1. Druidstone Hotel, Pembrokeshire
Druidstone, Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire
OK, you don’t perhaps come here for five-star luxury, but this weather-beaten old Georgian house occupies a position to die for high above the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast. It’s also one of the friendliest, most welcoming hotels you could wish for, with a great bar and top-notch restaurant – and the beach below is pure heaven.
Get me there now! Doubles from £70; the hotel has 11 rooms, five cottages and an eco-hut; find out more here.
2. Pedn Olva Hotel, St Ives
West Porthminster Beach, St Ives
The hotel's name means 'lookout on the headland’, and sat atop a rocky promontory on what was once a copper mine, the Pedn Olva really does the bag the best views in St Ives. Plus its 30 newly refurbished bedrooms – ‘cabins’ – range from the stylishly simple to the comfortably lavish, and have stunning ocean views.
Get me there now! Doubles from £140; find out more here.
3. Marloes Sands Youth Hostel
Runwayskiln Marloes, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
We know it’s a hostel, but it’s a contender for the most scenically sited youth hostel in the country, and it has a handful of private rooms in a converted piggery as well as the usual dorm options. The hostel occupies a cluster of National Trust farm buildings, bang on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and within sight and sound of the fabulous Marloes beach.
Get me there now! Beds from £13, rooms from £25; find out more here.
4. Saunton Sands Hotel, Braunton
Saunton Road, near Braunton, Croyde
This grand old Art Deco hotel enjoys what is without question one of the best clifftop positions in the UK, overlooking the magnificent surfing beach of Saunton Sands and the dunes of Braunton Burrows. It's a perfect place to stay if you're surfing or walking in the area. At dinner you'll find well-cooked traditional favourites such as smoked haddock carpaccio.
Get me there now! Doubles from £105; find out more here.
5. Cumberland , Bournemouth
East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth
You can fancy yourself in South Beach, Miami, in this gorgeous Art Deco classic, situated atop Bournemouth’s East Cliff, with tremendous views over fabulous sandy beaches. It retains many of the original 1930s features, including a cool lido, which hosts popular barbecues in summer.
Get me there now! Doubles from £70; find out more here.
6. Bedruthan Hotel and Spa, Newquay
Trenance, Mawgan Porth, Newquay
After teaming up with the chefs from the fab Porthminster Café (of St Ives fame), this place is as much a foodie destination as a place to stay. Don't be put off if you're looking for a couples retreat – there are tranquil zones and spa facilities, not to mention the vast sandy cove and coast path where you can guarantee peace and quiet.
Get me there now! Doubles from £140; find out more here.
Cool Places is a new website devoted to selecting and celebrating the best of UK travel, whether you’re booking a last-minute weekend away or looking for longer trip ideas. They cover the UK’s best places to stay, from stunningly located campsites to cosy boutique hotels, great gastropubs and restaurants to beachside cafés, and the country’s quirkiest independent shops and markets. Check it out, and add your own local favourites.
