Kingskerswell is one of those lucky villages that looks good in any weather. It also has the advantage of a great location (equidistant between Newton Abbot and Torquay) and facilities – the fantastic Hare and Hounds for starters.

The team here have thought of everything. In the colder months there is the vibrant restaurant, bar and a family room with a large plasma screen showing children’s television programmes. When it is warm you’ll be heading for the award-winning alfresco dining area, adorned with a colourful display of summer flowers, where you can watch the children play safely on the fantastic jungle gym apparatus – it seems they fully understand family dining here.

All this and I haven’t mentioned the food. Not only is there an inspired à la carte menu – including such treats as Cajun chicken Caesar salad (£5.50), and lamb fillets caramelised with mint, demerara sugar and grain mustard, with a redcurrant and garlic jus (£13.95) – but there is also the award-winning carvery. Delicious, plentiful and fresh, it exceeded expectations and, at £10.25 (£5.95 for kids), it is great value.

The policy here is to use as many local ingredients as possible and, when you’re in Devon, there’s plenty to choose from: locally reared duck and pork, just-caught fish, fresh vegetables, local cheeses, chutneys, ciders and beers – all are used lovingly and with inspiration.