What an intriguing hotel this is. Take its location for starters: it clings to the edge of steep cliffs, affording fine views of not just Ponta do Sol, a tiny village sitting within a deep ravine on the island’s south coast, but along the rugged coastline as well; then, of course, there are the breathtaking [...]
After staying at English Lakes’ sister hotel, Low Wood Bay, an incredibly child-friendly place just up the road, Waterhead had a lot to live up to, I thought, as I arrived with my wife and two kids, aged five and eleven. Just a short stroll from Ambleside, my favourite town in the Lake District, the [...]
Over the years, I’ve visited countless hotels and inns and it’s a real pleasure to discover somewhere which scores top marks on all fronts. Well, I found one of those rarities in the shape of The Plough Inn at Lupton, situated on the A65 between the small market town of Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal. It’s [...]
The Coniston Hotel and Country Estate sits amid 1,400 acres of luscious Yorkshire countryside. Privately owned by the Bannister family, the centrepiece of its rural setting is the 24-acre lake, which can be seen from most of the hotel’s 70-plus bedrooms. This grand estate, situated alongside the busy A65, is not only a perfect spot [...]
One comes to expect certain standards from a Hilton hotel and I’m pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed during my stay. From the moment I walked in with my family we were greeted by a smile from the efficient desk staff and a willingness to help which extended to all employees. Just two miles from [...]
Lake District Hotels, a family-run business, owns a range of hotels covering all needs. If you want to be town-based, there is the Skiddaw in the heart of Keswick. If you want an unbeatable lakeside setting, try the Inn on the Lake situated on the banks of Ullswater. Then there is the Lodore Falls Hotel, [...]
The Langdale Hotel enjoys an enviable location in one of my favourite regions of the Lake District: the beautiful valley of Great Langdale. From the doorstep of this high-class, four-star hotel you can explore a multitude of fells, including the famous Langdale Pikes, a collection of peaks situated on the northern side of the dale. [...]
Having spent virtually all my life living on the coast probably explains why I adore hotels which sit – literally – at the water’s edge. So, my stay at the brilliant white Christchurch Harbour Hotel got off to a good start when I saw the view it enjoys: out across Mudeford Quay to Hengistbury Head. [...]
When it comes to picking a hotel in the glorious Lake District you’re spoilt for choice. What that means is that hotels have to work harder to find a way of standing out from the crowd. Nowadays, the discerning visitor wants a little more for their hard-earned money, not simply a comfy bed and a [...]