Brooks Country House Apartment

Brooks Country House is a real gem – set in the Wye Valley Area of Natural Outstanding Natural Beauty, it's a luxurious yet relaxed 22-room retreat with oodles of period detail, plus there's the option to glamp in a vintage horsebox. The added bonus? If you prefer to self-cater there's something for you too; owners Carla and Andrew have recently converted the Tudor coach house into a deluxe apartment. Located in the hotel's courtyard, the views across to Pengethley National Park are spectacular.

The two-bed space has been completely refurbished and is decorated in keeping with the quintessentially English style of the main house (think Cole & Son’s opulent wallpaper, panelled walls and colonial shutters). It's got bags of charm and is a place for all seasons – cosy up inside by the wood-burning stove on a cold winter evening, or enjoy your own L-shaped barbecue terrace when the sun comes out to play. A roll-top bath in the master bedroom, beautiful granite work surfaces in the shaker kitchen and demisting LED mirrors in the en-suite bathrooms give that bit of added extravagance, making your stay really special.

There's a sofa bed in the lounge, which means the apartment can sleep up to six – ideal for a family break or a weekend away with friends. The kitchen may be fully equipped with an island breakfast bar, American-style fridge freezer, range cooker and dishwasher, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of the property's on-site restaurant, where you can expect the likes of homemade free-range scotch egg served with piccalilli and Hereford steak with triple cooked chips. In fact, you're free to enjoy all of the hotel's facilities, including an 11-metre swimming pool, sauna and hot tub. They even have their very own vineyard! If you fancy getting out and about there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, or why not explore the Forest of Dean or go kayaking down the river Wye. The apartment's a welcome addition to the Brooks collection (they have properties in Bath, Bristol and Edinburgh too).