Boringdon Hall is a beautiful, historic manor house operating as a five-star hotel and spa on the outskirts of Plymouth.

Driving up the narrow country lane sets the scene as the impressive old building comes into view, all very ‘to the manor born’.

On arrival reception presents you with a glass of bubbly peach lemonade. Okay slightly disappointed as I thought it was pink champagne!

Panelled walls, flagstone floors and dark wood furniture so much better than corporate interior design.

In times gone by many royal guests among them Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh have stayed at the manor and one of the rooms is named after Lady Jane Grey the ‘Nine Days Queen’ whose father Henry Grey, duke of Suffolk, once owned the property.

When checked in a painless and efficient operation we took to sipping alcoholic white wine on the front garden near the croquet lawn, and chatted to fellow guests Nigel and Lorna.

After asking what room rate we are paying – Nigel works in finance - they tell us about the ant infestation. More later...

We usually stay on the Hoe to watch a midweek Plymouth Argyle football game but fancied a change and upgrade.

The on-site facilities are all first rate from its Michelin starred restaurant to its fitness centre, spa and swimming pools.

If there is a downside to this hotel it is the spa is built on the side of a hill which for anyone with mobility issues is a bit of a challenge.

Likewise, the cobbled courtyard and uneven pathways but currently the Grade I listed property is hoping to get planning permission to instal a lift.

Meanwhile it runs a buggy ferry service up and down the serious incline to the spa with a proviso of weather permitting.

It is worth when booking to check what floor you are on – courtyard view means upstairs!

We concluded it is a ‘posh’ place/space for grown-ups with fine food, great wine, polite and attentive staff, all reflected in board and lodging rates!

You need a car or cab to get anywhere from railway station to city centre, nearby delights of Dartmoor and the magnificent Saltram House, a Grade I listed George II era property in Plympton.

If you booked B&B the 2 AA rosette Mayflower Brasserie is great for breakfast and in the evening go for an apéritif in the Great Hall before climbing, much fortified, the stairs to sample the much-lauded Michelin star Àclèaf restaurant.

After a spell in the bar, we cannot remember all the descriptions of our meal given with gusto by waiting staff and the chef but it was wonderfully animated.

The four-course £130pp descriptive menu comes with 16 choices and the wine/spirit is to die for – we nearly did but it was just a self-inflicted hangover.

All this was blamed on  our host for the evening the aforementioned Nigel who was wonderfully entertaining and generous.

Unlike the dishes the restaurant décor is a little bland/beige but perhaps I am being a little too picky.

Gaia spa has a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool and gym facilities.

What it also had during our visit was creepy black beetles which looked more like tiny ants and had affected all of Plymouth during the summer hot spell.

It didn’t put us off as we are booked again for another football game in December.

This is what my husband Rob thought: “Boringdon Hall Hotel is a five-star establishment situated some five miles from Plymouth city centre.

“We travelled in a Uber from Plymouth station climbing a steep narrow lane before reaching the 16th century manor house set amongst extensive gardens.