CRESSELLY

Where to begin? We don’t want to pull any punches, so let’s start with what Cresselly is not. It’s not little – in fact, it’s a great big Georgian/Victorian mansion, standing in the beautiful and unspoilt upper reaches of the Milford Haven.

It’s not an immaculate country house hotel, but the lived-in home of Hugh Harrison-Allen, whose family have owned Cresselly for centuries. And it does look lived in. But if you like a bit of theatre, old buildings and a whiff of eccentricity, go for the Cresselly experience. Hugh is an engaging host with a fund of memorable – and sometimes improbable – anecdotes.

The rooms are big and sprawling, filled with mementoes of family life and country sports. There’s history everywhere – in the ornate ceilings, fireplaces, grand staircase and library stuffed with dusty books. It’s not your typical GLP – but we couldn’t resist it.