New House Country Hotel Shortlist*

In the gentle hills just north of the centre, this dog-friendly hotel takes in panoramic views over the city and the Severn estuary. A tiered fountain fronts the creeper-covered, Grade II listed manor house; stone steps lead to elegant rooms that look out on to lush greenery. Afternoon tea may be taken in the lounges; at mealtimes, modern Welsh dishes in the restaurant or under the new glass pergola might include Pant Ys Gawn goat’s cheese, pickled baby beetroot, or braised feather blade of Welsh beef. Colourful and contemporary, bedrooms are supplied with ethically produced toiletries. Part of the Town & Country Collective; see also The Bear, Cowbridge, and The West House, Llantwit Major (Shortlist entries).