Minibreaks in Wales
Whether you prefer a boutique hotel in a city centre, a stylish retreat near the beach or a B&B in the country, Wales now has plenty of new accommodation to choose from.
If you’re shopping in Cardiff – St David’s shopping centre is brilliant – or going to an event at the Millennium Stadium (I regularly go for the rugby), Jolyon’s At No10, a new boutique hotel, bar and restaurant just 10 minutes’ walk away, is perfect. Housed in a renovated four-floor Victorian building, the hotel has 21 individually designed bedrooms and suites with mod cons, including free Wi-Fi, plasma screen TVs and iPod docking stations. The beautiful bathrooms vary but can include whirlpool jet baths, plunge pools or colour light therapy baths. Double rooms with breakfast cost from £85.
02920-091900, www.jolyons10.com
Opened in autumn last year, Manorhaus Llangollen is a stylish restaurant with rooms, housed in an imposing, refurbished Victorian property close to the town centre but with stunning views of the hills and the ruins of Castell Dinas. The suites have their own lounge, wet-room and bedroom with free-standing tub, and decor inspired by the black-and-white buildings throughout the town of Llangollen. The work of local artists, sculptors and photographers is also showcased throughout. A standard double room with breakfast costs from £115.
01978-860775, www.manorhausllangollen.com
The five-star Glandwr Country House is intimate and luxurious holiday rental property which sleeps 12. The beach at Tresaith is within walking distance and the Ceredigion Heritage Coast and Wales Coastal Path are easily accessible from the house, while inland foot and cycle paths are also nearby.
01239-811442, www.glandwrtresaith.co.uk
Escape hotel in Llandudno
Escape is the first contemporary boutique fi ve-star B&B in the characterful Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno, North Wales. It offers nine stylish rooms. The unique Victorian villa is within walking distance of Llandudno’s best restaurants, bars and shops, and a short drive from Snowdonia National Park, which offers stunning, unspoilt countryside, and Conwy Castle. Double rooms with breakfast start from £89.
01492-877776, www.escapebandb.co.uk
Finally, there’s brand-new country house B&B, Llwyn Helyg, in the Tywi Valley, midway between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. Newly built in three acres of grounds, it has three beautifully furnished rooms – one with a four-poster bed, granite and marble fi ttings and en suites with whirlpool baths. The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a few minutes’ drive away, as are a number of picturesque castles. Double rooms with breakfast cost from £125.
01558-668778, www.llwynhelygcountryhouse.co.uk
For more information on what to see and do in Wales, go to www.visitwales.com
Welsh Rarebits, a collection of country-house hotels, inns and boutique bolt-holes, has four new members for 2013 – Manorhaus Llangollen, Plas Rhianfa at Menai Bridge, Nanteos Mansion near Aberystwyth and Hammet House near Cardigan.
01570-470785, www.rarebits.co.uk
Canal holidays
Hoseasons offers holiday parks, cottages and narrowboats in Wales. Sian, a 51ft narrowboat sleeping four people, is available for full weeks or three/four night short breaks on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal, from £691, with fuel and car parking included.
0844-847 1356, www.hoseasons.co.uk
Dylan digs
Lolfa Cynin, a swish guest house on a dairy farm, is the perfect base from which to explore Carmarthenshire – www.discovercarmarthenshire.com – with Laugharne, so loved by Dylan Thomas, less than a 10-minute drive away. Double rooms with breakfast from £88.
01994-232773, www.lolfacynin.co.uk
If you’re shopping in Cardiff – St David’s shopping centre is brilliant – or going to an event at the Millennium Stadium (I regularly go for the rugby), Jolyon’s At No10, a new boutique hotel, bar and restaurant just 10 minutes’ walk away, is perfect. Housed in a renovated four-floor Victorian building, the hotel has 21 individually designed bedrooms and suites with mod cons, including free Wi-Fi, plasma screen TVs and iPod docking stations. The beautiful bathrooms vary but can include whirlpool jet baths, plunge pools or colour light therapy baths. Double rooms with breakfast cost from £85.
02920-091900, www.jolyons10.com
Opened in autumn last year, Manorhaus Llangollen is a stylish restaurant with rooms, housed in an imposing, refurbished Victorian property close to the town centre but with stunning views of the hills and the ruins of Castell Dinas. The suites have their own lounge, wet-room and bedroom with free-standing tub, and decor inspired by the black-and-white buildings throughout the town of Llangollen. The work of local artists, sculptors and photographers is also showcased throughout. A standard double room with breakfast costs from £115.
01978-860775, www.manorhausllangollen.com
The five-star Glandwr Country House is intimate and luxurious holiday rental property which sleeps 12. The beach at Tresaith is within walking distance and the Ceredigion Heritage Coast and Wales Coastal Path are easily accessible from the house, while inland foot and cycle paths are also nearby.
01239-811442, www.glandwrtresaith.co.uk
Escape hotel in LlandudnoEscape is the first contemporary boutique fi ve-star B&B in the characterful Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno, North Wales. It offers nine stylish rooms. The unique Victorian villa is within walking distance of Llandudno’s best restaurants, bars and shops, and a short drive from Snowdonia National Park, which offers stunning, unspoilt countryside, and Conwy Castle. Double rooms with breakfast start from £89.
01492-877776, www.escapebandb.co.uk
Finally, there’s brand-new country house B&B, Llwyn Helyg, in the Tywi Valley, midway between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. Newly built in three acres of grounds, it has three beautifully furnished rooms – one with a four-poster bed, granite and marble fi ttings and en suites with whirlpool baths. The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a few minutes’ drive away, as are a number of picturesque castles. Double rooms with breakfast cost from £125.
01558-668778, www.llwynhelygcountryhouse.co.uk
For more information on what to see and do in Wales, go to www.visitwales.com
WHEN IN WALES…
Boutique bolt-holesWelsh Rarebits, a collection of country-house hotels, inns and boutique bolt-holes, has four new members for 2013 – Manorhaus Llangollen, Plas Rhianfa at Menai Bridge, Nanteos Mansion near Aberystwyth and Hammet House near Cardigan.
01570-470785, www.rarebits.co.uk
Canal holidays
Hoseasons offers holiday parks, cottages and narrowboats in Wales. Sian, a 51ft narrowboat sleeping four people, is available for full weeks or three/four night short breaks on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal, from £691, with fuel and car parking included.
0844-847 1356, www.hoseasons.co.uk
Dylan digs
Lolfa Cynin, a swish guest house on a dairy farm, is the perfect base from which to explore Carmarthenshire – www.discovercarmarthenshire.com – with Laugharne, so loved by Dylan Thomas, less than a 10-minute drive away. Double rooms with breakfast from £88.
01994-232773, www.lolfacynin.co.uk