La Bonne Étape ★★★★

Having suggested an indulgent trip to the South of France for some time now, with no success, I assumed my birthday this year would be the same. I’m sure you can imagine my surprise – not to mention sheer delight – when my husband proposed a long weekend at the Bonne Etape to celebrate!

Here, tree-covered hills roll endlessly into the distance; you are entirely immersed in a shades of green, interspersed with purple fields of lavender for good measure, all crowned with a glorious blue sky. The scenery is truly stunning, and a world away from urban life.

We arrived at the Bonne Etape, a small boutique hotel in the village of Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban. It is the image of Provence: a sun-baked, terracotta building with light pistachio shutters and an achingly pretty entrance that invites you inside. Spacious and bright, our room was the picture of authentic French style. The antique wooden furniture, ceramic tiled floor and cosy rugs were bathed in hazy golden light; in other words, irresistibly romantic.

After a quick doze we made our way downstairs, refreshed and content, and headed out onto the sunny terrace. From here, the views of the rolling green countryside are quite magnificent. I dived in to swim a few lengths and felt entirely at peace – pure bliss! However, the real gem of La Bonne Etape was not the mesmerising vista or its quaint, intimate location, but the culinary masterpieces served at the hotel restaurant. Here, the chef’s passion for his terroir transform into sublime Mediterranean dishes made using fresh local produce – often from the hotel’s very own vegetable patch – and will surely leave me daydreaming of Provence for years to come. Recognised with a well-deserved Michelin star, it is quite simply divine, and the cherry on top of our stay at La Bonne Etape.