Aberdare Country Club

The rambling clubhouse has a wonderfully inviting lounge and bar, with comfortable couches around a magnificent open fireplace, and an elegant main dining room. Traditional colonial furniture, polished timber floors and exposed roof beams add to the interior's nostalgic country-inn feel. Outside, the wraparound covered terrace offers a second dining venue overlooking the lawns and the heated swimming pool beyond. Pop into the delightful gift shop for some mementos – including Kenyan crafts, and book a massage at the spa.

Charming stone cottages are well spaced throughout the gardens, varying in size and decor from old-fashioned country simplicity to the modern luxury you might expect from a large hotel. Nineteen cottages have two bedrooms, one has three, and the largest is a rambling five-bedroomed family cottage with a private veranda. All have en-suite bathrooms and every facility you need. Some are set higher on a slope, so if you find steps troublesome, book accommodation nearer the main building.