The Hotel
Llangoed Hall is a luxurious and elegant country house hotel located in the lush green Wye Valley. If you’ve never visited the area before it’s a must add to your wish list. Rolling hills, misty mornings, snow-capped mountains in the distance and an abundance of wildlife – it’s picture perfect. On our journey through the windy roads across Wales we slowly crept towards the hotel which can be seen from a good distance. Llangoed Hall’s site dates as far back as 560AD and believed to have been THE legendary White Palace, home of the first Welsh parliament. Since then a mansion existed from 1632 and was the possession of the MacNamara family who won this magnificent house in a card game and kept with them for two generations until 1847. In 1912 Clough Williams Ellis re-designed the mansion to his own specifications as a country house and in 1987 (my year of birth) Sir Bernard Ashley (husband of Laura Ashley) bought Llangoed Hall and opened it as a hotel in 1990. In 2012 it changed hands to its current owners. You’ll see lots or early work from Laura Ashley herself throughout the house and some magnificent works of art – the mural on the staircase particularly took me back every time I made my way back to our room.
The Grounds/What To Do
From all the hotels I’ve visited over the last few years, Llangoed Hall is certainly most blessed when it comes to scenery. From the windows of our bedroom alone we had panoramic views of the snowy topped mountains in the distance and come morning, as the mist lay thick on the grass they magically disappear. It’s exciting. At the rear of the property you can sit outside during the summer, play a game of giant chess or roam around the kitchen gardens – full of live animals, bees and even an on-site smokehouse. The house is located only a stones throw from the Brecon Beacons and just nine miles away from literary heaven, Hay-On-Wye – famous for its many bookshops. With little natural light the hotels location is (so I’m told) a great place for stargazing. Perhaps a little sherry with the telescope on the balcony?
The Rooms
We stayed in the hotels master suite, located on the top floor which makes up one of this houses 23 bedrooms, all of which have been very sympathetically and uniquely designed. The rooms are full of antiquities, books and fine furniture – but never over cluttered. Our four-poster bed was stunning and the bathroom was a dream, featuring a vivid blue roll top bath and high quality Penhaligons spa products. Who needs a spa when you have a bathroom like this? As you walk in to the room your greeted by the cosy lounge, with complementary fresh fruit and a decanter of sherry waiting to be sipped on by the window. A single-seater desk for writing sadly never got used this time round but I imagine it has over the years and I’d love to know just who. Famous writers and celebrities I imagine. This is a room fit for royalty and I left it feeling like a prince.
The Spa/Gym/Health & Fitness
There are no spa or gym facilities on site but even if there was, I would never have had the time to use them – unless I was staying for more than one night. A game of billiards can be taken in the games room, chess in the hallways, giant chess in the garden and of course walks and hiking through the mountains. If anything you’ll only want to spend your time exploring all the nooks and crannies Llangoed Hall has to offer.
The Food & Drink
The food here at Llangoed Hall is very accomplished and still has much more to give. Right now in its current form it’s very exciting and the kitchen takes a lot of risks, some which work marvelously. The head chef here is Nick Brodie who has bags of experience under his apron – he’s really putting Llangoed Hall on the map as not just a good restaurant, but a destination restaurant and one well worth the travel no matter how near, or far. The kitchen utilises as much of its produce from the hotel herb garden, along with honey, ducks, hens and cattle from the farms. Not forgetting that handy smokehouse to finish off ingredients. Our favorite dish of the evening was the hare with red vegetables and winberry, cooked to perfection. Breakfast the next morning was as good as it gets. You can read about my full dining experience HERE.
The Verdict
Llangoed Hall Hotel is like stepping back in time and you simply can’t help but feel like royalty wherever you find yourself throughout this hotel and it’s grounds. It’s beautiful, timeless and classic. Wales has some very good hotels, yes – but I doubt you’ll find another just like this. Stay in the master suite for a truly unique experience and make sure you eat in the restaurant, it’s an attraction not to be missed. With ties to Laura Ashley noted throughout the house it’s just another reason why Llangoed Hall Hotel is the perfect overnight retreat for even the most disconcerting hotel stayer.
Llangoed Hall Hotel
Llyswen
Brecon
Wales
LD3 0YP
Tel: 01874 754525
