The most romantic hotels in Wales
Once you get to know Wales, you quickly discover that it has some of the most awe-inspiring - not to mention romantic - landscapes in the country, from the breathtaking beauty of Snowdonia to the magnificent beaches of Pembrokeshire and the quiet and gentle hills of border country. And - since locally sourced food became important to all - the produce in Wales is marvellous, from lamb and black beef to an array of cheeses. The welcome in these charming, privately owned hotels, some stylishly contemporary, some grand, others charmingly simple and traditional, is warm and genuine. Amongst them, you will discover a collection of drawings by Whistler, a balcony overlooking a private stretch of river, a cosy attic room overlooking the wild Brecon Beacons, and a view from the top of a medieval tower, just big enough for two, that you will never forget.
Llangoed Hall
Powys, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Llangoed Hall overlooks meadows leading down to the River Wye, with the Black Mountains visible in the distance. The hotel also has lovely gardens, which include roses, wild flowers and a maze. There are also chickens, ducks, quail and a smokery. The house itself has great presence and guests are encouraged to relax, curl up on sofas and play the piano. The characterful rooms have been designed for lingering in, with decanters of sherry and Roberts radios by the bed. There's also a fine collection of early 20th century British paintings, including a collection of prints by James McNeil Whistler. Read expert review From ￡120per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Plas Bodegroes
Gwynedd, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Couples, young and old visit Plas Bodegroes: it’s a place that feels right for all ages and is equally suited to a romantic getaway as to a walking holiday. The house, trimmed by a pretty wrought iron Victorian veranda covered in a profusion of flowers in summer, is enchanting, and much larger than it looks on the outside. A fine collection of Welsh paintings distinguishes the interior, which has an instantly welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. Tables are set in the lovely courtyard, perfect for pre-or-post dinner drinks and coffee by candlelight. Read expert review From ￡109per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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The Grove
Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales
8Telegraph expert rating
You fall for The Grove as soon as you spot it. There are two main fa?ades: one three storeys tall, gleaming white and many windowed; the other gabled, with Arts and Crafts elements that are continued inside. The owners have put everything they have into the venture and done it on a shoe-string by sorting it all out themselves, and quite beautifully, too. There is a cosy library with books, games and chessboard as well as a light-filled room for elegant, inventive breakfasts. There are further bedrooms in an adjoining cottage and 15th-century longhouse and four self-catering cottages overlooking the Preseli hills. Read expert review From ￡160per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Bodysgallen Hall and Spa
Llandudno, Wales
8Telegraph expert rating
Bodysgallen Hall, with its fabulous views, lovely gardens and popular spa, is both a luxury hotel and historic house, which has been progressively built over the course of 600 years. The medieval core is a tower that was built as a lookout for Conwy Castle. The encircling view is enthralling. The bedrooms here are pretty, old-fashioned (think flouncy dressing tables, coronets above the beds, pleated lampshades, brass wall lights) and warm. A fine modern menu from chef Gareth Jones in the restaurant is more imaginative than you’d expect. Read expert review From ￡220per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Fairyhill
Reynoldston, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
You can't help but pinch yourself when you first arrive at Fairyhill. There are a few rabbit-out-of-the-hat moments: the way the evening sunlight spills across the sloping lawn, the brook that babbles through lichened woods, and the clever intermingling of contemporary design, local art and original features in a Grade II-listed manor. Afternoon tea, a walk in the woods and a browse of the daily papers is as fast-paced as it gets. Before you know it, it's G&T and canapé time on the terrace (there are 100 gins to pick from, including Welsh ones infused with seaweed). In the restaurant, the chef pulls off a daring, imaginative menu, taking a pride in local sourcing and garden-grown ingredients. Read expert review From ￡230per night Rates provided by Booking.com
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Nanteos
Aberystwyth, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Opulent suites, fine dining with an imaginative Welsh twist and soothing views make Grade I-Listed Nanteos a fabulously romantic retreat between the countryside and coast. It's a class act – borderline palatial, actually – with tall sash windows framing the view, a grand staircase curving up to chandelier-lit rooms with spectacularly high ceilings. Days involve muddy country rambles in the meadows and woods and lavish afternoon teas in the salon. The circular walk takes in a lake dappled with water lilies in summer. The ultimate romantic fix is the vast Nightingale honeymoon suite, with hand-stencilled walls, an ornamental fireplace, blue-silk lined wardrobe and corner tub. Read expert review From ￡90per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Penally Abbey
Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
A delightful family-owned small hotel on the Pembrokeshire Coast, close to the attractive harbour town of Tenby. It’s a late-18th-century Strawberry Hill Gothic house full of period details, not least the characteristic ogee head doors and windows. You enter a welcoming and stylish hallway with wood-burning stove; there follows a bar that opens on to a pretty conservatory; an elegant yet homely sitting room and a glamourous candlelit dining room set with white-clothed tables. Stay in rooms five or seven for their sweep of Gothic windows. Read expert review From ￡165per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Palé Hall
Llandderfel, Gwynedd, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Queen Victoria and Churchill have both sojourned at this Victorian mansion on the fringes of Snowdonia National Park, and it still hasn’t lost its special touch. Owners Alan and Angela Harper have furnished it with impeccable style and head chef Gareth Stevenson has diners whispering "Michelin star". With ornate fireplaces, original features and large windows with sweeping views over the grounds, the bedrooms are all gracious and, with the use of splendid beds, antiques and wallpapers from Zoffany and Sanderson, refreshingly like real grand country house bedrooms. Read expert review From ￡275per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Gliffaes Country House Hotel
Brecon Beacons, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Gliffaes stands above the River Usk, in the shadow of the Black Mountains. Crowned by two quirky campaniles, it was built in the 1880s in Italianate style. It has lovely grounds that once employed 14 gardeners and, for fishermen, five salmon and trout beats along the river. The 23 bedrooms are traditional, with pretty country house fabrics, four of which have superlative views over the river and the sky-high hill that rises steeply beyond it. Read expert review From ￡160per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Slebech Park
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
9Telegraph expert rating
Slebech Park is an enticing hideaway, with beguiling views, stylishly understated rooms and a restaurant brimming with rustic romance and home-grown produce. It’s a unique retreat with woodland walks and a millennia of history to explore – delve into the grounds and you’ll find compelling church ruins, hidden tunnels and walled gardens. All rooms have plenty of personality with bespoke Savoir beds draped in Egyptian cotton; Classic rooms have large tubs. Breakfast includes cooked options – go for the one with a Welsh twist: lava bread, cockles, fried bread and thick bacon rashers. Read expert review From ￡87per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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