Wales might look dinky on the map, but once you throw yourself in at the single-track lane deep end, it’s vast. Tucked into the folds of its moors, sheep-bobbled valleys and mountains are some of Britain’s most charismatic sleeps.
Whether it’s to be a lavish Georgian manor that’s stage-ready for a bodice-ripping period drama, a swankily converted Norman castle, or a B&B with a view of the surf-smashed coast, these are hotels worth driving hours through the drizzle to reach.
Of course there’s plenty to see on your Wales stay too. Hike the heights of Snowdonia National Park or the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), explore Cardiff – the country’s cultural hub and capital – as well as the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. And, this being Wales, you’ll often pay only a fraction of what you would on the other side of the Severn Bridge for your accommodation, so there’s no excuse not to really make the most of your visit.
Neighbourhood: Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Hear the sounds of Fishguard’s harbour right outside your window
(Manor Town House)
It bills itself as a B&B by the sea but, trust us, the Manor Town House is so much more. This Grade II-listed, pale-blue town house is an immediate attention-grabber in Fishguard, which combines sleepy harbour life with the buzz of a proper port (ferries chug over to Rosslare in Ireland from here).
Decked out in breezy whites and blues and sprinkled with Victorian walnut furnishings and Welsh fabrics, the rooms reveal the interior-design background of the lovely owners, Helen and Chris Sheldon. The superior sea-view rooms are the dream, with window seats for watching storms and sunsets over Cardigan Bay.
But the welcome clinches it: whether you want a Pembrokeshire-style afternoon tea on the garden terrace, or tips on hiking the coast path, your hosts oblige. And forget the bog-standard fry-up in the morning. Helen is a breakfast genius, rustling up treats like star-anise-scented plum pots with local yoghurt and granola, and toasted sourdough with whipped ricotta and roast thyme-scented peaches.
Price: Doubles from £125
Neighbourhood: Llandderfel, Gwynedd
This is the destination to splash out for the weekend
(Palé Hall)
There are almost as many grand country piles in Wales as there are sheep, but Palé Hall is fantasy stuff. The drive here is the drumroll, swerving past the…
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