Alston Hall, Devon

Alston Hall is a remarkable three-storey country house down a long drive a mile from Battisborough Cross. Originally a rectory and then a hotel, it is designed for comfort, fun and relaxation for huge groups of family or friends. The entrance hall, which doubles as a sitting room, has a wonderful feel of grandeur, with its oak paneling, stained glass, piano and wood burning stove in a massive fireplace, and a magnificent gallery above with more seats. You can spread out in two more comfortable sitting rooms. If you don't want to take advantage of the professional catering, the kitchen is fully equipped to cater for extensive meals to enjoy in the dining room with its long table supplemented by two smaller ones. You can even engage a butler or maid for true country house luxury. After dinner, head through to the snooker room, where you might have stashed your bottles in the bar. If you need quiet time, you will find a handy office with desk to escape to. And at the end of the day, drift up the elegant stairs to a choice of 18 bedrooms spread over the first and second floors, 17 of which have an en suite bathroom so no one has to queue. With its former role as a hotel, the house has all sorts of fabulous activities to enjoy, including an indoor swimming pool, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, a play area, three acres of lawns and gardens and an enclosed walled garden with barbecues. No one can complain they are bored! If you do want to venture beyond the grounds, you can find more activity at Fort Bovisand where you enjoy concessionary rates for scuba diving, as you do at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club where you can play a round or be pampered in the spa. Mothecombe beach on a stunning stretch of coast is just a couple of miles from the Hall and you can walk in either direction on the South West Coast Path. And in the unlikely event you tire of country house living, the bright lights of the lively city of Plymouth await. Alston Hall is a very special house to gather with friends and family.