The Grove of Narberth, Narberth, Pembrokeshire

You'll find this hotel down back lanes in a deeply rural spot, surrounded by 26 acres of grounds, with views of the moody Preseli Hills in the far distance. It's all extremely peaceful. It's five minutes' drive to the market town of Narberth, 15 minutes to the coast and 20 minutes to Tenby. Narberth is a pleasant town with a good selection of enticing shops and cafés. Tenby is the liveliest resort in Pembrokeshire.

By car: around 2 hours from Cardiff, 4 hours from Birmingham and 5 hours from London. There is free parking on site.

By train: There are direct trains to Carmarthen Station from Cardiff Central (1 hour 45 minutes) and Manchester Picadilly (5 hours). The hotel is a 30-minute drive from Carmarthen Station. Book traisn to Carmarthen.

This is a beautifully furnished country house hotel, with an enormous amount of thought behind the furnishings and decorative details in the smart but cosy lounges and bar, as well as the restaurants and bedrooms. The main building dates from the Jacobean period, but eye-catching Arts and Crafts features added in the 1870s set the tone.

The Grove was derelict when acquired by Neil and Zoe Kedward in 2007. They have gradually restored and developed it, first into a B&B, then a restaurant with rooms, and finally the luxury hotel it is today. You can expect the uniformed staff to be very well trained and courteous.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Pet-friendly
• Accessible
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The bedrooms are split pretty evenly between the main building and converted old cottages on the grounds. Some rooms are quite traditional, with floral wallpaper schemes and period fireplaces, while others, fashioned by interior designer Martin Hulbert, have a much more contemporary look. Dearer rooms come with a walk-in rainforest shower and bath.

Room types: Main house rooms and suites, cottage suites

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with The Goodwash Company toiletries, TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, free W-Fi

The Grove's food is outstanding, and champions top-quality local meat, fish and dairy products supplied from sustainable sources. There are two restaurants: The Fernery (open dinner only) offers tasting menus in a formal setting, while the Artisan Rooms (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) have a much more casual atmosphere and less complex cuisine.

The Fernery: three AA Rosettes. Formal fine dining, modern British cuisine. Open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Tasting menu's start at £69.

The Artisan Rooms: relaxed, simple dishes. Open daily. Mains from £18.