The Falcondale

A 19th-century Italianate villa in 14-acre grounds, with views across the gently rolling Teifi valley, is today a hotel and popular wedding venue with an in-house beauty parlour and romance in its very fabric. A rebuilding of an older house named Pant-y-Curyll (valley of the sparrowhawk), it was designed by Pugin protégé Thomas Talbot Bury, probably for one JS Harford and his bride, Mary von Bunsen, who honeymooned in Italy. The decor is somewhat last century, but rooms are really spacious, with some good antiques. A valley-view room has a modern four-poster and French doors to a Juliet balcony from which to watch red kites and buzzards. A family can take the lift to second-floor Room 21, with two double beds, overlooking the landscaped gardens. Pleasingly, all rooms have a teapot, cafetière and shortbread. Readers praise the food. A seasonal menu inspired by local produce includes dishes such as venison loin, pan-fried sea bass or Parmesan linguine. Be sure to bring Fido; they’ll make him so welcome. There are wonderful walks along the Ceredigion Coast Path or in 
the Cambrian mountains. ‘A very decent hotel.’ (Peter Anderson)