COVER The best of cosy British hotels
In need of a post-Christmas boost? Escape the cold with our pick of the best British winter hotel breaks
The cold, crisp air makes this season a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors (if we’re wrapped up in hats and scarves!). After all that fresh air you’re sure to be tempted by one of our recommendations for cosy British hotels where you can get toasty in front of a roaring fire...
St Mary’s Inn
MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND
■ Rooms start from £80
Tucked away in a quiet spot near the village of Stannington, St Mary’s Inn provides a wonderfully warm welcome. This relaxed, informal pub and B&B is full of character, with red brickwork, mullioned windows, a striking central clock tower and numerous cosy wood-burning stoves. It’s hard to believe that it was once part of a psychiatric hospital less than a century ago, a fact which only makes it more intriguing.
The inviting oak bar is an especially lovely spot to relax after a day out – boasting a large bookcase brimming with history and geography books and lots of interesting artworks and sculptures to admire as you nurse a beverage.
What’s best – you can bring your pooch along, with several dog-friendly rooms available. Bowls and bedding can be provided if you need them.
Dalhousie Castle Hotel
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
■ Rooms start from £95
This magnificent fortress stands within its own 11-acre parkland estate on the banks of the River Esk – all within a stone’s throw of Edinburgh’s vibrant city centre. Brimming with more than 700 years of history, Dalhousie is famed for being Scotland’s oldest inhabited castle with a quirky blend of old and
new. In its corridors and passageways you’ll feel the history of what was once the seat of the Ramsay Clan. The oak-panelled rooms are filled with leather sofas, books and fireplaces.
Each bedroom is luxuriously decorated with rich Scottish fabrics and period furniture – fit for a queen (or king!). Whether relaxing in the spa, dining in the vaulted AA Rosettewinning dungeon restaurant, or retiring to your bedchamber, you can expect the royal treatment here.
Set within the grounds of the estate is a falconry, where you can meet hawks, owls, falcons and eagles, or try your hand at the medieval sport of archery (£45pp).