Page 69 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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GREA T BRI T AI N 69 9

to be sure of getting a room. hotels offering good food –
Glasgow and Edinburgh are often with fresh local produce
obvious centres for their art on the menu.
galleries and architecture Some hotels in this chapter
(and assured townhouse are Wolsey Lodges – neither
hotels), as well as the annual hotels, nor just guesthouses.
Edinburgh Festival (and A stay at a Wolsey Lodge is
associated Fringe) in August. like being at a private house
The Highlands and Islands party – except that the host
offer some of the most remote presents you with a bill at
and peaceful places to stay the end of your stay.
in Britain, one such being
Scarista House on the Isle of HIGHLIGHTS
Harris (page 115), whose
solitary, windswept exterior OTELS ILLUSTRATED on these
does not prepare you for the Hintroductory pages are by
West Usk Lighthouse, page 119 warm welcome and relaxed no means our only highlights.
atmosphere within. Others include: Tresanton at
of Suffolk and Norfolk also St Mawes in Cornwall (page
offer some special places to Wales 90) for marrying
stay, the latter including a The walking is superb in the sophistication with sea-side
B&B in a windmill at Cley- Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia fun; The Old Rectory at
next-the-Sea (page 95). and along Offa’s Dyke. The Cricket Malherbie (page 82)
Pembrokeshire coastline, for its calm atmosphere and
Northern England with its crumbling medieval charming setting; and
Newcastle is home to one of castles, and seaside resorts Hambleton Hall (page 96), for
the Malmaison chain (page such as Tenby and St David’s offering stylish pampering in
107) – the only hotel chain is well worth a detour. a secluded location on
included in this section – Potential overnight stops Rutland Water, near Oakham
which is noted for its include many family-run in the Midlands. In London,
somewhat unconventional
ambience and affordable
prices. In the northwest, the
Lake District is packed out
with tourists in summer, but
it is easy enough to escape
the crowds if you like hill
walking or if you visit in
autumn when the weather
can be clear and warm.
There are many B&Bs which
don’t mind muddy walking
boots, and some special
country house hotels too,
including Old Church at
Watermillock on the edge of
Ullswater (page 108). Other
famous areas of outstanding
beauty in the north include
the Yorkshire Dales and the
Peak District. Nearby are
country hotels such as
Amerdale House at Arncliffe
(page 103), and small hotels
with character, among them
a former cotton mill.
Scotland
Country hotels in Scotland
are memorable for location,
character and food: many
occupy imposing positions
on peaceful lochs, and
employ chefs who make full
use of the local specialities
such as seafood and game,
and have a loyal clientele
who rearrange their itinerary Wykeham Arms at Winchester, page 92, the archetypal pub-with-character