Best new British B&Bs: quirky, family-friendly and budget

New British B&BS ... quirky Ffynnon Fendigaid in Ceredigion

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FAMILY-FRIENDLY

Staverton Hall Staverton, Northamptonshire

Guests enter through impressive iron gates and head to this grand house in a spectacular setting. Friendly owners Rupert and Serena, who have young children of their own, love having families to stay. Relaxed breakfasts (and dinner) at flexible times are served at one table. All is local and delicious. The large, light bedrooms and modern shared bathrooms upstairs have good views. There's a huge guest sitting room with sash windows, log fire and board games; there is also a heated pool, a play area, a big garden, and a pub a walk away.
• 01327 878296, stavertonhall.co.uk. Doubles from £90, annex sleeping six £200, small twin £50, all B&B

The Peatcutter's Croft, Ullapool, Highland

There's more beauty in a mile on Scotland's west coast than almost anywhere: vast skies, soaring mountains, shimmering water, barely a soul in sight. Pauline and Seori left London to give their family the freedom to roam. Now they have a colourful cast of companions: sheep, hens, ducks, rabbits – a definite draw for kids. Your quarters at this gorgeous little croft combine country simplicity with colour and style. Sea eagles patrol the skies and porpoises bask in the loch. All this, and Pauline's fabulous cooking, too.
• 01854 633797, peatcutterscroft.com. £35pp pn B&B, children half price, maximum of £100 per night per room

Ty'r Chanter, Crickhowell, Powys

This house is fun. Tiggy encourages visitors to help collect eggs, feed the lambs or the pony, and drop their shoes by the fire. The farmhouse and barn are stylishly relaxed, with deep sofas, tartan throws, heaps of books, and views to the Brecon Beacons. Bedrooms come with Jo Malone treats and the two children's rooms zing with murals. Toys, kids' sitting room and sandpit add up to child heaven. Walk, fish, canoe or book-browse in Hay, then help yourself to whisky and homemade cake.
• 01874 731144, tyrchanter.com. Doubles from £85, twin-bedded children's rooms £40, B&B

Chain Bridge House, Horncliffe, Northumberland

Overlooking an idyllic stretch of the River Tweed is the last house in England: Scotland is 100m away across the magnificent Union suspension bridge. In the sitting room are books and a log fire, in the bedrooms goosedown duvets and a fresh, airy feel. Livvy, a professional cook, is a supporter of the Slow Food movement and local food producers. Visit the neighbouring honey farm or glorious Bamburgh, Holy Island and the Farnes, then return to a revolving summer house in the garden for tea. Children and dogs get a generous welcome.
• 01289 382541, chainbridgehouse.co.uk. Doubles from £90 B&B, under-12s £20, or £35 for two

Mine Hill House, Banbury, Oxfordshire

Up the farm track at the top of a beautiful hill is this gorgeous family farmhouse with views for miles and young, energetic Hester to care for you. Children will adore the ping-pong table and the trampoline; their parents will enjoy the gleaming old flagstones, contemporary oils, woodburning stove and sophisticated food. The big double room has a comfortable bed, leafy wallpaper and stunning views, and a cubby-hole door to extra twin beds; bathrooms are spacious. Bracing walks start from the door.
• 01608 685594, minehillhouse.co.uk. Doubles £85 B&B, family suite (double and small twin, shared bathroom) £135

Higher Lank Farm, St Breward, Cornwall

Parents with toddlers, rejoice: you can only come here if you have a child under five. Celtic crosses in the garden and original panelling hint at the house's 500-year history; bedrooms, newly decorated, have pocket sprung mattresses and large TVs. Nursery teas begin at 5pm, grown-up suppers are later, and energetic Lucy will cheerfully babysit while you slink off to the pub. Farm-themed playgrounds are covered in safety matting and grass, and there are piglets and chicks, eggs to collect, pony and trap rides, a sand barn, and cloth nappies provided.
• 01208 850716, higherlankfarm.co.uk. Family rooms for up to five from £100 B&B; self-catering also available

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WALLET-FRIENDLY

Hooks Cottage, Ashburton, Devon

At the end of a long, bumpy track, this mine captain's house may have few original features but the woodland setting is gorgeous. Mary and Dick – and labradors Archie and Cobble – are charming. It is on the edge of Dartmoor, with woodland birds and a gentle river. Bedrooms have floral charm and pretty stream views. Enjoy local sausages and Mary's marmalade for breakfast. There is a lovely garden and walks from the house are sublime.
• 01626 821312, hookscottage.co.uk.Doubles from £60 B&B

Church House, Woodbridge, Suffolk

A short hop from riverside Woodbridge and musical Snape Maltings, between a conservation churchyard and a history-rich field, is something unusual: a customised house of gentle colours and textures, home to an architect and a designer. From the hand-carved, reclaimed-wood porch to the lovely wildlife garden, there's a feeling of warmth and delight. There are two jewel-bright bedrooms full of books and flowers and in the kitchen, a big farmhouse table laid for breakfast.
• 01473 735350, churchhousebandbsuff-olk.co.uk. Doubles from £70 B&B

Field House, Halifax, Yorkshire

You drive over bridge and beck to this listed farmhouse, built in 1713, and can expect comfort, homeliness and open fires. Pat and Geoff love showing guests their hens, horses, goats and lambs, and will tell you about 14 circular walks or lend you a torch so you can find the pub across the fields. Ramblers and dog walkers will be in heaven: step out of the front door, past the lovely walled garden and you're in rolling, Brontë countryside. Good big bedrooms are in farmhouse style; one bathroom has a roll top bath, another a 1970s blue suite; and Geoff's breakfasts are generous in fine Yorkshire manner.
• 01422 355457, fieldhouse-bb.co.uk. Family room from £64 B&B

Poplar Farm House, Sproughton, Suffolk

Only a few miles from Ipswich, down a green lane, this rambling farmhouse has a pretty, whitewashed porch and higgledy-piggledy roof. All light, elegant and spacious with wonderful flowers, art and quirky sculptures. You should expect comfortable beds, laundered linen and smart bathrooms. Sally is relaxed and friendly and will give you eggs from her hens, homemade bread, and vegetables from the garden. Play tennis, swim, steam in the sauna or book one of Sally's arts and crafts courses.
• 01473 601211, poplarfarmhousesuffolkbb.eu. Doubles from £65 B&B

High Barn, Kingsbridge, Devon

A quiet spot among rolling hills with artist Nick, cook Jill, two pointers, an inquisitive cat and roaming chickens. Large sofas sit around a wood-burner, big art and a snooker table. Comfortable bedrooms with colourful quilts are downstairs – one opens onto the sunken courtyard. At breakfast you get freshly squeezed juice, homemade preserves, local bacon and just-laid eggs. Suppers can be simple or elaborate, or even a barbecue in the garden. Explore Dartmoor, walk the coastal paths or head for the beaches.
• 01548 550838, highbarndevon.co.uk. Doubles from £60 B&B

Plas Efenechtyd Cottage, Ruthin, Denbighshire

Efenechtyd means "place of the monks" but there is nothing monastic about Dave and Marilyn's handsome brick farmhouse. Breakfasts of local sausages, eggs from their hens, salmon fishcakes with mushrooms and homemade bread, are served at a table in the dining room with exotic wall hangings from Vietnam and Laos. Light bedrooms have a clear, uncluttered feel, excellent mattresses and good linen; bathrooms are surprisingly bling and warm as toast, with plump towels. Drive or walk to Ruthin with its windy streets and interesting shops, or strike out for Offa's Dyke with a packed lunch.
• 01824 704008, plas-efenechtyd-cottage.co.uk. Doubles from £68 B&B

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QUIRKY

Hambledon House, Hambledon, Surrey

Through an old ornate iron gate, up a sweeping drive in rolling parkland and … enter another world. With an Elizabethan core and Victorian additions, Vanessa's house is a unique celebration of the Arts and Crafts movement. It has been in her family for generations and the restoration, with a marvellous Italian slant, is well under way. Find rooms of pure opulence with regal beds and bags of character, fabulous bathrooms, art, antiques, vast fireplaces, stunning stained glass, an orangery to eat breakfast in and a wonderful garden with a long reflecting pond.
• 01428 683815. Doubles from £110 B&B

Wallace's Arthouse Scotland, Edinburgh

The apartment door swings open to a world of white walls, smooth floors, modern art, acoustic jazz, and a smiling Wallace with a glass of wine – well worth the three-storey climb up this old Assembly Rooms building. Your host – a Glasgow-born fashion designer and arts enthusiast, not shy – has created a bright, minimalist space sprinkled with humour and casual sophistication. Bedrooms capture light and exude his inimitable style; the kitchen's narrow bar is perfect for a light breakfast. Leith is Edinburgh's earthy side, with its docks and noisy street life, but fine restaurants abound and the centre is close.
• 0131-538 3320, wallacesarthousescotland.com. Doubles from £105 B&B

Shrewley Pools Farm, Haseley, Warwickshire

This is a charming, eccentric home with space to play and animals roaming: sheep, bantams and pigs. There's a romantic garden, too, and the house is all low ceilings, aged floors and steep stairs. Timbered passages lead to large, pretty, sunny bedrooms with leaded windows and wooden floors, and a family room with everything needed for a baby. In a farmhouse dining room Cathy serves sausages, bacon and eggs from the farm, can do gluten-free breakfasts and is happy to do teas for children. Buy a day ticket and fish in the lake.
• 01926 484315, shrewleypoolsfarm.co.uk. Doubles from £65 B&B

Vinegar Hill Pottery, Milford on Sea, Hampshire

The cobalt blues and rich browns of David's ceramics fill the stables of this Victorian manor house. Take a pottery course (from an hour to a long weekend) or just enjoy the creative Mexican-inspired decor. A narrow staircase spirals up to a sunny loft: crisp whites, cathedral ceiling, brilliant shower. The ground-floor garden suite has a patio (with gorgeous showman's wagon), sitting room, painted bed and optional children's beds.
• 01590 642979, davidrogerspottery.co.uk. Doubles from £80 B&B

Ffynnon Fendigaid, Llandysul, Ceredigion

Arrive through rolling countryside – birdsong and breeze the only sound; within moments you will be sprawling on a leather sofa admiring modern art and wondering how a little bit of Milan arrived here along with Huw and homemade cake. You can stay all day to stroll the fern-fringed paths through the acres of wild garden to a lake and a grand bench, or opt for hearty walking. Your bed is big, the colours are soft, the bathrooms are spotless and the food is local – try all the Welsh cheeses. Wide beaches are close by.
• 01239 851361, ffynnonf.co.uk. B&B from £36 per person per night

For more information on these properties and more Sawdays-listed accommodation, visit sawdays.co.uk/special-places/britain or pick up a copy of the book: Sawday's Special Places to Stay – British Bed & Breakfast, £11.99 from sawdays.co.uk