I'M DREAMING OF THE RIGHT CHRISTMAS.
THE IZAAK WALTON
TRANQUILITY IN A HIDDEN CORNER OF ENGLAND
Sometimes it’s wonderful to find somewhere that’s a bit off the beaten track, but not too remote. The Izaak Walton hotel in the foothills of the Peak District is the perfect illustration of the genre. Two hundred yards off a minor road and just at the entrance to Dovedale, this discreet hotel is only an hour away from the Midlands, Manchester or Sheffield. Izaak Walton, if you were wondering, was a seventeenth century writer whose best-known work is the Compleat Angler. With 35 rooms, each furnished individually and traditionally, the Izaak Walton offers very comfortable accommodation, and outstanding food in its Haddon Restaurant. Footpaths lead in all directions from the hotel and (provided you remembered to bring your walking boots) you can enjoy lovely countryside, which has changed little since Walton’s day. At Christmas time the area will be very quiet and unlike some of Britain’s better-known beauty spots, you will encounter few other people once you have set off. If the weather doesn’t encourage walking, Haddon Hall, south of Bakewell, is one place that’s not to be missed. To book or find out more click here or call 01335 350555 Christmas: minimum stay 3 nights, half board from £455pp
THE NEW WHITE LION
A GREAT ESCAPE IN THE QUIET HILLS OF WEST WALES
Llandovery in Camarthenshire is an attractive market town and the gateway to Pembrokeshire. A place where you can wind-down and re-invigorate the batteries in the great Welsh outdoors – or stay indoors and simply soak up the comfortable, homely surroundings of The New White Lion.
Built in 1838, this Grade II listed house has been painstakingly and lovingly restored by Gerald and Sylvia Pritchard, who have created a family hotel that provides comfort, natural friendliness, homemade food and local historical insight – all in equal measure. The design of each of the six bedrooms is connected with local characters and Welsh folklore legends – creating unique rooms, which make your stay feel particularly special, while enhancing your appreciation of the local area itself. It makes too for stylish accommodation, which is modestly luxurious. The rooms are all named rather than numbered, which is a challenge for non-Welsh speakers. Nevertheless, you should try to reserve the Physicians of Myddfai (which has a corner bath) or the smaller Twn Sion Catti, named after the Welsh Robin Hood. The Towy valley has the same beauty as much of central Wales, remote but gentle and unthreatening landscapes with plenty of variety to reward even a short walk. To book or find out more click here or call 01550 720685
Christmas: minimum stay 3 nights, full board from £415pp