IT'S officially summer holiday season, but Gloucestershire residents don't need to travel abroad to find luxury, writes Rachel Dinning.

For a weekend jaunt away, you can do no better than visiting Orestone Manor, a luxury Georgian house set in the South Devon village of Maidencombe, near Torquay.

Tucked away in winding country lanes, Orestone Manor is the crowning jewel of a charming coastal village skirted by pretty countryside and woodland. The boutique hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Lyme Bay, and is perfectly placed for those wishing to enjoy an idyllic seaside retreat.

I arrived at the Edwardian House with a pre-conceived vision of Fawlty Towers (surely, Torquay’s most famous hotel?), but what I found could not have been any more different. With its sub-tropical gardens and spectacular views, the hotel is the epitome of luxury. Think palm trees, jazz instruments and antique furniture – a real mish-mash of styles that somehow works.

What’s more, the hotel has at interesting historical tie to Bristol and Gloucestershire, as the brother-in-law of Isambard Kingdom Brunel painted a portrait of the famous designer in the grounds at Orestone Lodge. Brunel, who is most known for designing the Clifton Suspension Bridge, first came to Torbay in the course of his work as the chief engineer of the Great Western Railway. Recently, his youngest living descendent (who is just ten years old) visited the manor house to trace her ancestry.

ROOMS

Guests at Orestone have the choice of fourteen individually styled bedrooms, most of which have impressive sea views. Each room is unique in character and ambience, with the most extravagant boasting private balconies, four poster beds and fancy claw-foot baths.

My partner and I had the pleasure of staying in one of the hotel’s two new Coach House suites, which are situated in the grounds of the main hotel and offer striking views of Lyme Bay (and yes, unlike the guests of Basil Fawlty – our room really did look out over the sea!) Complete with two balconies, a private hot tub and remote controlled mood lighting, the luxurious split level cottage was the perfect place to kick back and relax after a long working week.

The ground floor of the property featured a comfortable king sized bed, flat screen TV and an ensuite bathroom (complete with Jack and Jill sinks – which I thought was a fab touch). Stylish yet simple, the room was a perfect, peaceful sanctuary to escape into.

But the best part of the property was outside, accessible through a bi-folding door that leads out to a private courtyard and a luxury hot tub. My partner and I were quick to jump in and test out the tub, which had fantastically powerful jets, mood lighting and reclining seats. Unlike some hot tubs, the water was steaming hot rather than lukewarm, but you have the power to change the settings to suit your taste.  Sheer bliss.

In the upstairs section of the apartment, a separate lounge gave way to an additional balcony (yes, the property has two balconies!). A stylish kitchen area contained a fancy espresso machine, while a free-standing roll-top bath located near to a set of double doors gives guests the opportunity to relax whilst looking out onto the beautiful scenery outside.

DINING

The dining experience at Orestone was a real high point of the trip, which is no surprise considering the current owners are professional chefs.

Their award-winning restaurant, which is recommended in the renowned Michelin Guide, serves lunches, afternoon teas and an extensive a la Carte evening menu - with all ingredients sourced from local suppliers.

The menu was at the higher end price wise, but offered a pleasantly wide range of choices.

To start, I opted for a grilled tiger prawn dish, which was served on a bed of vegetables and topped with crispy pancetta and a light pea cream (£10.95). My partner, with whom I share a love of seafood, chose the same dish, which we both found delightfully light and flavoursome (everything a starter should be!)

Our appetite thoroughly wetted, we followed up our starter with a tasty monkfish dish (£22.95). The succulent fish was clad in smoked bacon and accompanied with garlic butter, crevette, sugar snap peas and new potatoes.

I finished off my meal with a chocolate fondant, complete with almond brittle and black cherry sorbet (£6.50). The dessert was the embodiment of indulgence: rich, smooth and perfectly complimented by the sharp tart sorbet. My partner chose a sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce and clotted cream (£6.50), which he also thoroughly enjoyed.

Service was excellent, and the house wine was good. The waiters were polite, seamless and just the right amount of chatty.

Breakfast the following day offered all the usual fare, and I was particularly impressed by the amount of choice on offer for the continental side.

OVERALL

Overall, I cannot recommend Orestone enough. With impeccable food, great service and a lovely room, this family run hotel had everything we could have asked for.

Orestone Manor, Maidencombe, Torquay.

Tel: 01803 897511

Website: orestonemanor.com