If you want to do Britain in...

If you want to do Britain in style, rent yourself a castle, manor home or cottage in England, Scotland or Wales. High on the list is a castle built by William the Conqueror. Or there’s a 15th-Century home that belonged to Sir Walter Scott. Rates for castles, homes, cottages start at about $475 U.S. a week. Busby House near Stokesley in North Yorkshire ($460 and up) is a rambling old two-story farmhouse with stunning views of gardens, hills, pastures. It even has a river running through the property.

Castle/cottage/manor homes accommodate three to six persons. This is a particularly good plan for families. Catalogues listing hundreds of properties are available for $3 to $5 from British Travel Associates, P.O. Box 299, Elkton, Va. 22827. Telephone toll-free (800) 327-6097.

For Honeymooners

Jamaica Villa Vacations has produced a honeymoon package for newlyweds. Features seven nights in a private villa (swimming pool, cook, maid, gardener), a rental car, lunch at The Ruins restaurant in Ocho Rios. The price: $1,050. Smaller villas/condos available, starting at $855 per couple a week. A wide choice of properties in several of Jamaica’s popular resort areas (Negril, Montego Bay, Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio).

Jamaica Villa Vacations, 31-33 S. Prospect, Park Ridge, Ill. 60068. Call toll-free (800) 323-5115. Ask about in-season/off-season rates.

Small Luxury Hotel

Businessmen and vacationers are being steered to a new luxury hotel in downtown Sacramento called The Sterling. A dozen rooms with marble baths, private Jacuzzis. Quality furniture by Henredon and Century, a four-star restaurant (entrees include roasted quail with grapes and black currants, sweetbreads in a wine sauce, pork tenderloin in filo dough with plum sauce, duck with mushroom and pork sauce, veal with mushrooms, rack of lamb). A conservatory shipped from England serves as headquarters for business functions, receptions, weddings in this former private mansion. A charming 12-room hotel with a strict no-smoking rule. The Sterling is within walking distance of the State Capitol.

The Sterling Hotel, 1300 H. St., Sacramento, Calif. 95814. Telephone (916) 448-1300. Rates: $95/$225.

Disabled Travelers

Home exchanges for disabled travelers and their families are being arranged through a New York organization called Access. Trades in the United States, Canada, Britain, Europe. Exchanges are made for any period of time agreed on by both parties. A week, a month or more. Access also arranges tours, individual/group travel packages. Suggests airlines with low fares for the handicapped.

Details from Access: The Foundation for Accessibility by the Disabled, P.O. Box 356, Malverne, N.Y. 11565. Call (516) 887-5684.

The Grape Route

More than 500 wineries are listed in the new edition of “The Wine Spectator’s Wine Country Guide to California.” Provides addresses, business hours, along with information on hotels, inns, B&Bs;, restaurants, picnic areas. Regions covered in this 128-page publication (with maps) are Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties; San Francisco; Monterey; the South Central Coast; Southern California; the Central Valley, and the Sierra Foothills. Sold in wine shops/bookstores or by contacting The Wine Spectator’s Wine Country Guide, Order Department, 601 Van Ness Ave., Suite 2014, San Francisco 94102. Price: $7.27 in California (including tax, mailing), $6.95 outside the state.

Riding the Rails

A five-page list of Europe’s rail passes is being mailed to travelers by the European Travel Commission. Contains rates for Eurailpasses plus regional passes in the Benelux and Scandinavian countries, and national passes in 17 European countries. Also listed are discounts for children, students, senior citizens. Prices are in U.S. dollars. Countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Among the good buys is eight days of rail or bus travel in Ireland for only $74.50.

For a free copy with price lists, send a stamped (25 cents), self-addressed envelope to European Rail Passes, P.O. Box 1754, New York 10185.

Hong Kong

E. P. of Riverside wants the name of a “world-class” hotel in Hong Kong. The top three favorites among seasoned travelers are the Peninsula, the Regent and the Mandarin. All provide excellent service. At the Regent, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the best view in Hong Kong (a passing parade of freighters, junks, sampans). Top floors of the Mandarin also provide good views of the harbor. The Peninsula gets high marks for its Old World elegance. Scenes from Ernest Gann’s novel, “Soldier of Fortune,” opened in the lobby of the Peninsula. This is where knowledgeable travelers meet for afternoon tea, evening cocktails. The Peninsula was voted the “best hotel in the world” recently in a reader survey conducted by a national magazine. Its restaurant, Gaddis’, is popular with both guests and residents of Hong Kong. Other information is available from the Hong Kong Tourist Assn., 10940 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1220, Los Angeles 90024. Telephone (213) 208-4582.

Farm Guides

California travelers can obtain “Farmer-to-Consumer” directories listing more than 900 farms where fresh fruit/produce are sold directly to the public. There are two guides--one for Southern California, the other for farms in Northern California. (Fresno and Madera Counties in California’s Central Valley are named in both editions.) Farms are listed by areas, with directions for travelers, types of fruits/vegetables. Other information tells of tours, picnic areas.

Free copies from the California Department of Food & Agriculture, Direct Marketing Program, P.O. Box 942871, Sacramento 94271-0001, or call toll-free (800) 952-5272.

Colorado

A brochure naming 40 B&Bs; in Colorado is available for $1 from Holden House, 1102 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80904. Rates at Holden House range from $46/$50 (three guest rooms, views of Pikes Peak). In Durango, the Scrubby Oaks B&B; rises on 10 acres ($30/$55), and the Claim Jumper Inn at Crested Butte features antiques, queen-size beds, an indoor sauna/hot tub ($40/$55). Riversong in Estes Park provides fireplaces, striking views of the Colorado Rockies ($50/$89). A map pinpointing the various B&Bs; is included with the brochure.

Reader Recommendations

California--Lori Hendricks, Walnut Creek: “Discovered a small motel called The Edric, 124 1st St., Santa Cruz 95060. A block from the beach and boardwalk. Ten units, most with ocean/beach/wharf views as well as kitchen facilities. A large sun deck. Rates: $65/$100.”

France--Jane B. Hill, San Francisco: “Recently experienced a 10-day sojourn with Suzanne Thomas of Let’s Go, 749 San Carlos, Palo Alto, Calif. 94306. Suzanne limits her groups to 10 people, takes a personal interest in everyone.”

Mexico--Liz Penny, Ukiah: “A group of us rented a large private home in Puerto Vallarta. Included in the price was a staff of four. Five bedrooms, four baths. Just off the beach. Spotless, beautifully decorated. Our cost worked out for the 10 of us to $45 U.S. each a day, which is so much cheaper than a hotel. Contact Puerto Vallarta Villas, P.O. Box 3730, Chico, Calif. 95927, toll-free (800) 447-8855.

We regret that only a select few recommendations can be used. They must be brief (typewritten or printed). Only one recommendation per reader, please. Note: Recommendations will not be used unless prices and addresses are included.