Here are eight midwinter retreats with a reputation for good food.
Blackhamar, Orkney Islands
From £50/double
A working croft on the small island of Rousay. The food is locally produced. More Scottish accommodation: visitscotland.com/accommodation.
Kilmaneen Farmhouse, Tipperary, Ireland
From 65 euros/double (£42)
Remote enough to justify a warning about the likelihood of getting lost. The owners will cook any fish you catch. More Irish accommodation: ireland.travel.ie/accommodation/.
San Pietro in Valle, Ferentillo, Umbria
sanpietroinvalle.com/home_eng.htm
From 108 euros/double (£69)
This abbey is perched on the edge of a green valley, and the bedrooms still resemble the monks' cells (but with the addition of en-suite bathrooms). More Italian accommodation: emmeti.it/Ospitalita/index.uk.html and caffelletto.it
Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat, Greenland
greenland-guide.gl/hotel-arctic
Dkr1,345/double (£116)
The big attraction here are the aluminium-clad igloos (only available May-September). Still, the sleigh rides, the nearby icebergs and the three chefs help to compensate. More Greenland hotels: greenland.com/Travel_Info/Accommodation/.
The White Pig, Schuyler, Virginia
From $125/double (£79)
A kitsch vegan outpost in the town that inspired The Waltons TV series. Pink stuffed pigs await you on every bed, and the tofu is scrambled for breakfast. More Virginian accommodation: virginia.org.
Hatcher Pass Lodge, Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska
From $85/double (£54)
This lodge is 60 miles north of Anchorage. The main recreations are chess and saunas. More Alaskan lodges: travelalaska.com/planner/indexplanner1.html.
Wilp Gybuu, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada
From Can$90/double (£36)
Close to a temperate rainforest. Isolated, but still accessible by ferry and bus from Vancouver. More places to stay in British Columbia: bc.worldweb.com/WheretoStay.
Lucky Farm, South Kona, Hawaii
$60/double (£38)
This is a macadamia nut and coffee farm with snorkelling and kayaking nearby. More places to stay in Hawaii: gohawaii.com.
