United Kingdom
Area: The Western Highlands · Aberdeen · Home of Golf · Edinburgh · Glasgow · The Lake District
The Yorkshire Dales · Roman Chester · The Cotswolds · Roman Bath · King Alfred's Wessex
The Thames Valley · Stoke Poges · Ipswich · The Garden of England · London · Jersey

The Western highlands: The colours and grandeur of the great Scottish wilderness form the habitat of Britain's most exotic wildlife; from the majestic stag to the impish otters, soaring eagles and playful dolphins. See it all from The Loch Torridon Hotel - the walking is an experience of a lifetime.

Aberdeen: Home of North Sea oil - but travel inland to The Marcliffe at Pitfodels where you will be introduced to a challenging choice of golf courses, all within a 30 minutes drive, or shown the way to the Spey River and a glorious Whisky Trail. Or take to the highland heather for deer stalking.

Home of Golf: The Scottish counties of Perthshire and Fifeshire, easily accessible from Edinburgh, are famous for their distilleries, castles and golf courses, St Andrews included - which is where you will find Rufflets Country House with its very strong connection with the game and the famous club. Balbirnie House sits right next to a scenic 71-par challenge course.

Edinburgh: Paradoxically, the city's New Town is not so new; it is a masterpiece of Georgian town planning. The Howard is part of this heritage and includes three town houses within walking distance of the shops and stores of fashionable Princes Street. Walk on for another quarter of an hour across the park and you reach the Old Town with the Castle at one end and Holyrood Palace at the other.

Scottish Rising: The Earl of Mar was a hero of Scotland who inspired the first Jacobite rising to restore home rule to Scotand in 1714. His country seat, Mar Hall, a fine example of Gothic architecture, was rebuilt in 1840 and only recently completely rennovated as a luxury hotel. The Erskine Bridge, west of Glasgow, brings the fabled beauty of Loch Lomond to within half an hour by car.

The Lake District: Home of Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth, The Lake District includes Windermere for its pleasure cruises, Lake Coniston grave of Sir Donald Campbell and his Bluebird and many more; mountain trekking that rewards you with some of England's most spectacular views. Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel will introduce you to it all and feed you Michelin style!

The Yorkshire Dales: Inspirational landscapes of rivers and dales; home of the Brontë sisters and, more recently, that spinner of veterinary tales, James Herriott. Close to the top of the Pennines, nestling into the hillside is The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Health Spa and its state-of-the-art health, beauty and spa facilities.

Roman Chester: One of Britain's best preserved Roman cities. Enclosed by impressive fortifications and 14th century Cathedral, Chester is a delight to visit. Right at its heart is the Duke of Westminster's Chester Grosvenor Hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant. Take the short trip to the great palaces and stately homes nearby.

The Cotswolds: Soft rolling hills dotted with ochre-clad grey stone villages makes this a picturesque garden stretching from Stratford-upon-Avon to Oxford to Gloucester. Lower Slaughter at its centre is where the 17th century Lords of the Manor holds pride of place.

Roman Bath: Although the city is famous for its wonderfully preserved Roman Baths, it is a paragon of Georgian elegance. Just off the centre is Victoria Park which lies next door to The Bath Priory Hotel and Restaurant, splendidly secluded and gastronomically indulgent.

King Alfred's Wessex: The chalky subsurface has been carved into many white horses and other hill figures. At the eastern edge at Hook, is Tylney Hall near Stratfield Saye, once the home of The Duke of Wellington.

The Thames Valley: Royal Henley Regatta is one of the three very English sporting events in June and July (the other two are Wimbledon and Ascot) where fashion comes a close second and strawberries and cream come third. Halfway between Henley and Marlow, another regatta town, is Danesfield House with its luxurious spa.

Stoke Poges: Thomas Gray's 'Elergy written in a country Churchyard' (1751) is one of the best-recalled poems in Britain. The church in question stands in Stoke Poges where the poet has his monument. Another attraction of this small village on the edge of the Chiltern Hills is Stoke Park Club, a stately home converted to one of the country's grandest luxury hotels and surrounded by a stunning golf course.

Ipswich: Lying on the edge of Constable country, Ipswich was the birthplace of Cardinal Wolsey and includes Christchurch Mansion, a museum of toys, dolls houses and model ships. Four miles west, is Hintlesham Hall which enjoys an international reputation for its food and sporting facilities including its own championship golf course.

The Garden of England: After centuries, the farms, orchards and hop fields of this fertile area are gradually giving way to the prosperous homes for commuters to London. One of the first, and by far the grandest, is the 16th century palace Great Fosters. Another establishment with a centuries-old name for hospitality is the Angel Posting House & Livery in Guildford's High Street. And Langshott Manor, conveniently near Gatwick Airport, is steeped in luxury. Alexander House, also not far from Gatwick, was once the poet Shelley's home and Ashdown Park Hotel, with Christopher Robin and Pooh connections, has a golf course - also within easy distance of the airport. The Grand Hotel at Eastbourne, is aptly named and stands imperially on the promenade.

City Map
London: There are nine Small Luxury Hotels in Central London each with a distinctive character all of its own: Close to Piccadilly, the boutiques of Bond Street, museums, galleries and Theatreland are Dukes Hotel, 22 Jermyn Street and The Stafford. Close to Regents Park, Madam Tussauds and Paddington (for the 15 minute link to Heathrow Airport) is the Dorset Square Hotel facing the original home of the world's most revered Cricket Ground, Lords. Tucked in seclusion near Harrods and close to the great museums of Kensington is The Capital Hotel and Apartments, while nearby in Cadogan Gardens stands The London Outpost.

Jersey: Lying so close to France, though part of Great Britain, the influences are all too perceptible. In the food, the place names and even some of the laws. At St Brelade on the West Coast, about 30 minutes from the capital St Helier, is The Atlantic Hotel overlooking the Ocean sunsets and adjacent to the golf course.