Not planned your summer holiday yet? There’s no better time to explore Wales. With historic castles, dramatic coastlines and great beaches, as well as stunningly beautiful national parks, World Heritage Sites and outdoor adventures for the entire family, it has much to offer visitors.
Here’s our pick of the best places to stay:
Small but perfectly formed, it’s easy to see why Ffynnon in southern Snowdonia was named one of the ‘Best Cool Hotels’ in the The Times Cool Hotel Guide for 2014. Located on the charmingly-named Love Lane in the pretty market town of Dolgellau, it’s a five-star gold-rated, family-friendly guest house with bucket loads of style and impressive facilities. The town sits at the foot of Cader Idris, one of the most majestic peaks in Wales, so makes a great base for those keen to take part in outdoor activities, such as cycling, walking, watersports and climbing. The world class mountain biking centre of Coed y Brenin is only a few minutes away, as is the Mawddach Estuary, an area of immense natural beauty.
Situated
in the heart of Snowdonia, Dolffanog Fach – or Welsh Retreat – is a 17th century farmhouse nestled at the foot of the awe-inspiring Cadair Idris mountain, close to the beautiful Talyllyn Lake. Offering family-friendly B&B accommodation, it’s set in a walkers’ paradise offering. Step out of the front door and you’re surrounded by footpaths enticing you to explore. Several dedicated cycle routes run past and the internationally-renowned mountain biking centre at Coed y Brenin is nearby.
The Glangwili Mansion offers luxurious bed and breakfast accommodation in one of the most beautiful parts of South Wales. Set on the edge of the Brechfa Forest in the stunning, yet largely undiscovered, Gwili valley, it’s just a few miles north of the bustling market town of Carmarthen. It’s also well positioned for those who want to explore the many visitor attractions and places of interest nearby, including the Brecon Beacons, the Pembrokeshire and Cardigan coastlines, and the Gower Peninsular.
Owned and run by renowned chef Stephen Terry, The Hardwick has carved out a reputation as one of the top restaurants in Wales. It also just happens to have eight super-stylish guest bedrooms, where you can enjoy a great night’s sleep after dining on Stephen’s acclaimed cuisine. The Hardwick started life as a simple country pub in the 1800s, but, these days, it’s a serious gastronomic destination, attracting rave reviews from food critics and cited by top chef Michel Roux Junior as his favourite Welsh restaurant.
Pentre Mawr Country House is a grand country retreat near Denbigh in North Wales offering all the facilities that you’d expect from a luxury hotel, including a swimming pool, suites with hot tubs, and superior rooms with four poster beds and roll top baths. What’s more, dinner is included in the price! It’s a romantic setting for a break, but also makes a memorable setting for a wedding or wedding reception. Pentre Mawr Country House is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty just below Offa’s Dyke, a long distance walking route through the Welsh borders. It’s within easy reach of Chester, Snowdonia, Conwy, the Welsh Coast and the Horseshow Pass at Llangollen.
Steeped in history and dating back almost 400 years, Plas Dinas offers guests a taste of the grandeur of a Welsh gentleman’s country residence. Yet it boasts all of the luxurious finishing touches and mod cons that you’d expect from a five-star gold-rated guest house – and more! As well as offering a choice of boutique B&B and self-catering accommodation, Plas Dinas is a fabulous venue for weddings and other special occasions. It enjoys an enviable location between the Menai Straits and Snowdonia mountain range, and is just a short drive away from some of the region’s most popular visitor attractions.
Ty Croeso (pronounced Tee Croy-so) means ‘House of Welcome’ in Welsh and a warm welcome is guaranteed at this five star-rated 19th century property, which offers family-friendly, boutique B&B accommodation. Your friendly hosts, Alexandra and Cory Johnson, await your arrival with tea and homemade cakes, and are always happy to come up with suggestions about places to eat and visit during your stay. Ty Croeso is set high on the hillside above the Monmouth and Brecon Canal just half-a-mile from the charming town of Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons National Park. There’s a wealth of leisure activities to enjoy within a ten-mile radius, including walking the Beacons Way or Offa’s Dyke, horse-riding, hang-gliding, angling, sailing, golf, canal boating on the Brecon and Monmouth Canal, and caving on Llangattock Escarpment.
Coed Mawr Hall near Rowen in Conwy is an elegant mansion house, built around 1810, with fabulous views of the valley below and mountains beyond. The main house offers luxurious, boutique-style bed and breakfast accommodation, although there are also self-catering cottages set within its extensive grounds. Located down a long, private driveway just off the Conwy to Rowen Road, Coed Mawr Hall is ideally located for those keen to explore the surrounding coast, countryside and the mountains. It’s in the heart of a picturesque area that offers excellent opportunities for walking, mountain biking and bird watching. Guests can also enjoy river, lake and sea fishing locally, as well as golf, treetop walking, dry slope skiing and horse riding.
As its name suggests, Clearvewe sits on the top of a hill overlooking the Vale of Usk and affords guests mesmerising views of the surrounding fields and woodland. Although this charmingly rustic-style B&B offers complete tranquillity, the little village of Llangwm is nearby. Clearvewe makes a great base from which to explore the border land between England and Wales, which has a rich heritage. The area has many ancient castles and fortifications. From the grandeur of Caldicot and Raglan Castles to the timeless beauty of Usk and Abergavenny Castles, they are reminders of a less settled period in history. Other nearby places worth a visit include Tintern Abbey and Llanthony Abbey, with their awe-inspiring architecture; Monmouth Priory; and the Roman baths and amphitheatre at Caerleon.
If you enjoy your own space, then Penbontbren at Glynarthen, close to the Welsh market town of Cardigan, is the B&B for you; it boasts five luxurious suites that each have their own sitting room and garden area. The scale and standard of the suites rivals anything that a five-star hotel could offer, and is some of the finest bed and breakfast accommodation that you’ll find anywhere in Britain. This five-star gold-rated accommodation is set in 32 acres of grounds surrounded by glorious Welsh countryside and with views towards the Preseli mountains. It’s only two miles from the Ceredigion coast and its beautiful National Trust-owned beaches. The nearby village of Tresaith has a sailing club and races take place most Sundays. This part of the coast has many scenic walking routes, from which you may be lucky enough to spot dolphins, grey seals and a wide variety of seabirds.
The charming Georgian town of Laugharne was the home of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas during the final years of his life and it was during this period – in the late 1940s and early 1950s – that Browns Hotel enjoyed its heyday. Thomas could often be found ordering Buckley’s ale at the bar, sitting in the bay window reading the daily newspapers, writing at a wrought iron table or playing cards with friends. Now, thanks to a major restoration project, this historic guest house has been given a contemporary makeover that cleverly conjures memories of an era when life was simpler and the pace slower; a time when people would set the world to rights over coffee and cake. A must-stay for literary fans, Browns offers an appealing blend of style, home comforts and warm Welsh hospitality. Built as a private residence in 1752, the property is thought to have become a hotel in the 1800s. Now, Browns has been reborn as a stylish 21st century guest house, but care has been taken to ensure that this is not at the expense of its fascinating past.
For ideas about places to visit and things to do in Wales, head to the Visit Wales website.
Happy holidays!
Kirsten and Lucy
The Boutique and Breakfast team.