Best Loved Hotels (0333 332 0444; www.bestloved.com) launches its new 2016 directory today, featuring more than 175 of Britain and Ireland's leading hotels, as well as entertaining stories by some of the UK's top travel writers.

The attractive, full-colour Best Loved Hotel & Travel Guide showcases a variety of character-filled hotels to suit all tastes and occasions, from smart London addresses to baronial Scottish castles, seaside guesthouses in Ireland to restaurants with rooms deep in the English countryside. Hotels appearing in the directory can be booked direct via BestLoved.com to benefit from special offers and the best rates.

The handy 98-page guide lists the hotels region by region, introducing each area with amusing and engaging tales by some of the UK's top travel writers, who also pick their favourite well- and lesser-known attractions. Three of the stories by award-winning writers will go online today at weblog.bestloved.com, including an abseiler's view from London's Orbit by Sarah Barrell, a touch of adventure in the Cairngorms by Robin McKelvie, and a tour of Alice in Wonderland's Llandudno by David Atkinson. More articles will be posted over the coming weeks.

Best Loved has been independently assessing hotels for more than 20 years. In 2015, it was taken over by a new management team led by Julian Ebbutt; together they have more than 50 years' experience of all aspects of the hospitality business. The new team has refined BestLoved.com to offer a great selection of some of the finest hotels in the UK and Ireland; launched its own annual awards programme; developed a new online booking platform; launched a new Reward Card; and boosted its social media activity, among many other improvements.

“Our new directory offers a huge variety of ideas about where to take a break – and is a good read that will, hopefully, inspire visitors to get out and about in their chosen destination,” says Julian Ebbutt. “The guide is just one of the imaginative ways we'll be making BestLoved the place to go for the very best breaks in Britain and Ireland.”

Follow Best Loved Hotels on Twitter @BestLovedHotels, at facebook.com/bestloved, pinterest.com/bestlovedhotels, Google+, and linkedin.com/company/best-loved-hotels

To request a copy of the Best Loved Hotel & Travel Guide 2016, for further information, hi-res images, or to arrange press trips, please email: travelnews@lbbcreative.co.uk. Alternatively, contact Simone Kane on 07811 161839 and simone@lbbcreative.co.uk, or Kate Simon on 07939 526109 and kate@lbbcreative.co.uk

Notes to editors: Best Loved Hotels is a sales and marketing group that independently assesses and represents properties to deliver commission-free bookings through its website, extensive database, comprehensive social media channels and marketing and PR activity. For further details visit www.bestloved.com