A sense of calm, competent charm is exuded by the Feversham Arms. The village of Helmsley on the edge of the North Yorkshire moors is picture book perfect. The front is an old inn dating from at least 1855, expanded into the terraced cottages alongside. At the rear are modern rooms and the Verbena spa complex and an outside swimming pool kept at a comfy 31 degrees

Ludlow is mecca for food lovers with its shops, produce, restaurants and walks to make you hungrier still. Nick Harman heads for Fishmore Hall, a Georgian boutique hotel that makes the perfect base to eat in and explore from.

I’m in two minds what a hotel with flagpoles at the entrance is trying to say. On one hand it denotes grandeur, prestige, an assurance of quality, on the other it smacks slightly of international conference chain, of ‘fur coat, no knickers’ showboating.

Recently given a bit of a facelift (by way of a new spa) The Mount Somerset is one of those places that quite possibly actually deserves the title ‘hidden gem’. A stone’s throw from the M5 (make a note next time you’re en route to Cornwall) it still manages to feel tucked away, enjoying a quiet sense of calm.

When it comes to good old fashioned, south coast bucket and spade holidays, you’re either devoted to Devon or have a crush on Cornwall But on the serious food front, one county is definitely making bigger waves. Caroline Sargent takes a few days food break at The Cornwall Hotel and Spa

Is it fair to compare an offspring’s prowess with their parents’? Amidst visits to artisan producers of maple syrup coloured, orange and prune scented, addictively supple Armagnac in the drink’s 700th year, I tipsily ventured to the respective restaurants of father and son, Éric and Pepito Sampietro, deep in France’s Gers.

Hospes Hotels are offering authentic Catalan cookery courses at their 5 star Villa Paulita in the region of Cerdanya in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees. The first cookery class focusing on sourcing and cooking wild forest mushrooms, is set to take place on the 25th and 26th of October.

If you’ve always loved the idea of foraging for your own food but don’t know where to start then why not head to the Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa in Dorset on Saturday 30th October where John Wright will be leading a fungi forage?

A truly romantic, ancient hotel but with all mod cons including a state of the art spa, the Spread Eagle in Midhurst offers all you need for a romantic and relaxing weekend break in the heart of the English countryside. Nick Harman donned his wellies and went down to kick back.

This September the annual York Food & Drink Festival rolls around again. For gourmet delights pay a visit!