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Llangoed Hall, resting in the valley of the Wye with glorious views to the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons is one of the most refined hotels in Britain. It is owned by Sir Bernard Ashley, husband of the late Laura Ashley. Comfort combined with quiet efficiency is hallmark of Llangoed Hall. There are 23 bedrooms drip with rich fabrics from Sir Bernard’s textile company. Llangoed Hall is totally furnished; there are antiques such as 17th century mirrors and deep, cast-iron baths. There are ornate timber-paned windows that afford views of velvet green fields on one side of the mansion and of secret agents arriving in helicopters on the other. The cuisine is also excellent with a reliance on local, home-grown produce of the highest quality. If you want to let off a bit of energy you can go for fishing, rock climbing, clay pigeon shooting, four-wheel-drive, orienteering and white-water rafting. Charges: Rooms start at £210 midweek and range to £400 for a master suite on weekends Info Location: Llangoed Hall is about 10 kilometers from Hay-on-Wye. Getting There: It’s a two-hour drive from Heathrow Airport or a 45-minute helicopter ride. Main Attractions: Hay-on-Wye Writers’ Festival: May 24 to June 3. Wales Great Britain Rally: November 30 to December 2. Surrounded by meadowland and woods, Llangoed Hall is an idyll of peace and quiet. It has an atmosphere and ambience of a grand house rather than a hotel.