Dundas Arms Hotel

53 Station Road, Kintbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

n May, a weekend retreat should involve gardens full of apple blossom, a sunny breakfast room where you can linger over the paper and plenty of bucolic rambling along verdant riverbanks. The Dundas Arms offers all three. This Grade II Georgian building is nestled between the River Kennett and its Avon Canal in West Berkshire and the huge garden is flanked by flowing water on both sides. Begin the evening with a glass of rosé on the terrace, before retiring to the dining room which has huge windows framed by cheerful gingham curtains. The menu is a sophisticated contrast to the relaxed atmosphere. Woodland mushroom and heritage beetroot salad is elevated by perfect seasoning and clever texturing, while the milk-poached hake is complemented by rich duck egg and fluffy clouds of mustard mash. There are eight bedrooms to choose from but for utter tranquillity we recommend the river rooms which are in a separate part of the building. Each is decorated with quirky Barneby Gates wallpaper and has french doors onto a private terrace overlooking the Kennett. In the morning, make up a cafetiere (milk is left outside each room in an old fashioned glass bottle) to enjoy on the terrace before following the canal path for 40 minutes to Hungerford. This market town is full of antique shops and appears to have sprung fully formed off the pages of a Jane Austen novel. IL. Doubles from £100 including breakfast.