Sherman's Travel

England has Shakespeare, Big Ben, and the Royals. Scotland’s got Nessie, bagpipes, and single-malt whiskey. What about Wales, you ask? Well, as I found out during a recent visit, Wales has got hundreds of delightfully quirky undiscovered pleasures (such as Portmeirion, shown at left).

Tucked into the southwest corner of Great Britain, this verdant green country of 3 million has 11 million sheep, 393,000 people named Jones, an 870-mile coastal walking path, 641 castles, and a seriously hard-to-pronounce language. But perhaps the most unexpected thing about Wales is the quality and character of its hotels. They range from castles and country houses to boutique properties with surprisingly contemporary decor.

I know you’ll love Wales once you discover all that it has to offer – including an emerging local/sustainable food scene and some pretty inventive young chefs. Here are 10 favorite places to stay, all of which I visited last month. Some offer great value, others are splurges, but each is a unique spot from which to experience this welcoming and culture-rich country.

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