There's more than a touch of Jane Austen to Highton Manor's imposing red-brick structure and sprawling parkland grounds. You almost have pinch yourself to realise this is the countryside of Mansfield and not Dorset, the location of Francis Highett's ancestral home after which he modelled Highton Manor back in 1870.
If you wanted to dress in Victorian finery for dinner on a Saturday night then hosts Christine and Joseph would be delighted, but it's not really necessary. Instead, enjoy the opulence of the formal rooms, a glass of port before the open fire, wander the expansive gardens or kick back by the pool.
Most of all, delight in the elegance of the guest rooms with their period furnishings, soft beds and colourful decoration then wake to a baronial breakfast before heading out to see the sights. Our pick is the Tower Room, complete with four-poster bed and sweeping views of the Delatite River valley all the way to Mount Buller. It's the perfect place for newlyweds to retire after an outdoor wedding and reception in the dining room ¿ and corporate functions are also welcome.