For a simple, no-nonsense guide to places to stay this RAC book is as good as it gets. Over 4,000 properties, from old country house hotels to quaint independent guest houses in Britain and Ireland have been looked at - all are inspected on an annual basis and for hotels an overnight visit is done every other year and for guest accommodation every third year. The visits are unannounced and the inspector pays his or her own bill.

But hotels do pay to be in the RAC scheme. The fee covers the cost of the inspection, including the night's stay and entry in the guide. Once the properties have put themselves forward fro accreditation, they have to live with the assessment.

This guide has a bewildering number of symbols but once you have worked them out it all makes sense.

It is organised by region, with each property's listing broken down into sections. There are also road maps and a list of local attractions. The fact that some of the hotels take ads is a bit disconcerting. Langley Castle in Northumberland describes itself as a genuine 14th-century castle. Is there any other type of 14th-century castle?

Keep this in the glove compartment. It's useful.