I VOWED to make a return visit to Milton Abbas after drinking in its chocolate-box village allure for the first time during its street fair.

It was quite strange seeing the place without thousands of people lining the main thoroughfare.

And also rather odd seeing the villagers decked out in regular 21st century clothing rather than clothed in period attire.

The Hambro Arms is an idyllic looking pub with a thatched roof containing a cosy looking dining room attached to an inviting bar.

Looking out from inside the pub onto the immaculate, well-kept main street is a treat in itself.

When we dropped by during a Saturday lunchtime, the pub appeared to be popular with locals and visitors alike.

Walkers and their well-behaved dogs cosied up next to groups of bikers at the bar.

The young, friendly staff made us feel extremely welcome in the dining room and were knowledgeable about the specials.

I was interested to know whether the duck in sweet chilli sauce served with new potatoes and vegetables was a good choice.

Our server assured me that it was one of the pub’s most popular dishes and it didn’t disappoint.

The duck was perfectly cooked and rich in flavour without being too fatty, as duck can tend to be.

Its sauce complemented the meat well and gave it a delicious zing without being too overpowering.

My mum tried the lamb stew served with creamy mash and vegetables.

Again, the meat was tender and flavoursome and was braised in a generous but naughty portion of red wine.

She said the selection of fresh seasonal vegetables was good and the main course was satisfyingly filling.

My dad, stickler for tradition that he is, opted for his pub grub favourite – gammon, egg and chips.

Congested with hay fever and unable to give an extensive verdict on taste, I did what any caring daughter would and sampled the gammon and chips on his behalf.

The gammon was as delicious as it was thick and the chips didn’t disappoint.

Staff at the pub say they take pride in sourcing food locally – and it shows.

We found the presentation of the food to be excellent and the price for such high quality to be extremely reasonable.

We were also intrigued by some of the more adventurous choices on the specials board such as ‘wild boar and apple faggots’.

I shared a Baileys cheesecake with my father.

It had all the consistency and flavour that every gluttonous homemade dessert should have.

Rounded off by cappuccinos, we even managed to buy some artwork as a present for a relative before tearing ourselves away from this welcoming rural watering hole.

It was time to start burning off some calories by exploring the village and making our way to Milton Abbey.

One the day was over we realised that we’d visited two venues that warrant worshipping.

n The Hambro Arms, Milton Abbas, DT11 0BP. (01258) 880233. See hambroarms.com