![\"Ynyshir](\"http:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ynyshir-Hall-Hotel.jpg\")
<\/a>View of the countryside surrounding the hotel<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
I can’t believe I didn’t know this glorious haven existed before being invited to stay a few weeks ago. In fact it is such a find, I am reluctant to tell you about it. However if you\u00a0want to swap the sounds of the city for the music of birdsong\u00a0then Ynyshir Hall, nestled at the foot of the Cambrian mountains,\u00a0is\u00a0little short of heaven.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Situated on the Dyfi Estuary in Powys, mid-Wales, this 10 bedroom\u00a0hotel, which won\u00a0the AA Hotel of The Year, Wales 2014-2105, dates from the 15th century and\u00a0is set in glorious gardens surrounded by views of the mountains.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Formerly owned by Queen Victoria who loved the birdlife on the estate and was responsible for planting many of the trees, the hotel\u00a0was bought 25 years ago by Joan and Rob Reen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They have created a rural idyll in this Welsh hotspot not far from the town of Machynlleth, famed for its Centre of Alternative Technology, and the quirky seaside resort of Aberdovey with its golf course and miles of sandy beach.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is also situated next to one of Britain\u2019s finest bird reserves,\u00a0RSPB Ynys-Hir, where the BBC television series Springwatch is filmed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shortly after dawn\u00a0one day I strolled across the hotel grounds\u00a0into the reserve. The quiet of the early morning\u00a0was interrupted only by the\u00a0thrilling chorus of bird song. A wonderland for bird lovers and a magical spot to wonder and wander; the reserve is now\u00a0part of the\u00a0renowned \u2018Osprey Project\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After a bracing walk it was lovely to return to Ynyshir Hall\u00a0and sink into\u00a0one of the\u00a0comfy sofas in the colourfully-decorated lounge and watch the sun stream through the windows. I can imagine nestling in a similar spot after a night’s star gazing. The air is so clear here\u00a0and with so little light pollution\u00a0is ideal\u00a0to gaze skyward on a cloudless night at the myriad of twinkling stars.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The stars continue at ground level too particularly in the dining room where Michelin-star chef Gareth Ward, awarded the Good Food Guide’s Chef to Watch in 2015, cooks up some of the most imaginative food in Wales in the hotel’s restaurant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a>The restaurant<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
We\u00a0sampled an impressively experimental\u00a0\u2018taster\u2019 menu comprising 11 courses.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From the delicate flavours of mackerel with black sesame and fermented cabbage, to the novelty of a beef fudge we delighted in every plate.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We tried wild duck with elder and chicory and experienced\u00a0the artistry and magic of both dry ice and liquid nitrogen matched with\u00a0a superb, and well chosen, wine list.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The beautifully-maintained gardens of sweeping lawns and\u00a0fascinating variety of plants add to the sense of peace and tranquillity at Ynyshir Hall.\u00a0And of course the\u00a0changing scenery makes this a charming spot to visit year round.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It’s also ideally located\u00a0for\u00a0exploring the spectacular Welsh countryside. Many of the walks start from the hotel, which\u00a0can equip you with a\u00a0packed lunch if you fancy a wander off the beaten track. <\/p>\n Returning to a\u00a0traditional Welsh tea is something I highly recommend. For \u00a315 a head\u00a0the hotel serves a mouth-watering variety of sandwiches, choice of savoury and sweet scones, Welsh cakes and bara brith (welsh bread with fruit).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can even enjoy home-made butter and the more unusual marmite butter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may, however,\u00a0struggle with the 11-course dinner menu after this. So opt for lighter menu choices or later dining slot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last\u00a0year the hotel unveiled a new\u00a0Holistic Wellness Centre\u00a0which offers a broad range of\u00a0exotic treatments, ranging from Reiki and massages to Chinese Energy Healing and Mindful Meditation Walking. Ideal for those looking for some indulgent pampering or with sore muscles and old bones\u00a0in need of reinvigorating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comfy sofas in the hotel front lounge<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n The rooms, named after modern painters, are spacious and comfortable with similarly bright, cheery, colour schemes as you will discover in the rest of the hotel. Ours had a vast bathroom, a welcome feature for me as I stand 6ft 4in. And of course they all come equipped with flat screen TVs, tea and\u00a0coffee making and WiFi.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The public face of the superbly efficient and polite staff is Cate Griffiths. She enthuses, \u201cThe wonderful thing about this area is that there is something for everyone whether your interest is diverse habitats, lakes, estuaries or woodland.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Indeed, many local activities can even be organised by the hotel including golf (there are a number of good courses within\u00a0striking distance), pony trekking, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and cycling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not only is the area protected as an official \u2018UNESCO protected biosphere\u2019,\u00a0there is plenty to discover year round, from the\u00a0endless sandy\u00a0beaches\u00a0in summer to gentle\u00a0walks through the\u00a0hillsides and along the river\u00a0in winter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are villages and towns to visit too; don’t miss the Halo Factory shop in Tywyn which sells the most delicious honey ice-cream. For us, the cafes and gift shops\u00a0in the pretty town of Dolgellau made for a delightful break\u00a0along\u00a0the picturesque drive to the slate mine in Betws-y-Coed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dolgellau is not far from Cader Idris,\u00a0a\u00a0popular\u00a0mountain\u00a0for hikers\u00a0at the southern end of the Snowdonia National Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If, however, you prefer to\u00a0stay local, then the old town of Aberystwyth is only a short\u00a0drive. Home to the National Library of Wales, which not only houses a huge collection of books on art, but a most impressive range of\u00a0volumes on\u00a0culture and history. For me this\u00a0is the ideal place to hide away\u00a0for a few hours either before or\u00a0after the bracing hike; or even instead of.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rooms at Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach, Powys, Wales, SY20 8TA cost from \u00a3215.00 a night inclusive of breakfast, based on two sharing. Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from \u00a3315.00 a night based on two sharing. For more information visit www.ynyshir.co.uk<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\/ 01654 781209\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MARK DUNHAM visits Ynyshir Hall and discovers a\u00a0stunning oasis with a Michelin star restaurant in the secret heart of Wales I can’t believe I didn’t know this glorious haven existed before being invited to stay a few weeks ago. In fact it is such a find, I am reluctant to tell you about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18460,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>MARK DUNHAM visits Ynyshir Hall and discovers a\u00a0stunning oasis with a Michelin star restaurant in the secret heart of Wales<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_18463\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"379\"]
<\/a> View of the countryside surrounding the hotel[\/caption]\r\n\r\nI can't believe I didn't know this glorious haven existed before being invited to stay a few weeks ago. In fact it is such a find, I am reluctant to tell you about it. However if you\u00a0want to swap the sounds of the city for the music of birdsong\u00a0then Ynyshir Hall, nestled at the foot of the Cambrian mountains,\u00a0is\u00a0little short of heaven.\r\n\r\nSituated on the Dyfi Estuary in Powys, mid-Wales, this 10 bedroom\u00a0hotel, which won\u00a0the AA Hotel of The Year, Wales 2014-2105, dates from the 15th century and\u00a0is set in glorious gardens surrounded by views of the mountains.\r\n\r\nFormerly owned by Queen Victoria who loved the birdlife on the estate and was responsible for planting many of the trees, the hotel\u00a0was bought 25 years ago by Joan and Rob Reen.\r\n\r\nThey have created a rural idyll in this Welsh hotspot not far from the town of Machynlleth, famed for its Centre of Alternative Technology, and the quirky seaside resort of Aberdovey with its golf course and miles of sandy beach.\r\n\r\nIt is also situated next to one of Britain\u2019s finest bird reserves,\u00a0RSPB Ynys-Hir, where the BBC television series Springwatch is filmed.\r\n\r\nShortly after dawn\u00a0one day I strolled across the hotel grounds\u00a0into the reserve. The quiet of the early morning\u00a0was interrupted only by the\u00a0thrilling chorus of bird song. A wonderland for bird lovers and a magical spot to wonder and wander; the reserve is now\u00a0part of the\u00a0renowned \u2018Osprey Project\u2019.\r\n\r\nAfter a bracing walk it was lovely to return to Ynyshir Hall\u00a0and sink into\u00a0one of the\u00a0comfy sofas in the colourfully-decorated lounge and watch the sun stream through the windows. I can imagine nestling in a similar spot after a night's star gazing. The air is so clear here\u00a0and with so little light pollution\u00a0is ideal\u00a0to gaze skyward on a cloudless night at the myriad of twinkling stars.\r\n\r\nThe stars continue at ground level too particularly in the dining room where Michelin-star chef Gareth Ward, awarded the Good Food Guide's Chef to Watch in 2015, cooks up some of the most imaginative food in Wales in the hotel's restaurant.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_18462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"400\"]<\/a> The restaurant[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWe\u00a0sampled an impressively experimental\u00a0\u2018taster\u2019 menu comprising 11 courses.\r\n\r\nFrom the delicate flavours of mackerel with black sesame and fermented cabbage, to the novelty of a beef fudge we delighted in every plate.\r\n\r\nWe tried wild duck with elder and chicory and experienced\u00a0the artistry and magic of both dry ice and liquid nitrogen matched with\u00a0a superb, and well chosen, wine list.\r\n\r\nThe beautifully-maintained gardens of sweeping lawns and\u00a0fascinating variety of plants add to the sense of peace and tranquillity at Ynyshir Hall.\u00a0And of course the\u00a0changing scenery makes this a charming spot to visit year round.\r\n\r\nIt's also ideally located\u00a0for\u00a0exploring the spectacular Welsh countryside. Many of the walks start from the hotel, which\u00a0can equip you with a\u00a0packed lunch if you fancy a wander off the beaten track. <\/a>\r\n\r\nReturning to a\u00a0traditional Welsh tea is something I highly recommend. For \u00a315 a head\u00a0the hotel serves a mouth-watering variety of sandwiches, choice of savoury and sweet scones, Welsh cakes and bara brith (welsh bread with fruit).\r\n\r\nYou can even enjoy home-made butter and the more unusual marmite butter.\r\n\r\nYou may, however,\u00a0struggle with the 11-course dinner menu after this. So opt for lighter menu choices or later dining slot.\r\n\r\nLast\u00a0year the hotel unveiled a new\u00a0Holistic Wellness Centre\u00a0which offers a broad range of\u00a0exotic treatments, ranging from Reiki and massages to Chinese Energy Healing and Mindful Meditation Walking. Ideal for those looking for some indulgent pampering or with sore muscles and old bones\u00a0in need of reinvigorating.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_18458\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"450\"]<\/a> Comfy sofas in the hotel front lounge[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe rooms, named after modern painters, are spacious and comfortable with similarly bright, cheery, colour schemes as you will discover in the rest of the hotel. Ours had a vast bathroom, a welcome feature for me as I stand 6ft 4in. And of course they all come equipped with flat screen TVs, tea and\u00a0coffee making and WiFi.\r\n\r\nThe public face of the superbly efficient and polite staff is Cate Griffiths. She enthuses, \u201cThe wonderful thing about this area is that there is something for everyone whether your interest is diverse habitats, lakes, estuaries or woodland.\"\r\n\r\nIndeed, many local activities can even be organised by the hotel including golf (there are a number of good courses within\u00a0striking distance), pony trekking, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and cycling.\r\n\r\nNot only is the area protected as an official \u2018UNESCO protected biosphere\u2019,\u00a0there is plenty to discover year round, from the\u00a0endless sandy\u00a0beaches\u00a0in summer to gentle\u00a0walks through the\u00a0hillsides and along the river\u00a0in winter.\r\n\r\nThere are villages and towns to visit too; don't miss the Halo Factory shop in Tywyn which sells the most delicious honey ice-cream. For us, the cafes and gift shops\u00a0in the pretty town of Dolgellau made for a delightful break\u00a0along\u00a0the picturesque drive to the slate mine in Betws-y-Coed.\r\n\r\nDolgellau is not far from Cader Idris,\u00a0a\u00a0popular\u00a0mountain\u00a0for hikers\u00a0at the southern end of the Snowdonia National Park.\r\n\r\nIf, however, you prefer to\u00a0stay local, then the old town of Aberystwyth is only a short\u00a0drive. Home to the National Library of Wales, which not only houses a huge collection of books on art, but a most impressive range of\u00a0volumes on\u00a0culture and history. For me this\u00a0is the ideal place to hide away\u00a0for a few hours either before or\u00a0after the bracing hike; or even instead of.\r\n\r\nRooms at Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach, Powys, Wales, SY20 8TA cost from \u00a3215.00 a night inclusive of breakfast, based on two sharing. Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from \u00a3315.00 a night based on two sharing. For more information visit www.ynyshirhall.co.uk<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\/ 01654 781209\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n[mappress mapid=\"116\"]","_et_gb_content_width":"","_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[41],"yst_prominent_words":[10718,8238,6459,10614,10914,10909,353,310,6423,3082,10666,1955,10667,10913,10912,257,10910,10911,8240,8236],"class_list":["post-16858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-travel-2"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-01 00:27:17","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16858"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24457,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16858\/revisions\/24457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16858"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newclone.retiremove.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=16858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}