Luxury country house hotels in Wales are in the 2008 brochure of Welsh Rarebits 'Hotels of Distinction', now enhanced by townhouse guesthouses and boutique boltholes.

Welsh Rarebits describes itself as Wales's leading hotel collection, promoting only 'Hotels of Distinction'. It's a member of the Historic Hotels of Europe group, and the hotels in its collection are a small and very select band mixing luxury country house hotels and spas, quality townhouses, stylish guesthouses and boutique boltholes. Its 2008 brochure is now published and is available free from the Welsh rarebits website.

There are now 55 properties listed in the brochure, and three of the new members of this Welsh hotel group are:

Holm House, Penarth, near Cardiff

Described as a 'clifftop townhouse-cum-bijou bolthole', Holm House is just along the coast from Cardiff Bay on a headland that looks out over the Bristol Channel. It has just 12 rooms, all differently designed (one in pure white), and for such an intimate place it also has a spa, gym and swimming pool. Double rooms start at £110.

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Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth

This stylish seafront townhouse of just eight rooms was originally an Edwardian guesthouse but has been luxuriously redesigned and re-opened last year. The owners have used traditional Welsh slate and wood, combined with contemporary Welsh artworks and even illuminated pieces of Welsh poetry. Double rooms from an amazing price of just £60.

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The Kinmel Arms, near Abergele

On the North Wales coast and easily reached from Chester and Liverpool, the Kinmel Arms is a restaurant with rooms – just four of them, but all luxury suites. No sea view here, but instead it overlooks a wildlife-rich wooded estate. One of the owners, Tim Watson, is an artist and has created works especially for the rooms reflecting his love of mountains, travel and wildlife. The suites cost from £135-£175.

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Welsh Rarebits also includes luxury spas as well as country and seaside comforts:

Tre-Ysgawen Hall Hotel and Spa, Isle of Anglesey

This luxury spa hotel is set in 11 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens, not far from the east coast of Anglesey. There are 29 rooms and the spa facilities include a 52ft pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, gym and beauty/therapy suite with six treatment rooms. Double rooms from £104.

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Bodysgallen Hall and Spa, near Llandudno

One of Britain's best country house hotels is tucked away inland from Llandudno, and the 17th-century building is filled with antiques. There are 15 rooms in the house itself and a further 16 cottage suites in the magnificent gardens. There's a 50ft pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, gym and beauty treatment rooms. Rooms from £140 and suites from £395.

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To get your copy of the 2008 Welsh Rarebits brochure, visit the Welsh Rarebits website.

A few more of the best hotels in the Welsh Rarebits collection are mentioned in this description of the 2007 brochure.

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