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Essex is certainly well gifted with charming country inns that dot this county, in addition to many scenic villages, and there's plenty of excitement in the culinary landscape as well. At places like The Leather Bottle Restaurant benefit is gained from the location in the pretty village of Blackmore, and the setting inside includes a roomy conservatory leading out to a sheltered garden.

Begin you meal here in a rustic manner with starters of pan-fried chicken livers with bacon, garlic and parsley drizzled with balsamic syrup, and Cumberland sausages on creamy mashed potatoes, red wine jus and onion chutney following in quick succession.

The time-honoured Sunday lunch tradition is one to look forward to at The Leather Bottle, with choices like smoked salmon gravadlax, roast chicken stuffed with basil and Parmesan, and sticky toffee pudding with hot fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream.

The attractive Greenwoods Hotel is housed in a Grade II listed, 17th century manor house in the village of Stock in Essex, but is just a few miles away only from Chelmsford and Billericay. The chandeliers, mirrors and ornate drapery at the Rosewood restaurant are in keeping with the dignified sophistication of the hotel.

Rosewood beckons diners with the promise of classic English cooking with Mediterranean touches, so first off a papaya, apricot and blue cheese salad with passion fruit dressing may capture your interest. Choosing a main course may not be that easy considering the number of alternatives on offer ranging from loin of lamb filled with fig, honey and sage stuffing, and salmon and basil in spring roll pastry, to chicken wrapped in Serrano ham served with a ramekin of wild rice and aubergine lasagne.

Once you've satisfied your culinary curiosity step into the spa for an invigorating monsoon shower and retire to one of their bedrooms equipped with cosy antique beds.