchen’s smoked fish and meats. You can find your self-imposed exile between a game of lawn tennis and a stroll through the woodland amongst hundred-year-old sycamores and oaks.
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Hotel and restaurant in a village. Deep in the heart of the rolling Wessex countryside and near the dramatic rocks and fossils of the world renowned Jurassic Coast, little has changed from the days it was immortalised in the novels of Thomas Hardy. Set in nearly two hectares of idyllic gardens, with a croquet lawn, health spa, and a collection of richly furnished guest rooms and suites, Summer Lodge is a small world in itself. Add in a restaurant of international repute, one of the best cheeseboards in the UK, a cellar boasting over 1 400 wines, and the 300 whiskeys and 100 brandies that are on offer, and it’s easy to see why guests come from so far and wide.
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Lyme Regis is called the "pearl" of Dorset County. This small seaside town has retained its Georgian appearance and utterly charming atmosphere. Writer Jane Austen set her novel 'Persuasion' here. This coastal town also featured in scenes from 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', starring American actress Meryl Streep. I really love coming to lunch here in the restaurant run by Mark Hix, a celebrated chef originally from the area. The restaurant enjoys a wonderful view over the old harbour and the pier – the famous cobb.
A natural World Heritage Site owing to its geological importance, the Jurassic Coast stretches along more than 150km from East Devon to Dorset. Geographers and geologists estimate parts of this rocky coastline to be 180 million years old. It comes as no surprise then that a wealth of geological vestiges and fossils (ammonites) are found here. The South West Coast Path is a wonderful hiking route on which to discover this coastline.
Hotel and restaurant in the country. Lympstone Manor is driven by the enthusiasm and talent of chef Michael Caines. This Georgian manor turned contemporary country house embodies his vision of hospitality for the 21st century. Overlooking the Exe estuary in the southwest of England, the estate extends to the shore, enveloped in the colours of the landscape and rooted in the salty soil of this magnificent part of Devon. At the heart of Lympstone Manor is the cuisine of its celebrated chef. Personal, mature and strikingly precise, it is above all a showcase for the products coming from the sea, foreshore and salt meadows. Assisted by a skilled and committed staff, Michael Caines has realised his dream.
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Restaurant and hotel in the country. Gidleigh Park sits majestically on the bubbling upper reaches of the River Teign within 107 acres of mature grounds which feature an acclaimed kitchen garden, croquet lawns and putting course. The house has an air of tranquillity and romance and a genuinely warm welcome awaits you. The majority of guest rooms overlook the beautiful gardens and the river, each unique with thoughtful touches and indulgent bathrooms. And of course there is the sublime food of the chef whose modern European cuisine is a celebration of West Country produce from land and sea. Match this with one of the finest wine cellars in the UK and a visit to Gidleigh Park will be an unforgettable experience.
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Some would say that this moorland was created only to graze ponies and sheep. A tortured land embellished by waterfalls and standing stones, stone crosses and ancient remains, this is the realm of walkers, cyclists and horseback riders. A wonderful backdrop dominated by the tors – granite rock elevations – Dartmoor was the inspiration behind Conan Doyle's novel 'The Hound of the Baskervilles.'
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront. Waking up in a bright, spacious room overlooking the sea… With the sound of waves lapping gently against the shore below, The Idle Rocks calls out an invitation for a morning swim, a sailing trip or a crabbing expedition with the children. The Richards have transformed this historic building in the enchanting little port of St. Mawes, giving it the soul of a wonderful holiday home. On the waterfront terrace, guests savour the mild climate of Cornwall, and the freshest fish landed by a local fisherman on the quay. Simple, flavoursome food and a warm, friendly service in a picturesque setting — it’s no wonder the staff’s joie de vivre is so contagious!
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