The Good Hotel Guide has published it’s Top 10 Hotels in the UK for 2009, and as always there are some fantastic sounding UK hotels on the list. Focussing on independently owned hotels, the guide considers the most important factors of any hotel to be the quality of cooking, warmth of welcome and location. We have never been lucky stayed at any of these establishments ourselves – however, some sound so appealing we may have to rethink our winter diaries. Here’s the top 10 list, see this Times article for more information on each hotel or buy the Guide itself.

1. THE STAR CASTLE, ST MARY’S, ISLES OF SCILLY – Island Hotel of the Year
2. THE GURNARD’S HEAD, ZENNOR, CORNWALL – Dining Pub of the Year
3. HOTEL TRESANTON, ST MAWES, CORNWALL – Luxury Hotel of the Year
4. HOTEL TERRAVINA, WOODLANDS, HAMPSHIRE – Newcomer of the Year
5. THE GREAT HOUSE, LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK – Restaurant with Rooms of the Year
6. GLIFFAES, CRICKHOWELL, POWYS – Welsh Country Hotel of the year
7. BALLYVOLANE HOUSE, CASTLELYONS, COUNTY CORK – Irish Heritage Home of the Year
8. THE BAY HORSE, ULVERSTON, CUMBRIA – Cumbrian Inn of the Year
9. LINDETH FELL, BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE, CUMBRIA – English Country Hotel of the Year
10. BEALACH HOUSE, DUROR, ARGYLL AND BUTE – Scottish Guesthouse of the Year