Mr & Mrs Smith

Marthon has a small handful of eateries a short stroll from the hotel. The pick of the pile is Les Glycines on Le Bourg (+33(0)5 45 70 23 90), a salt-of-the-earth spot serving simple but delicious traditional fare. It's open for lunch, but dinner must be booked in advance. Chez Steph (+33(0)5 45 62 09 11) is a busy brasserie about 10 minutes' drive from the hotel, in La Rochefoucauld, where you'll find excellent pizzas, tender cuts of meat and an indulgence-inducing selection of home-made desserts. 25km further afield, in the cobbled hilltop town of Angoulême, Jardin de Kashmir (+33(0)5 45 95 03 03) in the old quarter, is an excellent Indian, and Le Terminus (+33(0)5 45 95 27 13) is a great spot to stop – no pun intended – for seafood. La Ruelle at 6 rue des Trois Notre Dame, Angoulême (+33 (0)5 45 95 15 19; www.restaurant-laruelle.com) has fabulous food, a chic setting and phenomenal service. Temptations include: amuse-bouche of asparagus velouté with hazelnut oil glace, rabbit stuffed with langoustines and desserts that give Hélène Darroze a run for her money.

The urban appeals of Bordeaux are fewer than 90 minutes away, but closer still is Angoulême, a buzzing hub of cobbled streets and Continental café culture. For those more into kayaking than cappucino, the countryside around Château de la Couronne offers ample golfing, canoeing, fishing, horse riding and marvelling-at-nature opportunities – Nicky and Mark will be happy to help you arrange outdoorsy outings.