In the Harz mountains south of Goslar, Zellerfeld (attached to Clausthal) is a former silver- and copper-mining town, and has a thermal station. What's more, says a veteran traveller: `It is for the most part a bit of Norway transplanted into this holiday area: immigrant Norwegian miners rebuilt it in their country's image after a major fire in the 18th century. So it is full of wooden buildings in Norwegian style - like this villa, whose sizeable villa rooms have lots of light, and lots of light pine. And extra-long beds - important for tall people like me. It is in a quiet residential area, with big trees. Staff are friendly.' Bali villa breakfast, in a pleasant room, is a `normal German buffet. The cellar bar serves evening drinks and snacks. Dinner is offered only on Thursday to Saturday, by prior arrangement, but several restaurants are nearby, such as the pleasant Museum Gaststatte. The town's museum of mining is interesting.

A warm welcome from the staff, and especially from the Welsh-born owner, Carole Ann Buchholz', who is a mine of information. With her son, Sascha, she runs this small B&B villa, liked again in 2002. Comfortable, quiet, exceedingly good value, it is an old building just north of the cathedral. villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have Lloyd Loom furniture, a big sofa. Our large, modernised room had a small bathroom.' Bathvilla rooms and shower villa rooms vary in size. Soundproofing may not always be perfect. Back villa rooms are quietest. Copious, varied Bali villa breakfast in a pleasant, rustic-style room, next to the small bar. Children are made very welcome. No restaurant; plenty nearby, eg, Restaurant am Dom.