9 Great Places To Stay In Wales
Heather Birnie
Fforest Farm, Cardigan
For An Outdoorsy Trip
Insiders and those in the know head to Fforest Farm. Set on a 200-acre estate sandwiched between the river Teifi gorge and Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve, there are several accommodation options for guests who want to stay on the farm, near the sea or in town. Choose between the cosy farmhouse, eco pods with woodburning stoves, bell tents with outdoor kitchens, and family lofts. There’s also a cedar-barrel sauna, giant tipis for watching films, nature-inspired workshops and an excellent pub, Y Bwthyn, which serves local ales and pub classics made with organic produce.
From £150 per night.
Visit ColdAtNight.co.uk
The Royston, Powys
For A Cosy Staycation
The Royston is a small seven-bedroom hotel near the Cambrian mountains. Set amongst ten areas of land on the outskirts of Llanbrynmair in Powys, the hotel has a homely feel, partly thanks to the owner’s unique design and friendly service. Owners Clive and Rob have put their own sense of style into the property, with bright but thoughtful pops of colour and cool vintage furniture. After a day of exploring the nearby waterfalls or hiking the hills, you can cosy up beside the fireplace, help yourself to drinks from the ‘honesty bar’ and head to the dining room to enjoy hearty meals – the restaurant fills up quickly so book in advance.
From £110 per night.
Visit TheRoystonWales.com
Ynyshir, Powys
For Michelin-Starred Dining
Ynyshir is in the small market town of Machynllethin in Powys. The two Michelin star restaurant is headed up by local Gareth Ward, who elevates simple Welsh produce and creates unique dishes you won’t try elsewhere. Diners are taken on an immersive journey over the course of four or five hours, with a tasting menu that showcases ingredients from around the world – think Japanese bluefin tuna and Singapore chilli crab. Meanwhile, vinyl DJs play everything from Motown classics to chilled folk. One of Wales’s best restaurants has a few rooms upstairs with modern, Scandi-inspired décor – the perfect place to relax after a generous meal and a few glasses of wine.
From £550 per night, excluding tasting experiences.
Visit Ynyshir.co.uk
Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire
For R&R
Pembrokeshire is home to some of Wales’s best hotels, including Grove of Narberth, tucked away in the Narberth hills. All 13 rooms in the main house have modern country interiors, while several cottages with equally cosy features are dotted around the estate. Here, the food is a real highlight – Fernery restaurant holds 4 AA rosettes thanks to its sustainable approach to fine dining, while the brasserie is a little more relaxed for long lunches and Sunday roasts. Sustainability is big focus, too – all the hotel’s electricity is 100% clean and renewable, a biomass boiler supplies all the heating and hot water, and the estate even has its own boreholes for fresh spring water.
From £250 per night.
Visit GroveNarberth.co.uk
Cynefin Retreats, Hay-On-Wye
For Luxe Lodges & Pods
If you like the idea of glamping without the trouble of bringing everything with you, Cynefin Retreats is on the Welsh borders near Hay-On-Wye. Away from noise and light pollution, guests can stay in modern one-bed pods which are light and bright with an open-plan kitchen/living area, a wood burning stove, underfloor heating, and a private deck with a hot tub, fire pit and BBQ. It’s also home to two-bed lodges with vaulted ceilings, spacious living areas and generous outdoor space. Guests can explore the gardens and surrounding meadows, cosy up by the fire with a film, and roast marshmallows. Little ones are catered for with nature books, binoculars wooden toys, and outdoor swings hidden in the woods.
From £245 per night.
Visit CynefinRetreats.com
The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon Beacons
For A Pub With Rooms
This small pub with rooms is in an excellent location, between Hay-on-Wye, the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. If you want to challenge yourself to a hike then relax in a cosy room with the promise of pub grub, The Felin Fach has everything you need. Here, it’s all about relaxing into a slower pace of life, exploring the nature on your doorstep and tucking into locally made food. The pub has won numerous awards, and the menu is short, only showcasing a few of the region’s best vegetables or meats at a time. Dinner could include pan fried pork belly with apple purée, followed by wild garlic pesto gnocchi and a cheese plate. Diners can eat beside fires in the library or tack room, in the aga room or outside in the garden.
From £282 per night.
Visit EatDrinkSleep.Ltd.uk
Penally Abbey, Pembrokeshire
For A Quiet Weekend
With some of our favourite interiors on this list, Penally Abbey is a family-run hotel just outside of the seaside town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire. Just a ten-minute walk from the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, there are just 12 rooms, some with sea views, others overlooking the historic Penally Church which dates back to Norman times. All rooms are bright and airy, decorated in warm pastel colours with print-block curtains or headboards and a mix of contemporary furniture. The restaurant downstairs serves daily afternoon tea, followed by dinner, comprised of beautifully presented, crowd-pleasing dishes. Come the morning, guests are served a traditional Welsh breakfast.
From £195 per night.
Visit Penally-Abbey.com
The Albion Aberteifi, Cardigan
For Something Different
This property is the first hotel from Fforest, which we’ve mentioned above. Set across two Grade-II listed former warehouses in Cardigan, the hotel has nautical influences throughout to reflect the area’s maritime past. Guests can stay in one of 12 double bedrooms overlooking the River Teifi waterfront, with a further 11 rooms and family suites in the adjoining building. Rooms are designed to look like a luxury boat cabin, with oak panelled walls, repurposed furniture and en-suites kitted out with Aesop toiletries. You can enjoy sundowner drinks at The Galley, dine at Yr Odyn restaurant, and relax in the outdoor sauna and onsen.
From £165 per night.
Visit AlbionAberteifi.co.uk
Newbridge on Usk, Monmouthshire
For Foodie Trip
Celtic Collection has nine properties in Wales, including the newly opened Newbridge on Usk. The boutique countryside inn is surrounded by several small market towns – including Abergavenny, Monmouth and Caldicot – while Usk itself is home to numerous award-wining restaurants. The hotel has its own 2AA Rosette restaurant, headed up by ex-Soho House chef Carl Newcombe-Ling, where you can tuck into modern British dishes and Sunday lunch with all the trimmings. Rooms have a cosy country feel and each one has its own rolltop bath. Guests can also use the spa at its nearby sister property, Celtic Manor Resort.
From £98 per night.
Visit NewbridgeOnUsk.com
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