Huntingdon House

Old-world style oozes from every corner of the house. An arched frontage frames the wraparound veranda, sheltering its cavernous velvet sofas and wrought-iron tables. Huge French windows lead from the interior into the gardens and views of those vivid green fields. Meals created using fresh farm produce are served in the formal dining room, beside a roaring fire, though lunch is often an alfresco beneath-the-trees affair. Leave space for the traditional afternoon tea though – it's deliciously splendid!

The house has just five bedrooms, each decorated in a unique country style and named after its original function. Father's Room, for example, is bold, masculine and quite modern, whereas The Nursery is light and playful. Each, however, has a large four-poster with rich cotton sheets and plump pillows, modern fittings and fixtures, and all bathrooms have grand, claw-foot tubs to sink into at the end of the day. Small outdoor verandas have views out to the immaculate gardens.

Wander through the tea plantations and visit the factory (there are coffee plantations too; beans are harvested from May to late August), or follow one of the well-marked hiking routes through the valley. Hire a mountain bike for longer explorations. In the afternoon, take tea on the veranda, and try your hand at croquet or boules on the lawn. Take a day trip to Majete Wildlife Reserve, the forested Zomba Plateau, bustling Blantyre or Mount Mulanje – great for climbing.