FINDING A HOTEL where every detail is perfect is hard but at Biggin Hall Country House Hotel they seem to have managed just that. From the geese meandering through the grounds to the croquet set beside manicured lawns, this historic house dating back to the 17th century offers quintessential Englishness and total comfort in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District.

Close to the lovely village of Hartington and glorious Dovedale, Biggin Hall also offers enough comforts to keep visitors lazing on the croquet lawn or by the fireside. With all the comforts of a country house hotel but without the airs and graces, it's a place where guests sip a complimentary glass of Pimm’s while perusing the small but perfectly-formed evening menu, and then settle down to Scrabble in antique armchairs.

Walkers help themselves to a complimentary picnic as they stride off into glorious countryside, then return to lounge in armchairs with a good book. After a day spent exploring nearby Chatsworth, Arbor Low stone circle or the charms of Bakewell and Buxton, Biggin Hall offers a wonderfully relaxed yet elegant stay in a stunning country house hotel studded with well-preserved architectural delights.

Since finding such perfection is rare, it’s easy to see why this elegant country house hotel has a host of enthusiastic visitors who keep coming back – just on condition that they don’t change a thing.

Biggin Hall Country House Hotel, Biggin-by-Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 0DH; tel: (01298) 84451. Report by CAROL DAVIS