With the cold and stormy weather we've been having many of us are probably craving a cosy winter getaway. While you might have started the year with optimistic resolutions to run a 5k on a Saturday morning or eat more healthy salads as we approach the end of January there's no shame in admitting that all you really want this weekend is a nice lie-in with a cup of tea.
A recent round-up by The Daily Telegraph has listed the best homely destinations for a mini-holiday in the UK. With all the creature comforts you could wish for the inns and country houses that made the list of greatest winter getaways offer the perfect setting for a cosy weekend break from it all. Luckily for us two of the best places to jaunt off to for a relaxing escape are located right here in Wales.
First up is Cardigan's unique Albion Hotel. Designed to celebrate the maritime history of the town the hotel's "individually crafted" rooms are reminiscent of a captain's cabin. Reclaimed wood-lined walls and oak floors complement luxuriously-big beds and traditional Welsh wool blankets.
DON'T MISS: Cosy places to stay with hot tubs in Wales perfect for a winter break
All rooms are en suite and bookings include breakfast, use of the residents' lounge, bar reservations, and fancy Aesop soap, according to the website. Experts at The Telegraph described the hotel as "alluring and atmospheric" and with "snug, dark, and moody" bedrooms. The hotel sits on the riverside in Cardigan and its sister "outdoor hotel" Fforest Farm is just a half-hour walk away. The sister site is a 200-acre farm by the River Teifi gorge and offers stunning views, barrel saunas, and bespoke 'domes' to stay in.
The second Welsh hotel to make the list is Plas Dinas Country House in Bontnewydd on the outskirts of Caernarfon. The Grade II-listed building is the former ancestral home of the wealthy Armstrong-Jones family. Antony Armstrong-Jones regularly spent weekends at the house with his wife Princess Margaret, the late sister of Queen Elizabeth.
WalesOnline reporter Branwen Jones recently reviewed the popular Gunroom restaurant at Plas Dinas and described the food as "flawless". You can read the full review here. According to The Telegraph the hotel is "the epitome of North Walian country-house style". There are 10 bedrooms including the signature Princess Margaret Suite and you can enjoy a pre-dinner drink by an open fire in the drawing room before you tuck into some exceptional food.
Our reporter Branwen described the venue as "a fascinating take on offering the old with the new, paying homage to the family that once called it home while also offering modern and unique dining experiences for those that live in the area and visitors alike". If you're looking for more cosy places to stay and like the idea of soaking in a warm hot tub in a picturesque Welsh setting take a look at our round-up of perfect winter escapes.
