Hotel Scarthwaite Country House (Lancaster, United Kingdom)

Although the home is old and historic, the rooms are clean and provide great overall comfort. The features of the home add to the charm without distracting from a pleasant night's stay. The overall charm of the Victorian building set within such a lovely garden adds to overall appeal.

The family-run hotel gives those personal touches that are absent from larger chain hotels. They often break rules for good and sensible reasons, allowing guests with dogs and allowing earlier check-ins and -outs with breakfast provided.

This hotel provides a great break for those travelling along the M6. The rural setting has lovely walks along the river, with beautiful gardens along the way. It's a nice stop to stretch the legs and step away from a long journey.

As is with the case of many historic homes and buildings, the rooms are just smaller than what one might get with a standard hotel stay. The baths are also smaller than normal, although creature comforts will be met. It's a traditional stay, rather than luxurious, and serves the function of sleeping and eating.

The old home, and rooms, are just a bit past their prime. Buffing and polishing some old and outdated features and fixtures in the rooms and baths would give this tired hotel a more modern feel.

The restaurant and bar don't receive rave reviews. While the food is acceptable, food enthusiasts won't have much to crow about. The entrees just don't taste home-cooked and neither place has the atmosphere or charm you might expect from such a beautiful building and gardens.