10 of the best gourmet getaways for Christmas

If you're really looking to get away from it all this Christmas, you'll struggle to find a more beautiful, secluded retreat than Kinloch Lodge. Perched on the shores of Loch na Dal in the wilderness of Skye, this beautiful family mansion doubles as a home to Brazilian-born Marcello Tully, who uses Skye's incredible larder to produce a special Christmas feast, as well as a rustic picnic and all the mince pies you can eat.

£600 per person, three day retreat including dinner, bed and breakfast

Shay Cooper’s elegant style has long marked him out as a chef to watch in the capital, and visitors to The Goring can expect outstanding classical cooking, including dishes like halibut, roast celeriac purée, chanterelles, hazelnut and truffle, or fillet of beef Wellington. The wine list is also first-rate.

£520 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two

Tucked away in an industrial estate outside Nottingham, Sat Bains has made his eponymous restaurant into a British institution. Rightfully regarded as one of the best chefs in Europe, Sat’s tasting menu is a thing of utter beauty, devised and assembled with scientific precision.

£310 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two, Wednesday and Thursday only

Michael Caines may have departed to nearby Lympstone Manor (which also does an excellent overnight deal, by the way), but Gidleigh Park has retained its two Michelin stars under Michael Wignall, confirming its status as one of the best hotel restaurants in the country.

£459 for dinner with a glass of Champagne, bed and breakfast for two

Set in the middle of the New Forest National Park, Lime Wood is a paradise for fantastic British produce. Luke Holder’s philosophy of ‘more time sourcing, less time cooking’ is a perfect fit for Hampshire, and he produces a beautiful Italian-inspired menu that treads a careful line between simplicity and luxury.

£485 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two. Includes use of the Herb House Spa

Morston Hall has always had an outstanding reputation for honest British cookery, holding a Michelin star and three AA rosettes for many years now. For £350, two can stay over and enjoy dinner from the set menu, a full English breakfast and homemade chocolates, but there’s plenty more to enjoy whilst you’re in the area. Galton Blackiston is a font of knowledge when it comes to food, and his cookery school is one of the best around.

£350 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two

Forget your rambling hikes and romantic poets – Simon Rogan’s trailblazing restaurant gives food fans around the world a real reason to visit the Lake District. Simon has taught us a huge amount about provenance, sourcing most of the food at L’Enclume from his twelve-acre farm nearby (meat included).

£535 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two (breakfast is held at Simon's other Cartmel restaurant Rogan & Co)

If you’re planning a break in beautiful north Wales, we’d thoroughly recommend a stay at Tyddyn Llan – an idyllic country hotel on the outskirts of Snowdonia National Park. Chef Bryan Webb’s classical mastery is evident in dishes like Goosnargh duck breast, duck faggot, confit potato, cider and apples, celeriac purée, and risotto of leeks and truffles.

£560 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two over two nights, with packed lunch and afternoon tea

Sitting proudly on Rutland Water, Hambleton Hall has held a Michelin star since 1982, making it the longest reigning star-holder in the UK. Chef Aaron Patterson has an expert classical touch, and makes the most of locally-sourced produce to create superb seasonal tasting menus.

£560 for dinner with cocktail, bed and breakfast for two, with chocolates, flowers, seasonal fruit and scented candle