Luccombe Manor

If you've got one superbly sited Isle of Wight clifftop hotel, it makes perfect sense to buy another next door – and here's Luccombe Manor to prove the point, under the same ownership as the adjacent Luccombe Hall (and the nearby Shanklin Villa Apartments), and just as alluring. There is a slightly different vibe here – a bit smaller in scale, with a touch of true Victorian clifftop, seaside splendour – but the same excellent qualities are all in place, from the slick, can-do service to the comfortable rooms with their breathtaking sea views.

There are 23 rooms – Standard and Sea View – all charmingly decorated in light seaside colours. There's everything you need inside the rooms for a relaxing stay, or choose the high-spec, three-bedroom self-catering apartment (sleeps 6 +1) for a more private stay. There's also one ground-floor hotel room with a walk-in shower (the rest are on the upper floors). Unlike a lot of places on the island, dogs are welcome in most of the rooms, and there are gardens opposite for daily dog walks.

Many visitors say it's the choice of facilities that marks out Luccombe Manor. There's an outdoor hot tub and summer spa pool, private garden and games room, but as all guests also have access to neighbouring Luccombe Hall, there's a whole lot more to your stay than that – from two more pools and a sauna to well-equipped children's play areas and more garden space with amazing sea views.

There's a very good breakfast included in the room rate – accompanied by great sea views, of course – while for other meals you can walk over to Luccombe Hall and make the most of their excellent restaurant and bar (Dinner, B&B rates are available). Otherwise, you're right on the edge of charming Shanklin Old Village, with its thatched buildings, pubs and tea rooms. Meanwhile, the coastal path runs north to Sandown and south to Ventor, for easy walks straight from the hotel. Book a seasonal walking break, and they'll throw in a map, guide and other supplies to get you on the right track.