10 of Britain’s best waterside hotels

From grand lakes to tranquil rivers, lap up the peace and quiet at one of these glorious waterside boltholes

On the aptly named Loch Awe, Ardanaiseig has an opulent, baronial feel without any of the stuffiness that can sometimes characterise older-style hotels. This is a place for books in front of the fire, croquet on the lawn and late-night whiskies in the scarlet-walled bar, before retiring to one of the 16 seductive rooms. The hotel has its own boats, which can be used for fishing or simply pottering between the ancient ruins and islets that dot the loch. Cycling, horse-riding and clay-pigeon shooting can all be arranged.
• Doubles from £155 room-only, ardanaiseig.com