In a landscape of rivers and greenery stands the stately Gidleigh Park, a manor house known for truly exceptional attention to detail and some of England's finest dining.

Nestled on a choice 107 acres in Devon - England's greenest county - Gidleigh Park is how an English manor house might appear to you in a dream. In this storybook setting - the heavy breath of nearby horses, the fresh air, the North Teign flowing by - Gidleigh Park blurs imagination and reality. Perhaps not surprisingly, the inscription above the door reads "Once Upon a Time."

In Gidleigh Park's 24 suites, you sense the restrained glory of English country life. Each room, with its unique complement of antiques, fine fabrics, and art, harkens back to a time of simplicity and luxury. Media appointments, though, are state of the art - HD flat-screens, and wireless Internet throughout the hotel.

Under the steady hand of executive chef Michael Caines, MBE, the Gidleigh Park restaurant has risen to a lofty station: two Michelin stars. The eatery is widely known for Caines's inventive takes on classic European dining.