In a hamlet close to Ashbourne, this welcoming country pub is an ideal base for expeditions to the Peak District National Park or the thrilling rides of Alton Towers. After the day’s excitement, unwind over a drink and comforting food in the brick and wood bar, warmed by a log burner in winter, spreading out onto a terrace on warmer days. Modern rustic bedrooms, named after local families, have gentle floral fabrics and sturdy pine furniture.

A small, family-run hotel with views of the coast, castle, church and countryside. Decorated in soft checks, pleasing bedrooms range from those suitable for single guests, a family, and visitors with dogs. One ground floor suite has a large walk-in shower room, a conservatory seating area and wheelchair access. Dinner, served in the modern restaurant, features homemade comfort food and a selection of dishes from the Specials board. Walks along the dunes and sandy beaches will combat hearty breakfasts.

Grand, and grandly welcoming, this creeper-covered Victorian mansion stands in a spread of green grounds on the edge of the North York Moors.

Well located in the town, a comfortable hotel in a handsome building dating back to 1809. It makes a good base for hikers and visitors to Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall nearby. Bedrooms (some recently refurbished in the main house; some with a 4-poster bed) are also in a courtyard building across the road. Dining is in the elegant Square Restaurant or in the lively Juniper Pizza and Gin bar.

One hundred and seventy-five acres of rolling countryside surround this Grade I listed country house, with opportunities for golf, clay pigeon shooting and boundless walks; treatments and a Jacuzzi in the restful spa. Characterful bedrooms, some timbered, some panelled, have four-poster canopy beds. Fine dining menus in Carrier’s restaurant make use of fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden.

Beside the River Eamont, a 17th-century coaching inn (Thwaites) has been revamped to make the most of its idyllic surroundings. It has a large modern rooftop sun terrace with splendid views, and garden seating by the water’s edge. On cold days, the cosy interior, furnished with plaids and reclaimed timber, is warmed by blazing fires. Food is served throughout the day. Some of the rustic and plainly styled bedrooms (a few are in a separate building) have views of Lake Ullswater.

Two miles outside Scarborough in the North York Moors National Park, a dog-friendly country house hotel set in seventeen acres of gardens and grounds. Individually designed bedrooms and suites are in the main house, or set around a wisteria-clad courtyard; some have direct access to the garden. The traditional, stone-walled bar has comfortable seating by a cheerful wood-burning stove, and there is a choice of dining – traditional Yorkshire gastro pub fare in the Bistro, or more creative cuisine in the Courtyard restaurant.

Once the village blacksmiths, the 16th-century building is now a peaceful B&B with a TV, fridge, hairdryer, radio alarm, and tea- and coffee-making facilities in contemporary bedrooms. For breakfast, local and homemade produce is served in a large open-plan kitchen. A picnic area at the front is set beside the river bank where the Kennet flows past. In a small village, 5 miles W of Marlborough.

From the summit of Ben Nevis, gale warnings for ship owners and skippers were once transmitted to this distinctive Victorian building. Today, it is a serene B&B, with spacious bedrooms, many with stunning views of Loch Linnhe and the Ardgour Hills. Scottish breakfasts (porridge with a dash of whisky or lashings of cream; scrambled eggs with local smoked salmon) are served in a light-filled room overlooking tranquil gardens and the loch. A packed lunch may be pre-ordered; for early risers, a packed breakfast. The town is a short walk away.

Built in the style of an alpine chalet, the spacious bedrooms in this modern building have glorious views of Ben Nevis. B&B guests start the day with a noteworthy Scottish breakfast. A great base for discovering the area, by foot, kayak or bicycle, the knowledgeable hosts are on hand with helpful tips on places to visit and where to eat nearby. There are excellent transport links to Fort William, 3 miles away.

Close to the Hadrian’s Wall Path, this B&B in a Victorian house is a useful stopover for weary walkers. Comfortable bedrooms are equipped with tea- and coffee-making facilities and a cooling fan for warm weather. Guests start the day with a fine breakfast; the welcoming hosts suggest where to eat in the evening. Near a busy road, rooms at the back are quieter. The city centre, train and bus stations are a 10-minute walk away.

Overlooking the Blackdown Hills, a welcoming, dog-friendly country pub in an 18th century coaching Inn. Bedrooms are neat and comfortable, and supplied with tea, coffee, bottled water; Chard is large enough to accommodate a family of four. In the bar, local ciders and wines accompany home-made food, based on locally sourced ingredients. The Neroche Staple Fitzpaine Herepath (a 13.5 mile off-road trail) is close by.

Off the beaten track, four miles south of Taunton, a relaxed and dog-friendly rustic inn with wooden floors, exposed stone walls, leather sofas and a log burner, Perfect pre- and post a bracing walk, the welcoming bar serves an extensive range of Somerset ales, and there is hearty fare in the oak-beamed restaurant. Bedrooms have views of rolling countryside.

Beside a loch, this Victorian lodge offers soothing views across the water and opportunities for action-packed days out. Unwind by the log burning fire with a whisky (there are over 340 single malts to choose from), or retreat to the library for a board game or quiet read. Scenic vistas stretch out from many of the simply decorated bedrooms.

Above the town, this modern, family-friendly hotel in a 19th-century building overlooks a park, and has views as far as Herm and Sark. Bedrooms might be modern or traditional, with sea view or balcony. Complimentary sweet snacks are replenished all day; a range of loose-leaf teas is served for afternoon tea, in the conservatory or on the terrace. A safari theme runs wild in the striking Leopard bar.

Situated in a tiny hamlet the North Downs above Folkestone, this homely B&B in an 18th-century farmhouse has spectacular views across fields and hills, and on a clear day over to France. The Channel Tunnel is a ten-minute drive.

In mid-Wales countryside, a family-friendly B&B in a Victorian house ringed by large, flower-filled gardens. The peaceful, homely retreat has books, maps and games in the drawing room, plus an antique Bechstein grand piano to play; children may run free in the timber fort and outdoor play area. Up the 19th-century oak staircase, traditional country-style bedrooms have period furniture and views of fields graced by a herd of rare-breed sheep. Eggs from free-range hens and ducks supply the organic breakfasts.

In the rolling mid-Wales countryside, this Victorian red-brick vicarage is a welcoming base from which to explore a ‘wonderful but little-visited part of the world’. The bedrooms are pleasingly styled, with contemporary fabrics and furnishings. Evening meals can be taken (Tues-Sat) at The Dolfor Inn.

In a lively seaside town known equally for its medieval castle and its ice cream parlour, this ancient coaching inn is today a ‘friendly’ hotel with updated bedrooms, a stylish restaurant, and a well-preserved pub whose wonky doors, open fireplace and old photographs create much atmosphere.

Clearly very popular this whitewashed 17th-century village inn draws ramblers, cyclists, locals and their dogs. Reservations are recommended for the well-regarded restaurant. Above the bar, straightforward bedrooms, all solid oak and crisp bedlinen, are named for British deer. Two rooms in a converted barn, with easy access to public footpaths over the fields, are ideal for guests travelling with their dog. Stop in at the on-site farm shop for a packed lunch before striding out.

Like ducks to water, locals flock to this stylish 18th-century coaching inn, drawn to its modern country comforts and modern British fare. Staying guests are cosseted with high-quality linens and woollen throws in ‘minimalist’ bedrooms; bathrooms are supplied with robes and complimentary goodies from the owners’ beauty company, Baylis & Harding.

A ‘most welcoming’ place, this peaceful Georgian house stands in neat gardens that stretch towards Northumberland countryside.

In the late 17th century, the Honourable Order of Little Bedlam (an aristocratic drinking club) rampaged through this coaching inn – today an altogether more upstanding crowd come for the modern pub grub, cinema nights and the garden’s ‘pizza potting shed’ (open on warm-weather weekends). Characterful bedrooms mix vintage furnishings and modern conveniences. Some have exposed stones or feature wallpaper, perhaps an original fireplace, mullioned window.

On the cliffs above surfers’ North Bay, twin Victorian houses are home to a personably run guest house where many of the spacious bedrooms have a sea view, and breakfast is cooked to order by the hosts.

In a ‘scenically superb area’, this ‘good-value’ hotel stands opposite the green of this village (known for its magnificent castle) on the North Sea coast facing Farne Island. Fronted by potted plants and a coat of arms, it is managed by Graham Young