Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

George III took the waters in the hamlet of Nottington; you can see the beautiful old spa from the windows of one bedroom. Ten years ago a wing was added to this 16th-century cottage and linked by a sunny garden room; the marriage between old and new is delightful. We loved this house the minute we walked in: the Jacobean fireplaces and the new oak floors, the dreamy colours and the English wallpapers, the strong sturdy furniture, the bowls of flowers, the rugs from far-flung travels. The décor is an irresistible mix of personality and style – ceramic bowls on the new kitchen sideboard, enamel jugs on the antique dresser – there are cosy warm sitting rooms (one with TV, one without), a bathroom with modern fittings and ancient beams, a study full of books, and bedrooms you long to retire to; the downstairs one has its own shower and an entrance to the garden. Outside, at the front, is a low box parterre; at the back, arbours of roses, a wild orchard for children and a courtyard for outdoor dining. The house is on a bend of the lane but the traffic is rural. There's Punch & Judy at Weymouth, markets galore at Bridport, and shops and restaurants a three-minute drive. Wonderful.