The Hotel
Ynyshir Hall is a luxurious country house hidden in the deep trenches of the Cambrian Mountains and lush Welsh countryside. Parts of the house date back as far as the 15th century and is now owned and run by Joan and Rob, who have created something magical here. Joan is a fabulous host, while Rob Reen has injected his artistic hand across the whole of the hotel. Having exhibited widely across the UK, all of Rob’s art can be seen adorning nearly every wall of this hotel, with his most current work focusing on the studies of sheep. We fell in love with it all – the colours alone could brighten up even the most miserable of days. The house was once even home to Queen Victoria and to this day still has regular famous faces who have visit such as Richard Gere and Eddie Izzard. Inside the house you’ll find a cosy baby blue lounge, burnt orange bar and turquoise blue dining room. The hotel also sits within the most magical of grounds which change colour throughout the seasons.
The Grounds/What To Do
The grounds at Ynyshir Hall – well they’re like something out of a fairytale. Absolutely zero light & noise pollution means the only sounds you’ll hear will be of wildlife or soft murmurs from the howling winds which swoop down over the mountains. A short walk away through the grounds you’ll find the RSPB Ynys-hir Nature Reserve which is home to some of the UK’s most exciting wildlife and is the scene for which BBC’s Springwatch is filmed. The Cambrian mountains can be explored on foot from the hotel and a short drive reveals the coastal golden sands of Borth Beach. For those looking for a little more human contact, Aberystwyth is a short 10 mile drive and provides a lovely village atmosphere. You’ll never find a dull moment when visiting Ynyshir Hall – there is so much to do and it’s a great place to relax in and to simply get away from it all.
The Rooms
We stayed in one of the hotels top rooms, the deluxe garden suite which is named after artist, Marc Chagall. The Chagall room is the largest the hotel has to offer and looks directly out over the beautiful Cambrian Mountains. Waking up from our bed in the morning, sliding open the huge patio doors and hiding back under the warm duvet while the cold air gushed in was one of the highlights. I can’t recall a time I ever had such stunning panoramic views quite literally from the comfort of my bed. In the evening it was just as magical too. The strong winds would batter the sloping mountains and the smell of the roaring fire from our lounge created a setting to never forget. The main feature of our room, apart from the view – was our bathroom. Sultry lighting, quality products from Temple Spa and a bath big enough to swim in. Nothing is more relaxing when you can create our own spa experience without having to leave your room. Walking into the room you enter the warm inviting lounge which was equipped with a small flat screen TV, wood burning fireplace, single-seater desk and my personal favourite touch – a decanter of sherry to sip on. In the bedroom, a comfy large double bed featured and complimentary dressing gowns/slippers branded with the luxury Relais & Chateau motif. This room wasn’t just a room, it was a retreat and felt like the home I never wanted to leave.
The Spa/Gym/Health & Fitness
Ynyshir Hall has no spa or gym facilities on site, but offers a range of holistic treatments in the Ynyshir Hall Wellness Centre. A calm and nurturing treatment room is the setting and aims to relive any stress, pains or strains in the body. All treatments are tailored individually to you and with sessions of either 60 or 90 minutes. The hotel also has its lush green surroundings which can be explored on foot if the country fresh air is more your thing.
The Food & Drink
In short, the food and drink offering was exceptional. The breakfast is exquisite, the dinner world-class and the bar a lovely place to relax in – though the cocktails could do with a little more work. The turquoise dining room must be experienced. Head chef, Gareth Ward along with his talented kitchen staff have really helped create a destination restaurant – something that’s always needed for a hotel in the middle of nowhere. Breakfast the following morning was served in the same room and highly recommended, especially if it means you get to sample the home-made preserves. You can read all about my dinner experience HERE.
The Verdict
As far as luxury hotels go, Ynyshir Hall is one of the most unique and intriguing hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It has so much personality injected into it from its owners Joan and Rob, but all with the utmost taste. Colours and décor are very eclectic in some instances, but everything works and everything is striking or different – especially that turquoise blue dining room. Ynyshir hall is a hotel which has so much to offer and one I would highly recommend to anyone who was looking for a rural retreat to never forget. A world-class dining experience and the best views in the UK then look no further – Ynyshir Hall has it all.
Ynyshir Hall
Eglwysfach
Machynlleth
Powys
Wales
SY20 8TA
Tel: 01654 781209
