Just 20 minutes outside of Cardiff you’ll find one of Wales’s most beautiful and popular vineyards, Llanerch, which has 36 rooms attached. Established in 1986, it is known for its Cariad wines, which include a dry white, sweet rosé and medium-bodied red, as well as a white wine-infused gin and a sparkling wine. A stay here simply must include a trip to the Tasting Room, where you will be led in a guided wine tasting by one of the friendly expert staff, trying one of each of the white, rose and red wines (plus the new gin if you’re lucky). In the summer, these tastings also include a walk through the vines. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with the family ones offering views of the vineyard, plus an outside terrace with seating – perfect for a sundowner when the weather allows. The real piece de la resistance here though is the Roots restaurant, which has 2AA Rosette status, with a delicious menu of Welsh fare to match the wines. Try to come for Sunday lunch – it’ll be the best you’ve had.
Address: Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, CF72 8GG
The Royston, Llwynaire
This charming guest house in a sleepy corner of North Wales is the passion project of two former London creatives – and it shows. The seven bedrooms are decorated in a vibrant, cool style, featuring an eclectic mix of antiques, artworks and curios assembled on the owners’ travels. Meanwhile service is seriously laidback – in a good way – with no formal check in or check out, but instead a conversation across the kitchen table. Breakfast and supper is cooked by your hosts, with produce grown in the kitchen garden including homemade pizzas and freshly laid eggs. It’s not kid friendly, there’s no TVs in the rooms, and there’s little else to do on site – but that’s not the point. This is a place to come and escape the real world for a little bit, whether that’s through reading and having a local gin from the honesty bar, or trekking in Snowdonia nearby.
Address: Llwynaire, Llanbrynmair, Powys SY19 7DX
