The Old Plough Pub & Restaurant

You'll find the Old Plough sitting pretty near Daventry, the sort of proper country pub that rewards you for bothering to track it down. It's a working restaurant and bar, not some museum piece - though the building itself has that satisfying age to it that makes you feel like you're part of something that's been here a while. The kind of place where locals know the staff and travellers feel welcome anyway.

What you get depends on what you're after. The food is solid pub fare done well, nothing fancy but the sort of meal that tastes better after a walk. Real ales if you're that way inclined, decent wine list if you're not. The atmosphere is the real draw - low ceilings, genuine character, none of that corporate chain nonsense. Families with older kids will find it relaxed enough, though it's more about adults enjoying themselves than high chairs and chicken nuggets.

Come for lunch if you want a quieter experience, evenings tend to get busier. Allow a couple of hours if you're eating properly. It works brilliantly as a lunch spot while based at one of the nearby glamping sites - EWE Glamping is practically next door at under half a mile away, or Hideaway Wood Farm and Magic Mushroom Cabin are all within striking distance if you want something slightly further out. The Old Plough anchors an afternoon nicely when you're staying locally. Fair warning: you'll want to ring ahead to check current opening hours and book if you're going on a weekend.