Emyr Griffith

Welcome to Great Little Places. This collection is the result of thousands of miles of travel the length and breadth of Wales to seek out the very best small hotels, inns, farmhouses, restaurants with rooms and guest houses. GLPs are the kind of places in which I like to stay. I hope that you get as much pleasure from discovering them as I did.

Since Great Little Places was launched over 15 years ago it has established a reputation in Britain and worldwide as the collection of small and friendly places to stay in Wales. Small is beautiful – but such places, unlike the best hotels (which are listed in almost every guidebook), are much more difficult to find. Locating small establishments that really stand out from the huge choice on offer is much more of a challenge – but it’s what GLP is all about.

Like most respected guidebooks, the contents of GLP represent a personal selection. Membership of the scheme is by invitation only. If you think along the same lines as us, you’ll love Little Places.

Ffynnon

Castle Cottage

So what did we look for when we selected our members? We looked for hosts with personality, enthusiasm and uncompromising standards. We looked for people with an informed awareness of the needs of today’s more discriminating travellers. We looked for characterful buildings, beautiful locations, houses with a sense of history, warm welcomes and relaxing atmospheres. We looked for comfortable accommodation and superior standards without snobbery or strained formality.

We appreciate attention to detail and those little touches – the fresh flowers, the fluffy towels, the log fires, the well-stocked libraries – that separate the best from the rest. And, as lovers of good food and a good bottle of wine, you can be sure that cuisine also played its part!

To make your mark nowadays you must provide something special. GLPs all offer a quality experience. Another great strength of the scheme is its variety, for with Little Places you’ll find quality in farmhouses or restaurants with rooms, country inns or coastal hideaways, B&Bs or guest houses. And this year, more than ever, there’s a choice of truly exceptional properties, for we have unearthed some stunning newcomers whose standards rival those of the finest country hotels. This wide choice is reflected in the price. GLPs range from an inexpensive £50 per night for a double room to over £100 at the luxury end of the market. But it’s value for money that counts, and we believe that you won’t find finer accommodation, pound for pound, anywhere else in Wales (or Britain for that matter).

In 2006, we also introduced a few self-catering cottages and luxury cabins for the first time. There are occasions when people who usually enjoy a bit of pampering want total flexibility and don’t mind looking after themselves. Again, the mantra is quality, quality, quality, so our small selection has the highest star rating and hands-on owners who will ‘meet and greet’ you personally.