country house hotel

Frommer's England 2011: With Wales
by Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince
Published 2 Jan 2010

Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel (Ullswater, Cumbria, Lake District; & 01768/486301; www.sharrowbay.co.uk): This gem is known as much for its cuisine as for its accommodations. The location alone would justify checking in: a 4.8-hectare (12-acre) site, with several gardens, in a national park on bucolic Lake Ullswater, beneath Barton Fell. The lakeside dining room offers panoramic views of the water, and you can always find something delectable on the menu. See p. 646. Bodysgallen Hall (Llandudno, North Wales; & 01492/584466; www.bodys gallen.com): One of Wales’s greatest country-house hotels, this 17th-century mansion lies on 81 hectares (200 acres) of gardens and parkland.

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See p. 142. 14 04_615386-ch01.indd 1404_615386-ch01.indd 14 8/24/10 2:06 PM8/24/10 2:06 PM W W THE W W W W The Best Pubs W 1 THE BEST OF ENGLAND & WALES W Pied à Terre (London; & 020/7636-1178; www.pied-a-terre.co.uk): Chef Shane Osborn lures some of the most cultivated palates in London to this bastion of French cuisine, the best dining choice in Bloomsbury when you’re visiting the British Museum. A classical technique is combined with modern inventiveness, and the well-crafted dishes have both flair and flavor. See p. 151. Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons (Great Milton, near Oxford, Oxfordshire; & 800/237-1236 in the U.S., or 01844/278881; www.manoir.com): The country-house hotel and restaurant of self-taught chef Raymond Blanc have brought him his own TV series, cookbooks, and a school of cuisine. A new lightness, inspired mainly by Japan and the Mediterranean, is more evident in the celebrated chef ’s creations, and more meatless dishes appear on the seasonal menu.

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At Bourne Hall, they receive a warm welcome from the owners, who run one of the area’s best-equipped hotels. It stands on nearly 1.2 hectares (3 acres), adjoining open farmland. Bedrooms are furnished in a delightful English-countryhouse style. Some have been redecorated, and even those that haven’t are still in fine shape. Bourne Hall Country House Hotel The best cuisine and most elegant lodgings are at this former governor’s residence dating from the 17th century. Between the quay and the castle, overlooking the Solent, this is a tranquil oasis in the port so beloved by English yachties. The good-size bedrooms are individually decorated, each with style and The George Hotel The Isle of Wight Luccombe Rd., Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6RR. & 01983/862820.

Lonely Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands
by Lonely Planet

Brooklynn B&B€€ (%01479-873113; www.woodier.com; Grant Rd; s/d £48/96; pW) S This beautiful Victorian villa features original stained glass and wood panelling, and seven spacious, luxurious rooms (all doubles have en suites). The food – dinner is available (£28 per person), as well as breakfast – is superb, too. oMuckrach Country House Hotel HOTEL€€€ (%01479-851227; www.muckrach.com; Dulnain Bridge; r from £209; pW#) Built as a Victorian shooting lodge in 1860, Muckrach has been tastefully converted into a luxurious country house hotel with a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The lounge, complete with grand piano, serves coffee, cake and snacks through the day, and the restaurant (mains £13 to £21) serves a brasserie-style menu at lunch and dinner weekdays, and all day Saturday.

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September School holidays are over, midges are dying off, wild brambles are ripe for picking in the hedgerows, and the weather is often dry and mild – an excellent time of year for outdoor pursuits. 3Braemar Gathering The biggest and most famous Highland Games in the Scottish calendar, traditionally attended by members of the Royal Family, featuring Highland dancing, caber-tossing and bagpipe-playing. Held early September in Braemar, Royal Deeside. Braemar Gathering | ANDREW PARSONS/ALAMY © October Autumn brings a blaze of colour to the forests of Highland Perthshire and the Trossachs, as the tourist season winds down and thoughts turn to log fires and malt whiskies in country house hotels. 3Ullapool Guitar Festival (www.ullapoolguitarfestival.com) A lively weekend of concerts, ceilidhs, workshops and impromptu sessions devoted to the guitar, with performances from Scottish and international musicians. zCowalfest (www.cowalfest.org) Dunoon and the lovely Cowal peninsula play host to this 10-day walking festival.

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The hotel restaurant specialises in Scottish produce cooked with Continental flair. Boath House Hotel HOTEL€€€ (%01667-454896; www.boath-house.com; Auldearn; s/d from £190/295; pW) This beautifully restored Regency mansion, set in private woodland gardens 2 miles east of Nairn on the A96, is one of Scotland’s most luxurious country-house hotels. It includes a spa offering holistic treatments and a highly regarded restaurant (three-/six-course dinner £45/70). Classroom GASTROPUB€€ (%01667-455999; www.theclassroombistro.com; 1 Cawdor St; mains £14-26; hnoon-4.30pm & 5-9pm; Wc) S Done up in an appealing mixture of modern and traditional styles – lots of richly glowing wood with designer detailing – Classroom doubles as cocktail bar and gastropub, with a tempting menu that ranges from Cullen skink (soup made with smoked haddock, potato, onion and milk) to Highland steak with peppercorn sauce. 8Getting There & Away Buses run hourly (less frequently on Sunday) from Inverness to Nairn (£6.05, 30 minutes) and on to Aberdeen.

Scotland Travel Guide
by Lonely Planet

Ach Aluinn B&B ££ ( 01463-230127; www.achaluinn.com; 27 Fairfield Rd; per person £25-35; ) This large, detached Victorian house is bright and homely, and offers all you might want from a guesthouse – private bathroom, TV, reading lights, comfy beds with two pillows each, and an excellent breakfast. Five minutes’ walk west from city centre. Loch Ness Country House Hotel HOTEL £££ ( 01463-230512; www.lochnesscountryhousehotel.co.uk; Dunain Park; d from £165; ) This sumptuous country-house hotel offers traditional decor, featuring Victorian four-poster beds, Georgian-style furniture and Italian marble bathrooms, all set in beautiful wooded grounds just five minutes’ stroll from the Caledonian Canal and River Ness. The hotel is a mile southwest of Inverness on the A82 to Fort William.

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Drop into Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom (Market Sq; admission free; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm Sat Apr-Sep, & 11am-3pm Sun May-Aug, noon-3pm Mon-Sat Oct) , where there’s an exhibition on the man’s life and writings, plus a fascinating account of the courageous explorer Mungo Park (born near Selkirk) and his search for the River Niger. Sleeping Philipburn Country House Hotel HOTEL ££ ( 01750-20747; www.philipburnhousehotel.co. uk; r lodge/standard/luxury £90/125/175; ) On the edge of town, this place makes a sound place to stay. New owners have pepped this former dower house up, and it features neat rooms and a snug bar and restaurant. The luxury rooms are great – some have a jacuzzi, while another is a split-level affair with a double balcony.

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Festivals & Events There are local village festivals from June to September Arran Folk Festival FOLK MUSIC ( 01770-302623; www.arranfolkfestival.org) A week-long festival in early June. Arran Wildlife Festival WILDLIFE (www.arranwildlife.co.uk) This celebration of local fauna is held mid-May. Sleeping Kilmichael Country House Hotel HOTEL £££ ( 01770-302219; www.kilmichael.com; Glen Cloy; s £95, d £160-199; ) The island’s best hotel, the Kilmichael is also the oldest building – it has a glass window dating from 1650. The hotel is a luxurious, tastefully decorated spot, a mile outside Brodick, with eight rooms and an excellent restaurant (3-course dinner £42) .

England
by David Else
Published 14 Oct 2010

Sleeping & Eating Tollgate Farmhouse (01424-777436; www.tollgate%20farmhouse.co.uk; 59 North Trade Rd; s/d from £35/65; ) A homely atmosphere can be found 10-minutes’ walk away from the centre of Battle at this large domestic residence, with a handful of florid en suite rooms dotted with embroidery and fake flowers, and several extra surprises tucked up its sleeve: a Jacuzzi, sauna and outdoor pool among them. Powdermills (01424-775511; www.powdermills%20hotel.com; Powdermill Lane; s/d £115/125; ) Rebuilt in the 18th century after a Napoleonic gunpowder works saw off the previous manor with a bang, this graceful, ivy-covered country-house hotel has classic four-postered rooms, a wonderful orangery restaurant, a swimming pool and 200-acre grounds of tranquil lakes and woodland adjoining Battle Abbey’s grounds. Pilgrim’s Restaurant (01424-772314; www.pil%20grims-battle.co.uk; 1 High St; 3-course dinner £19.95; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat, lunch Sun) Misshapen beams, rough-plastered walls and a vaulted ceiling make this 15th-century pilgrim’s lodging the most spectacular place to eat in Battle.

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The recently restored botanic garden is also worth a visit. * * * DETOUR: WOOLLEY GRANGE Mixing boutique style with a refreshing family-friendly attitude, Woolley Grange ( 01225-864705; www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk; Woolley Green; B&B & dinner per 2 people £240-440; ) is one of the most welcoming country-house hotels in Wiltshire. With its designer bedrooms, laid-back attitude and quietly impressive service, it’s a place whose raison d’être seems to be keeping everyone in a state of mild euphoria throughout their stay. While the little ‘uns are kept lavishly entertained with everything from giant trampolines to PlayStation 2s at the Woolley Bear Den, mum and dad can relax with a truly indulgent range of spa treatments, aromatherapy massages, gourmet meals, and sparkling-wine cocktails by the heated outdoor pool.

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This compact national park is a bit like England’s version of the Wild West, except here cliffs replace cowboys, red deer replace cattle, and gumboots replace gun-slingers. Part wilderness expanse, part rolling fields, these days Exmoor isn’t all rustic B&Bs and hugger-mugger pubs. Instead, it’s scattered with pockets of boutique bliss, from refined restaurants to sumptuous country-house hotels where the service is sublime, the beds are soft and a fire crackles in the grate. The amiable market town of Dulverton shelters south of the swathes of bracken-smothered higher moorland that encircle the picturesque village of Exford. This unfenced wilderness plunges down to a coast dotted with charming stop-off points, from the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth in the west, via the pretty harbour at Porlock to the medieval town of Dunster, complete with a brooding red-brick castle.

The Rough Guide to Ireland
by Clements, Paul
Published 2 Jun 2015

Tourist office In the Heritage Centre (April–Oct Mon–Fri 9am–5.30pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm; Nov–March Mon–Fri 9am–5.30pm; 058 54975). Walking tours of the town depart twice daily in summer (€5). ACCOMMODATION Ballyrafter Country House Hotel About 1km northeast of the centre, just off the N72 058 54002, waterfordhotel.com. Swish and spacious traditional country-house hotel set in broad, lawned grounds, built by the Duke of Devonshire in the early 1800s for his estate manager, with a snug bar, a restaurant with views of Lismore Castle and open fires; fishing is a speciality. €90 Glenribbeen Lodge About 2km northeast of town, just off the N72 058 54499, glenribbeen.com.

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Centrally situated cottage-style hostel offering a variety of dorms, a big kitchen and wood-burning stove. Camping facilities are well sheltered in a flat garden behind a stone wall. Dorms €15.50, tent pitch €20 Aran View Country House Hotel Coast Rd 065 707 4061, aranview.com. Dramatically sited above the village, this is a fine country-house hotel offering tremendous views from its attractive rooms and tasty seafood such as sea bass in its bistro (7–8.30pm). €100 Cullinan’s Guesthouse On the R479, 2km from Doolin Holiday Cottages 065 707 4183, cullinansdoolin.com.

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Hidden Ireland hiddenireland.com. Over thirty B&Bs in private homes, mainly in the Republic, most of which are selected for their historic nature or architectural merit, as well as a similar number of self-catering properties. Ireland’s Blue Book irelandsbluebook.com. Upmarket country-house hotels and B&Bs, as well as restaurants, both North and South. Irish Farmhouse Holidays irishfarmholidays.com. More than 300 farmhouse B&Bs, some in exquisite rural locations. Irish Hotels Federation irelandhotels.com. Covering numerous hotels and guesthouses across Ireland, with a comprehensive listing, direct booking and special offers available on the website.

Great Britain
by David Else and Fionn Davenport
Published 2 Jan 2007

This compact national park is a bit like England’s version of the Wild West, except here cliffs replace cowboys, red deer replace cattle, and gumboots replace gun-slingers. Part wilderness expanse, part rolling fields, these days Exmoor isn’t all rustic B&Bs and hugger-mugger pubs. Instead, it’s scattered with pockets of boutique bliss, from refined restaurants to sumptuous country-house hotels where the service is sublime, the beds are soft and a fire crackles in the grate. The amiable market town of Dulverton shelters south of the swathes of bracken-smothered higher moorland that encircle the picturesque village of Exford. This unfenced wilderness plunges down to a coast dotted with charming stop-off points, from the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth in the west, via the pretty harbour at Porlock to the medieval town of Dunster, complete with a brooding red-brick castle.

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The YHA also runs camping barns (from £7.50 per person) at Woodadvent Farm near Roadwater and at Northcombe Farm, near Dulverton. There are a number of official camp sites along the coast. For more-comfy sleeping options, Exmoor’s accommodation ranges from rustic rooms above pubs to cosy B&Bs to spoil-yourself-silly country-house hotels. We outline many; however, for an overview, see www.exmoor.com. If you’d like to hire a cottage, contact Exmoor Holiday Group (www.exmoor-holidays.co.uk). Getting There & Around Once outside the key towns, getting around Exmoor by bus can be tricky, as regular services are very limited.

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Dartmoor inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Hound of the Baskervilles and in sleeting rain and swirling mists you suddenly see why; the moor morphs into a bleak, wilderness where tales of a phantom hound can seem very real indeed. Dartmoor offers superb walking, cycling, riding, climbing and white-water kayaking. But it’s not all adventure and endurance; there are also rustic pubs, fancy restaurants and posh country house hotels – the perfect bolt-holes when the mists roll in. Orientation Dartmoor occupies a massive chunk of central Devon – its fringes stretch to within 7 miles of Plymouth and 6 miles of Exeter. The A38 dual carriageway borders its southeast edge while the A30 skirts the north en route from Exeter to Cornwall via Okehampton.

The Fundamentals of Interior Design
by Dodsworth, Simon and Anderson, Stephen
Published 29 Jan 2015

For example, to reduce the apparent height of a space, an advancing color can be used on the ceiling and the uppermost section of the walls. 6.26 This bathroom utilizes natural finishes and a largely neutral color scheme of gray, brown, black, and white. The red glass acts as an accent color, which lifts the scheme and adds a dynamic quality that would otherwise be missed. 6.27 In this large bedroom in a country house hotel, the dark walls help to hold together the different elements required in the room; the color advances somewhat to give a comfortable feeling of enclosure. Light Light and color are intimately linked. Both natural light and artificial light play a major role in shaping the decorative scheme.

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Adequate and easily accessible switching is the minimum, and it may be desirable to consider automated control and scene-setting controls that create different moods at a single touch. Installation of the light fittings and control equipment can lead to considerable disruption, which emphasizes the need for careful project planning right from the start. 6.29 This lighting scheme reflects the relaxing environment of this newly refurbished Country House Hotel Spa at Barnsley House hotel in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England, while introducing a sense of luxury into the space. The oversized pendant provides an element of dramatic glamor, elongating the space, while the recessed uplighters highlight the organic texture of the local stone behind. 6.30 These modern minimalist stairs use lighting concealed under each step.

Lonely Planet Scotland
by Lonely Planet

Takes place over the three weeks ending on the first Saturday in September. The program is usually available from April. October Autumn brings a blaze of colour to the forests of Highland Perthshire and the Trossachs, as the tourist season winds down and thoughts turn to log fires and malt whiskies in country-house hotels. 3Enchanted Forest Crowds gather in the Explorers Garden at Pitlochry to experience this spectacular sound-and-light show. Events occasionally spill into November. December Darkness falls mid-afternoon as the shortest day of the year approaches. The cold and wet weather is relieved by Christmas and New Year festivities.

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In the company of a guide, visitors get to handle and read books from the original collection of Robert Leighton, the late-17th-century bishop of Dunblane. The oldest volume dates from 1504. Cromlix HouseHISTORIC HOTEL£££ (%01786-822125; www.cromlix.com; Kinbuck; d/ste from £290/475; pW) Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray (born in nearby Dunblane) has invested some of his winnings in this luxurious country-house hotel, signposted 4 miles north of Dunblane. Guests can enjoy walking and fishing in the extensive grounds; elegant, understated bedrooms; a restaurant overseen by legendary French chef Albert Roux; and – of course – a tennis court laid out in Wimbledon colours. RiversidePUB FOOD££ (%01786-823318; www.theriversidedunblane.co.uk; Stirling Rd; mains £10-22; hfood 10am-2.30pm & 5-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-9pm Sat & Sun; Wvc) S The name describes the location of this pub-cafe-restaurant that champions local produce and serves everything from free-range eggs Benedict for breakfast and pulled-pork sandwiches for lunch to seafood risotto for dinner or just a glass of local beer on the terrace overlooking the Allan Water. 8Getting There & Away There are frequent trains from Stirling to Dunblane (£3.60, 12 minutes, every 30 minutes).

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Unique in all of Scotland, this Renaissance walled garden is lined with niches for nesting birds, and sculptured plaques illustrating the cardinal virtues, the arts and the planetary deities. Glenesk HotelSLEEPING££ (%01356-647333; www.gleneskhotel.com; High St; s/d from £85/120; pW) The Glenesk is a grand old country-house hotel with a solidly traditional atmosphere. The bedrooms range from no-surprises standard to four-poster luxury, while the bar reflects the twin passions of the owner – commercial aviation (aircraft portraits on the walls) and malt whisky (one of Scotland’s largest collections, with more than 1000 varieties). 8Getting There & Away Stagecoach buses 21 and 21A from Dundee (via Forfar and Brechin) stop at Edzell (£7.80, 1½ hours, seven daily Monday to Friday, five on Saturday).

Tails I Lose: The Compulsive Gambler Who Lost His Shirt for Good
by Justyn Rees
Published 25 Jun 2014

Although it was a lonely place, I had no desire at all to share it with anyone, and I had no desire to be hurt again. A bachelor’s life was appealing: I didn’t need anyone, and if I didn’t need them, they couldn’t let me down. In short, I was content. And then spring came: a time of thaw and of new beginnings. I was feeling happy as I drove to an executive management course at a country house hotel in the market town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire one blustery March morning. The proximity of Ashbourne to Worcester, where Harry lived, meant that after the course, on Friday evening, I would be able to pick him up straight from school and we would have more time together. As I drove, I noticed the signs of spring all around.

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I shared nature’s energy and excitement. The course, with delegates from major companies such as Rolls Royce, Tesco and the BBC, promised opportunities to learn more about the world of business, and to meet interesting people. I turned into the hotel’s neat driveway and saw ahead of me a smart but quite imposing Victorian country house hotel. I later learned that the owners, Dorothy and David Spencer, had bought the neglected property twenty-five years before from an established family who had fallen on hard times. They poured their life into the business, turning it into a successful and highly sought-after hotel. While it made quite an impression on me, I had no idea of the part that hotel was to play in my future.

The Rough Guide to England
by Rough Guides
Published 29 Mar 2018

The starting price for a basic hotel is around £80 per night for a double or twin room, breakfast usually included; anything more upmarket, or with a bit of boutique styling, will be around £100 a night, while at the top-end properties the sky’s the limit, especially in London or in resort or country-house hotels. Many city hotels in particular charge a room rate only. Budget hotel chains – including Premier Inn (premierinn.com), Holiday Inn Express (hiexpress.com), Jurys Inn (jurysinns.com), Travelodge (travelodge.co.uk), Ibis (ibishotel.com) and Comfort/Quality/Sleep Inns (choicehotelsuk.co.uk) – have properties across the country.

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Couples staying in B&Bs, eating at local pubs and restaurants and sightseeing should expect to splash out £70 per person, while if you’re renting a car, staying in hotels and eating at fancier places, budget for at least £120 each. Double that last figure if you choose to stay in a stylish city or grand country-house hotel, while on any visit to London work on the basis that you’ll need an extra £30 per day. Discounts and admission charges Many of England’s historic attractions – from castles to stately homes – are owned and/or operated by either the National Trust (0344 800 1895, nationaltrust.org.uk; denoted as NT in the Guide) or English Heritage (0370 333 1181, www.english-heritage.org.uk; EH).

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Tourist office In the imposing Guildhall, High St (May–Sept Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun & bank hols 11am–4pm; Oct–April Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; 01962 840500, visitwinchester.co.uk). Accommodation 29 Christchurch Road 29 Christchurch Rd, SO23 9SU 01962 868 661, bedbreakfastwinchester.co.uk; map. Well-furnished, comfortable B&B in a charming Regency house located in a quiet, residential part of town. No smoking. £100 Lainston Country House Hotel Woodman Lange, Sparshot, SO21 2LT 01962 776088, exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house; map. Around a 10min drive from Winchester towards Stockbridge, this seventeenth-century mansion sits in 63 acres of grounds – it’s luxurious and comfort­able, with huge bedrooms and friendly staff. It has its own quality restaurant, specializing in local produce. £175 The Old Vine 8 Great Minster St, SO23 9HA 01962 854616, oldvinewinchester.com; map.

How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong
by Elizabeth Day
Published 3 Apr 2019

They accept me for who I am, whether we’re eating a takeaway in front of Queer Eye or drunkenly requesting Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Push It’ from some startled DJ in the middle of the night (Emma has a whole dance routine to ‘Push It’ that has to be seen to be believed). And if I were to think back and pinpoint one of the most successful and joyous weekend minibreaks of my life, it would not be one with a romantic partner – the kind we’re constantly told we should be having in country house hotels with boating lakes and couples’ massages – but one I had with my friend Clemmie. In 2015, the two of us met at a wedding in Brooklyn where neither of us knew anyone else, and we spent the whole evening together, talking about everything from the sublime to the ridiculous. We made plans to see each other the next day and we went for dinner, and continued the conversation and fell deeply, platonically in love against the backdrop of New York in the fall.

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I remember being at the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, held in a big marquee in London’s Berkeley Square, and Kidman was there accepting the award for Best Film Actress. She glided into the ceremony like an other-worldly being: tall, pale and arrestingly beautiful in a pink brocaded Erdem dress that on anyone else would have looked like a pair of curtains from a shabby country house hotel. But I mostly remember that evening not for what Kidman was wearing, but for what she said when she took to the stage. She said that her forty-ninth year had been the best of her life so far, and that, ‘I want to tell all the women out there – it is not over at forty. It begins. And it even begins more at fifty.’

Lonely Planet Ireland
by Lonely Planet

The start is hard to find, at the back of a small industrial estate on the far side of the tracks from Rathdrum train station, but thereafter it's a pleasant woodland walk along the banks of the River Avonmore, passing beneath two impressive railway viaducts. 4Sleeping & Eating Brook Lodge & Wells SpaHOTEL€€ ( GOOGLE MAP ; %0402-36444; www.brooklodge.com; Macreddin; r/ste from €130/210; pW)S This luxurious country-house hotel has 86 beautifully appointed rooms ranging from standard bedrooms with sleigh beds and deep baths to mezzanine suites that wouldn't seem out of place in a New York penthouse. The accommodation is pure luxury, and the other big selling point is the sumptuous Wells Spa (treatments from €40). It's 3km west of Rathdrum.

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Lismore Cycling HolidaysCYCLING (%087 935 6610; www.cyclingholidays.ie; rental per day €18; c) This outfit will deliver rental bikes to your accommodation, and can arrange cycling tours based around Lismore. 4Sleeping & Eating Ballyrafter Country House HotelHOTEL$$ ( GOOGLE MAP ; %058-54002; http://ballyrafterhouse.com; Ballyrafter; s/d from €90/110; p) Built for the Duke of Devonshire in the early 19th century, this gorgeous country-house hotel sits just across the river from Lismore, with grand views over the river and the castle (just 10 minutes' walk away). Traditionally furnished rooms offer pampering without pretension, and the owners can arrange salmon fishing on the nearby River Blackwater. oLismore Farmers MarketMARKET$ ( GOOGLE MAP ; www.facebook.com/LismoreMarket; Castle Ave; h11am-4pm Sun Apr-Sep)S The upmarket surrounds on the approach to the castle attract a fab collection of vendors to this market, with stalls selling artisan food and local arts and crafts.

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Exhibits and tours (run between 10am and 4pm) explain the process of taking barley and creating whiskey (Jameson is today made in a modern factory in Cork). There's a well-stocked gift shop, and the Malt House Restaurant (open noon to 3pm) has live music on Sundays. 4Sleeping There are some good places to stay in town, but most visitors overnight in Cork city or head for one of the lovely country-house hotels in the nearby countryside. An Stór Midleton TownhouseB&B€ ( GOOGLE MAP ; %021-463 3106; http://anstor.ie; Drury's Lane; s/d/f from €50/65/100; pW) Housed in a former wool store, this place straddles the boundary between upmarket hostel and budget guesthouse, offering competitively priced accommodation in bright, recently redecorated rooms.

Lonely Planet Wales (Travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet
Published 17 Apr 2017

Around Tenby St Lawrence Country GuesthouseB&B££ ( GOOGLE MAP ; %01834-849727; www.stlawrencecountryguesthouse.co.uk; Gumfreston; r from £96; pW) Set in seven hectares of gardens, pasture and woodland, this tranquil B&B offers five comfortable rooms and wonderful sea views. It's located 1.5 miles west of Tenby, off the B4318. Make sure you check out the ancient church and holy well right next door. Penally AbbeyHOTEL£££ ( GOOGLE MAP ; %01834-843033; www.penally-abbey.com; Penally; r from £145; pW#) Set on a hillside overlooking Carmarthen Bay, this country-house hotel is built on the site of an ancient monastery in the village of Penally, 2 miles southwest of Tenby along the A4139. The 11 bright and comfortable rooms are spread between the main house and the neighbouring coach house, and there's an impressive restaurant attached. 5Eating & Drinking MooringCAFE££ ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %01834-842502; www.themooringtenby.com; 15 High St; mains breakfast £3.50-6.50, lunch £6.50-9.25, dinner £13-19; h8.30am-9pm; W#) Although it's anchored to the High St, this fresh, modern eatery drifts breezily from a daytime cafe serving comfort food (cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, bangers and mash, mac cheese) into a sophisticated bistro after dark.

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The larger rooms have spa baths. Expect hearty breakfasts and charming Welsh hospitality. oGroveHOTEL£££ (%01834-860915; www.thegrove-narberth.co.uk; Molleston; r from £189, 3-course lunch/dinner £29/59; hrestaurant noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm; pW)S A truly magical place to stay, this luxurious country house hotel is secluded south of Narberth, surrounded by manicured lawns, mature trees and wildflower meadows. The sumptuous rooms blend period character with contemporary style, while the renowned restaurant is Pembrokeshire's finest, serving a creative menu of modern Welsh cuisine. 5Eating Narberth's town centre offers an excellent array of eateries, and nearby hotel Grove houses our favourite Pembrokeshire restaurant.

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The term 'hotel' is used with abandon in Wales and may refer to anything from a pub to a castle. In general, hotels tend to have a reception desk, room service and other extras such as a licensed bar. The very best hotels are magnificent places, often with restaurants to match. In rural areas you'll find country-house hotels set in vast grounds, and castles complete with crenellated battlements, grand staircases, oak panelling and the obligatory rows of stags' heads. A new breed of boutique hotel has emerged, offering individually styled designer rooms, club-like bars, quality restaurants and a range of spa treatments.

Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party
by Alexander McCall Smith
Published 4 Aug 2014

Her suggestion seemed to make a situation of dire discomfort quite bearable, and with a renewed sense that the trip could work out well, Fatty accompanied his wife to their hired car and set off on the relatively short journey to their destination. The weather still held, and his spirits rose as they left the airport and drove off along the winding road to Balinderry, on the southern side of Lough Derg. They had booked themselves into Mountpenny House, a country house hotel that Fatty had read about in a guide to the fine Irish hotels. “On the shores of Lough Derg,” the guide had enthused, “within yards of the lapping waters of this great, Shannon-fed lake, stands an oasis of tranquillity in a timeless countryside. Once a shooting lodge, its great rooms still echo to the sound of a thousand long-lost conversations over a log fire.

Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition)
by Fionn Davenport
Published 15 Jan 2010

Squigl Restaurant & Roche’s Bar ( 051-389 188; Quay Rd, Duncannon; bar food €6.50-14.50, restaurant mains €19.50-23.50; bar food 10.30am-10pm, restaurant dinner Wed-Sat Feb-Easter, Tue-Sun Easter-Dec) Local produce is the mainstay of Squigl, where dishes range from honey-glazed ham to spring lamb (bookings essential). The same kitchen serves Roche’s Bar next door, which is adorned with vintage advertising posters and seamen’s knots. Trad sessions take place on Friday, Saturday and, during summer, midweek. Dunbrody Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Cookery School ( 051-389 600; www.dunbrodyhouse.com; Arthurstown; 2-/3-course restaurant meal €52/65, tasting menu with paired wines €80; ) Chef Kevin Dundon is a familiar face on Irish TV, and the author of cookbooks Full On Irish and Great Family Food. His spa hotel (single/double room from €145/240), in a period-decorated 1830s Georgian manor on 300-acre grounds, is the stuff of foodies’ fantasies, with a gourmet restaurant and cookery school (1-/2-day courses €175/320 excluding accommodation).

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Sleepzone ( 065-707 7168; www.sleepzone.ie; Doolin Rd; dm €15-20, s/d €35/50; ) Housed in a formerly posh hotel, this 124-bed hostel has an unusual grace. The grounds reflect its past and there are all the usual facilities and free continental breakfasts. The hostel is on a private bus route from Galway; ask the staff for details. Sheedy’s Country House Hotel & Restaurant ( 065-707 4026; www.sheedys.com; Sulphur Hill; s/d from €120/180; mid-Mar–Sep) Take a leek from the kitchen garden – that’s just one of the playful bits of fun you can have at this posh yet relaxed 11-room guesthouse just outside of town. A long porch has comfy chairs for pondering the many gardens or just taking a snooze.

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In a nod to the building’s origins, there’s a handful of 1800s-styled guest rooms with cedar bathtubs, but most have cutting-edge fit-outs (floor-to-ceiling windows, arctic-white moulded furniture). At the water’s edge, the vault where boats once unloaded their catch now houses a sleek bar and restaurant, Pier (right). Upstairs five spa treatment rooms are, somewhat disconcertingly, named after wrecked ships. Mount Falcon Country House Hotel ( 096-74472; www.mountfalcon.com; Foxford Rd; d €180-240, 3- to 4-bedroom self-contained chalets per night €400-500; ) Hidden within 40 hectares between Lough Conn and the River Moy, 5km south of Ballina, this gorgeous 1870s mansion was seamlessly extended a couple of years ago. Rooms in the new wing have forest-inspired colour schemes that appear to morph into the surrounding woodlands, while those in the old house retain some astonishing period features, as does the restaurant (dinner is €49), set in the mansion’s original kitchen.

Lonely Planet Scotland
by Lonely Planet

It's very close to the Mabie Farm Park (%01387-259666; www.mabiefarmpark.co.uk; Burnside Farm, Mabie; adult/child/family £8/7.50/30; h10am-5pm Apr-Oct, plus weekends Mar; c), which is handy if you've got kids of different ages. Mabie House HotelHOTEL££ (%01387-263188; www.mabiehousehotel.co.uk; d £90-120, ste £170; pW#) Four miles north of New Abbey, this welcoming country-house hotel is a great base, especially for families, as the farm park and mountain-biking trails are on the doorstep. Rooms are stylish and luxurious, offering excellent comfort at fair prices. In the garden are cosy mini-huts sleeping four (£40), which are a good budget option for bikers or youngsters seeking some independence.

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The house is lovely too, a spacious Victorian villa with home-away-from-home bedrooms and a sunny conservatory where breakfast is served. Boath House HotelHOTEL£££ (%01667-454896; www.boath-house.com; Auldearn; s/d from £190/295; pW) This beautifully restored Regency mansion, set in private woodland gardens 2 miles east of Nairn on the A96, is one of Scotland’s most luxurious country-house hotels, and includes a spa offering holistic treatments and a Michelin-starred restaurant (three-/six-course dinner £45/70). ClassroomGASTROPUB££ (%01667-455999; www.theclassroombistro.com; 1 Cawdor St; mains £14-27; hnoon-4.30pm & 5-10pm)S Done up in an appealing mixture of modern and traditional styles – lots of richly glowing wood with designer detailing – the Classroom doubles as cocktail bar and gastropub, with a tempting menu that ranges from Cullen skink (soup made with smoked haddock, potato, onion and milk) to Highland steak with peppercorn sauce. 8Information Tourist information point (%01667-453476; Nairn Community Centre, King St; h9am-5pm) 8Getting There & Away Buses run hourly (less frequently on Sunday) from Inverness to Nairn (£5.60, 30 minutes) and on to Aberdeen.

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You've got to be a HI member to stay, but nonmembers can pay a £3 supplement per night that goes towards the annual membership fee. Prices vary according to the month, but average around £18 to £25 per adult in high season. Most SYHA hostels close from around mid-October to early March, but can be rented out by groups. Hotels There are some wonderfully luxurious places, including elegant country-house hotels in fabulous settings, and castles complete with crenellated battlements, grand staircases and the obligatory rows of stag heads. Expect all the perks at these places, often including a gym, a sauna, a pool and first-class service. Even if you're on a budget, it's worth splashing out for a night at one of the classic Highland hotels.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing: Life, Death and the Thrill of the Catch
by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse
Published 29 May 2019

Then I’ll walk through to the bathroom to see if it’s got a bath, because I’m not a shower person. So it’s got a bath – ‘Yes!’ And then I might lie on the bed and see how irritating the groaning sound that comes from the air con is. And then that’s fine by me. I don’t need anything grand. When we’re on tour, Jim and I, you always get asked if you want to stay in these fashionable country house hotels. But we always stayed in the Holiday Inn. They’ve got good tellies – I think with a bit of Sky as well – and a bath. I don’t like the hotels where there’s no bar. An honesty bar, that’s sort of shit. I don’t like people coming over when I’m having my breakfast to ask if I’m enjoying it. If you asked me what the perfect place to stay would be, Paul and I would stay at the Greyhound in Stockbridge.

Amazing Train Journeys
by Lonely Planet
Published 30 Sep 2018

However there is little point in doing so: the train is seldom full and you can buy a ticket at the station just prior to departure. Ticket prices also remain the same whether purchased in advance or on the day. If you live in one of the regions the route runs through, consider purchasing the HoWL Card that offers up to a third off journey fares. LW Break the trip at a Mid-Wales country retreat such as Lake Country House Hotel and Spa by Llangammarch Wells. Check out gloriously situated Church Stretton, at the foot of the Shropshire Hills. Wander the medieval streets and ‘shuts’ (passageways) of Shrewsbury, at journey’s end. Llangammarch Builth Road Church Stretton Shrewsbury Munich to Venice on the Brenner Railway GERMANY, AUSTRIA, ITALY The Brenner Railway is attractive for two key reasons: mountains and wine.

Wanderland
by Jini Reddy
Published 29 Apr 2020

Walking out my shame at having absolutely nothing to tether myself to – no job, no partner, no home of my own, no father or sister – was becoming a habit. On my walks to the Common, I’d pass the tall iron gates to Cannizaro Park and one day decided to take a look. The park was hidden behind a stately country house hotel and was more of a landscaped garden with woods and extraordinary trees – the kind of park you felt you couldn’t just turn up at in your slobby, holey leggings. At the bottom was a winding path where in season the rhododendrons flourished and the towering redwoods, birches, maples and horse chestnut trees arched or twisted and generally invited you in in defiance of the human code of formality the surroundings seemed to dictate.

Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery
by Henry Marsh
Published 3 May 2017

It was not my fault that we were bringing patients into the hospital in such a hurry that they were not being properly assessed. I thought of the army of managers who ran the hospital, and their political masters, who were no less responsible than I was, who would all be sleeping comfortably in their beds tonight, perhaps dreaming of government targets and away-days in country house hotels, and who rarely, if ever, had to talk to patients or their relatives. Why should I have to shoulder the responsibility for the whole damn hospital like this, when I had so little say in how the hospital was run? Why should I have to apologize? Was it my fault that the ship was sinking? But I kept these thoughts to myself, and told them how utterly sorry I was that she was going to die and that I had failed to save her.

Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery
by Henry Marsh
Published 13 Mar 2014

I drove home torn between impotent rage and gratitude. 4 MELODRAMA n. a sensational, dramatic piece with crude appeals to the emotions and usu. a happy ending. I was recently asked to talk to the script-writing team for the TV medical drama Holby City. I took the train from Wimbledon to Boreham Wood at the opposite end of London and went to the well-appointed country house hotel where they were meeting. There were at least twenty people sitting round a long table. They were thinking of adding a neurosurgical ward, they told me, to the fictional Holby City General Hospital, and wanted me to talk to them about neurosurgery. I talked for almost an hour without stopping, something I don’t find very difficult to do, but I probably concentrated too much on the grim and tragic aspects of my work.

Invention: A Life
by James Dyson
Published 6 Sep 2021

Following this, we became good friends, with me chairing his Design Museum and having a joint furniture company. We ended up building a good relationship with John Lewis. One of the things I learned was that we needed to talk to its partners, to explain why and how we were offering something different from existing vacuum cleaners. I went to their headquarters and country house hotel and conference center at Odney in Berkshire. The Sebo story aside, John Lewis understood good design and knew what their customers would buy. But it took nearly two years to get our vacuum cleaners into mass-market Comet, Argos, and Currys warehouses. For a long time, their buyers wouldn’t speak to us, wouldn’t answer the phone.

Strange Sally Diamond: A BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick
by Liz Nugent
Published 2 Mar 2023

I know. I’m dealing with that side of things. Mark, I need to see you. I feel hurt and confused and angry.’ ‘I’m afraid of your anger.’ ‘Me too. Please come back and let’s talk.’ He took a lot of persuading and was reluctant to come to the village, so I arranged to meet him in Farnley Manor, a country house hotel outside Roscommon town, at the weekend. Farnley Manor was a beautiful converted castle on the banks of the Shannon. The first thing I noticed when I entered the impressive marble lobby was an unattended grand piano among the plush champagne-coloured sofas. Mark stood up from one of the sofas and waved towards me.

Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain From the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times
by Lucy Lethbridge
Published 18 Nov 2013

Tapton House in Chesterfield, the childhood home of Violet Markham, is now part of Chesterfield College, with an ‘innovation centre’ in its grounds, where clients can partake of ‘executive stress services’ including simulated golf and Indian head massage. In 1985 the former Astor home, Cliveden, became a luxury country house hotel, leased by an international hotel chain from the National Trust. The market for private career domestics is small but lucrative, catered for by a series of specialist employment agencies who offer an updated version of the services of their Edwardian counterparts. ‘Greycoat Placements’, a domestic recruitment agency, occupies a few slightly shabby rooms in Victoria, London, overlooking the railway station.

Tender: A Cook and His Vegetable Patch
by Nigel Slater
Published 14 Sep 2009

They were backroom boys (to my eyes, carrots are unquestionably male), there to provide a balance for the piquant, gherkin-flecked sauce that accompanied paupiettes of veal, or in heroic chunks in a casserole of young lamb with needles of rosemary and curls of orange peel. But they were never stars. I arrived at a Lake District hotel one spring, one of a ring of country-house hotels that had sprung up around the lakes in the 1980s. Daffodils shone through the rough grass that led down to the lake and I was taught to make pastry by the open window, so I could smell the green prickle of spring as I rubbed the butter into the flour. (Despite the obvious preciousness, this was the point at which I discovered that cooking can be so much more than just a way to make a living.)

Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
by Alan Rusbridger
Published 14 Oct 2018

We were woefully ignorant of how those of our readers who were now online were consuming the news. We did gradually come to understand that the new world was one of information promiscuity: readers who had been loyal to one newspaper all their lives could now browse and graze to their hearts’ content. In the summer of 1997 the Guardian editorial executives had descended on a country-house hotel for an annual awayday. Katz had presented on our progress so far and showed the NYT website, which at the time had an Associated Press (AP) wire on the front page. Research showed, to general dismay, that the AP feed was the most-read thing on the website. We were just learning the new buzz phrase ‘commodity news’ – news available to everyone and therefore not distinctive and (in commercial terms) not valuable.

Politics on the Edge: The Instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller From the Host of Hit Podcast the Rest Is Politics
by Rory Stewart
Published 13 Sep 2023

A dining table more than thirty feet long, laid with green baize, ran the length of the room, lined with thirty red leather chairs. The walls were a pale yellow, and mostly bare. Two glass bookcases on my right held almanacs and registers. There were a couple of small old-fashioned clocks. It looked like the dining room of a 1970s country house hotel. David Cameron sat at one end of the table, facing the door, with his chief of staff beside him. ‘Hello Rory,’ he said. ‘I understand you want a chance to do something different.’ He sounded a little distracted. ‘I would like you to be’, he said, glancing down, ‘the parliamentary undersecretary in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, dealing … with issues like … farming.’

Inside British Intelligence
by Gordon Thomas

Rimington had told her department chiefs the days were over when they could behave as “barons each representing their own fiefdoms.” She wanted a collegial approach to how the Security Service worked, and she wanted them to call in experts from the business community and other organizations beyond Whitehall so MI5 would not be “cut off from the outside world.” She organized weekends in country house hotels to discuss her latest changes and, after a communal dinner, led them in songs around the piano. The gatherings, known as “swots”—discussing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats—became a feature of her tenure, and from them emerged the idea of producing a booklet about MI5 that had more than the hint of a glossy pamphlet for an annual meeting of company stockholders.

The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka
by Rough Guides
Published 21 Sep 2018

Spa-resort in a lovely setting between the sea and Negombo lagoon around 7km southwest of Negombo town, with low-slung, white-painted, red-roofed buildings arranged around an immensely long pool. Rooms are well equipped and come with sweeping lagoon views – and there’s a good watersports centre in house if you want to get out on the wet stuff yourself. $160 The Wallawwa Kotugoda, a 15min drive from the airport 077 363 8381, thewallawwa.com. Stylish “country house” hotel in a converted old walauwa (manor house). The elegantly designed rooms come with rain showers, four-poster beds and widescreen TVs, and there’s also a spa, top-quality restaurant and picture-perfect pool – all at a surprisingly affordable price.$160 Eating Negombo has one of Sri Lanka’s better selections of places to eat – although, disappointingly, most are strung out along the main road, rather than on the beach itself.

The Rough Guide to Wales
by Rough Guides
Published 24 Mar 2010

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Lonely Planet Turkey (Travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet , James Bainbridge , Brett Atkinson , Steve Fallon , Jessica Lee , Virginia Maxwell , Hugh McNaughtan and John Noble
Published 31 Jan 2017

There's everything from a yurt to textiles, with strange exhibits on Shamanistic culture around the world also thrown into the mix. To get here from the coastal highway, follow the brown signpost and head 2.5km north into the hills. 4Sleeping & Eating The villages of Adatepe and Yeşilyurt are full of country-house hotels, and there are also a few in the village of Çamlıbel. There are plenty of simple eateries on and behind the seafront in Akçay and also on Süleyman Sakallı Caddesi, Küçükkuyu's main market and shopping street. oZeytin BağıAEGEAN$$$ (%0266-387 3761; www.zeytinbagi.com; Çamlıbel; starters ₺12-25, mains ₺20-45, s/d/f ₺200/270/350; h8am-midnight) Owner/chef Erhan Şeker is rightly proud of his hybrid restaurant, hotel and cookery school overlooking the Bay of Edremit, and he loves to introduce guests from around the globe to the joys of local Aegean produce.

Lonely Planet Turkey
by Lonely Planet

There’s everything from a yurt to textiles, with strange exhibits on Shamanistic culture around the world also thrown into the mix. To get here from the coastal highway, follow the brown signpost and head 2.5km north into the hills. 4Sleeping & Eating The villages of Adatepe and Yeşilyurt are full of country-house hotels; there are also a few in the village of Çamlıbel. Hünnap HanBOUTIQUE HOTEL$$$ (%0286-752 6581; www.hunnaphan.com; Adatepe; d/tr ₺500/7400, ste ₺800; paWs) Named after the 200-year-old hünnap (jujube) tree in its garden, this group of three restored stone houses in the village of Adatepe offers 22 rooms, mountain and sea views, a restaurant and an attractive pool area.

1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die, Updated Ed.
by Patricia Schultz
Published 13 May 2007

The Algonquin’s seaside golf course was redesigned in 2000 and now ranks among Canada’s finest, while its spa features indulgent beauty treatments and fitness facilities. If you’d prefer more intimate lodging, Kingsbrae Arms was built in 1897 as a “cottage-style” manor house and later converted into a sumptuous country house hotel. All ten rooms and suites are decorated with infallible good taste and unending attention to detail, with fireplaces and lovely balcony views of the bay or the neighboring Kingsbrae Garden (one lucky room sees both). The resident owners are lovely, service is regal, and the dining, while casual, is world-class.

Lonely Planet China (Travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet and Shawn Low
Published 1 Apr 2015

If you come off-season (eg early spring) you can expect good rates, but be warned that many hotels either shut up shop or close for renovation over the winter. oLe Passage Mohkan ShanHOTEL (Moganshanli Faguoshanju %0572 805 2958; www.lepassagemoganshan.com; Xianrenkeng Tea Plantation, Ziling Village, d/tr/q ¥4800/5800/6800; nWs)S Le Passage is a lovely and kid-friendly 38-room country-house hotel ensconced within a Moganshan tea plantation. Rooms and bathrooms are big on period charm, with high ceilings. Rates are cheaper per night for a two-evening stay. Pick-up service from Shanghai (¥1300) and Hangzhou (¥500) provided. There’s a wine cellar, of course. Moganshan House 23HOTEL (Moganshan Hangliao 23 Hao %0572 803 3822; www.moganshanhouse23.com; 23 Moganshan; d & tw weekday/weekend ¥900/1200; iW) This restored villa bursts with period charm, from art deco–style sinks black-and-white tiled bathroom floors, wooden floorboards and the original staircase to a lovely English kitchen.

The Rough Guide to France (Travel Guide eBook)
by Rough Guides
Published 1 Aug 2019

Clécy tourist office Place du Tripot, behind the church (second half of April Tues–Sat 10am–12.30pm & 2.30–5pm; May, June & Sept Tues–Sat 10am–12.30pm & 2–6pm, Sun 10am–12.30pm; July & Aug also open Mon; 02 31 69 79 95, suisse-normande-tourisme.com). ACCOMMODATION AND EATING Thury-Harcourt Relais de la Poste 7 rue de Caen 02 31 79 72 12, hotel-relaisdelaposte.com. Elegant old country-house hotel, holding a dozen rooms of all shapes and sizes, plus an opulent restaurant (closed Sun eve and all Mon) that’s perfect at the end of a long day. Dinner menus start at €32. €65 clÉcy Au Site Normand 2 rue des Châtelets 02 31 69 71 05, hotel-clecy.com. Village hotel, facing the church, with pleasant, comfortable rooms in a modern annexe, and a stylish modern dining room in the main timber-framed building, serving good menus from €36 (restaurant closed Sun & Mon).