HISTORIC HOTELS Castle Is One of the Few Remaining Intact Norman Keeps in Britain
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TRAVEL APPLEBY CASTLE Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria Grade II-listed Harking back to Roman times, when of the best a fort existed on the site to protect the 10 crossing over the River Eden, Appleby HISTORIC HOTELS Castle is one of the few remaining intact Norman keeps in Britain. Close to the The British countryside is home to a rich variety of LANSDOWN GROVE Pennines, it has been held by various COUNTRY LIVING HOTEL kings of Scotland and England, which wonderful Grade-listed buildings, so take a weekend Bath, North Somerset guests can learn more about on the daily Grade II-listed tour. Many of the castle rooms feature to stay in one and immerse yourself in the past Behind the Regency façade and oak four-posters and, in the north-east WORDS BY KATE WOODCOCK wrought-iron balconies of this building tower, views from the State Bedroom – one of the oldest in the city – lie high- reach to the river itself – now a peaceful ceilinged interiors that combine country haven for kingfishers and wild swans. style with modern luxury. Overlooking Double room from £100 the honey-coloured Regency city, it is ·(applebycastle.co.uk). ideal for exploring its many heritage delights, such as Bath Abbey and the well-preserved Roman Baths. To discover the area’s natural history, venture out to the Mendip hills of Somerset, just a short drive away. Double B&B from £150 · (countrylivinghotels.com). STONE HOUSE HOTEL Wensleydale, North Yorkshire LITTLECOTE Grade II-listed Situated in the midst of the verdant HOUSE Yorkshire Dales, this Edwardian country BODYSGALLEN Hungerford, Berkshire house has been family-run for more Grade I-listed than 30 years. During your stay, you HALL It was at Littlecote that Henry VIII can enjoy an award-winning breakfast Conwy, Conwy wooed Jane Seymour – secret passages made with a tempting selection of local Grade I-listed still run behind Tudor bookcases, BALLYMALOE ingredients, including Hammond’s Beginning life as a watchtower for Conwy Castle, and one of England’s last remaining of Bainbridge Cumberland sausages, Bodysgallen Hall, which dates back to the 13th century, Cromwellian chapels can be found Shanagarry, County Cork produce for its famed restaurant. Wensleydale free-range eggs and Carrick’s retains impressive period features, including a stone there. Some rooms feature original Listed as a historic building Strap a picnic hamper – fresh from smoked kippers. Keen to promote fireplace with coat of arms and beautiful stained- fireplaces and wooden beams. With menus written according to the the kitchen – to one of the hotel’s environmental care, Stone House Hotel glass windows. Bedrooms are decorated with antique Surrounding the Elizabethan property, season, a love of the land and good bicycles and set off down winding also offers a variety of green initiatives, furniture and overlook one of the finest Arts and historic parkland includes tennis courts food is at the heart of Ballymaloe. Built lanes; or trek along the clifftops to such as electric bike hire, so you can whizz Crafts gardens in Wales. You will find the spa with and a walled garden, but be sure to visit onto an 11th-century Norman castle, the picturesque fishing village of off to explore one of many picturesque pool and sun terrace inside a nearby farm building. Littlecote Roman Villa – home to a the farm has been home to the Allen Ballycotton. Upon returning, fine locations nearby such as Hardraw Force The restaurant, meanwhile, has been awarded three mosaic that dates back to the 2nd century. family since the late Myrtle Allen dining awaits in the orangery, after waterfall or the Pennine Way footpath. AA rosettes for 15 consecutive years. · Double dinner, B&B from £93.50 per bought the house in 1948 – and the which a little Irish folk music may · Double B&B from £145 per person · Double B&B from £190 (bodysgallen.com). person (warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/ property’s walled garden and farm follow in one of the sitting rooms. (stonehousehotel.co.uk). littlecote-house-hotel). continue to provide much of the ·Double B&B from €215 (ballymaloe.ie). 94 FEBRUARY 2019 countryliving.com/uk countryliving.com/uk FEBRUARY 2019 95 TRAVEL ROCH CASTLE Roch, Pembrokeshire Grade I-listed With superb views of St Brides Bay and the Preseli Hills, Roch Castle is the perfect location from which to explore Pembrokeshire. Built in 1195, this ancient monument has been frequented BARCALDINE by conquerors and courtesans, as well CASTLE as being a Royalist stronghold in the Oban, Argyll Civil War. It now offers six en-suite Grade I-listed rooms, decorated in a minimalist Argyll’s only ancient castle, Barcaldine, style, and breakfast includes regional offers arresting views over Loch Creran, specialities such as Welsh laverbread beneath the snow-capped mountains of and locally made honey. Just two miles Glencoe. Built in 1609, the ‘Black Castle’ away is the blue-flag Newgale Beach. exists in a remote landscape where St Davids, Britain’s smallest city, is herds of wild deer can be seen grazing also close at hand – between April and undisturbed along the shores of the August, make sure you take a boat over loch. Inside the castle’s stone walls, to see the puffins on Skomer Island. open fireplaces and four-poster beds Double B&B from £200 (rochcastle.com). create a sense of warmth and luxury, · and, during a guided tour, keep an eye out for the ghost of Donald Campbell, Laird of Barcaldine, who is believed to haunt the Caithness Room. Double B&B from £200 · (barcaldinecastle.co.uk). THE MONTAGU ARMS Bealieu, Hampshire Grade II-listed Named by Cistercian monks in 1204, ‘beautiful place’ is an apt name for this idyllic village in the heart of the New Forest. There’s been an inn on the site since the 16th century, but the Arts and HOTEL ENDSLEIGH Crafts-style building you see today was Near Tavistock, Devon contemporary country style – overlook completed in 1888. Fresh eggs, laid by the Grade I-listed the 200-year-old gardens and River Tamar. resident hens, are served for breakfast, The only sounds to be heard at the Discover the arboretum and glasshouse and the impressive kitchen garden provides late-Regency Hotel Endsleigh (owned with head gardener Ben or join the resident ingredients for the locally inspired menu. by mother-and-daughter hoteliers Olga ghillie for fly and salmon fishing. Back During your stay, look out for ponies on and Alex Polizzi) are the calls of birds inside, just-baked scones are served the wild heathland. Also, the world-class and the nightime clicks of bats. On the daily in the wood-panelled drawing room. Exbury Gardens are a short drive away. edge of Dartmoor, amid 100 acres of Double B&B from £250 Double B&B from £189 per night woodland, the 18 bedrooms – in a ·(hotelendsleigh.com). ·(montaguarmshotel.co.uk). PRESS TO GOING OF TIME AT CORRECT DETAILS AND PRICES 96 FEBRUARY 2019 countryliving.com/uk.