this is a really lovely little pu pub in the heart of the welsh country side with a really local…read morefeel, the owners David and June really go out of thier way to make you feel welcome, we have been there several times and now got to know several of the local people as the place is so friendly, it is only a short drive (1 mile) to the world famous book town of hay on wye, there is a restaurant at the pub with excellent local food or you are more than welcome to eat in the bar. there is a good selection of real ale and the selection shots are fun especialy the squashed frogs will def be back and would def reccermend

Great experience! Fantastic breakfast (incredible dog at breakfast ask for Captain)- especially…read moreloved the gluten free options. Helpful staff and easy check in/out. Great location - in the center of (a rather small) town. Cozy room with plenty of space. WARNING: low ceilings. Would love to be back again someday.

Surely there's an award for best pub garden out there somewhere and this pub simply MUST win it!…read more Every Englishmen loves settling in for a good bank holiday session and this pub garden was the most perfect location for it. Set at the top of the little High Street in Bishops Castle, the view stretched for miles across the immaculate English and Welsh countryside. There is a vast amount of space, with lots of large tables for big parties and a stretch of grass where children and dogs ran freely, out of the way of the tables. The pub served lots of lovely locally brewed ales, my friends and I enjoyed many a Shropshire lad! Although I didn't have chance to sample the food, it smelt and looked delicious. I am now seriously considering moving to Shropshire.

This hotel and town were perfect for a relaxing few days. The hotel was charming and well-run by…read morethe proprietors. The rooms were comfortable and ours had an amazing view. We enjoyed our meals in the hotel, especially the full breakfast. There was plenty of room to sit and have lunch, tea or beer both inside and outside. Everyone was so friendly. Definitely with some of my favorite vacations and we'll be returning next time we're in Britain.

Had a tremendous lunch at the restaurant at Gliffaes Country House Hotel, about an hour north of…read moreCardiff in Wales. There are beautiful grounds and a beautiful old country house with a great large restaurant. We had pre-lunch drinks in one of the salons. Service was truly great and the food was exceptional. We had a delicious three course meal. It's worth the drive through rolling hills of South Wales even if the day was a bit foggy.

I have just come back from a lovely weekend at this beautiful hotel. I must admit that I didn't…read morefind Gliffaes without help as I booked a cycling retreat via The School of Life - I will be forever grateful to be introduced to this gem and can't wait for an excuse to return! I was impressed even before we arrived as the website is extremely helpful and friendly, including a very good description of how to get here (satnavs can get it wrong without a little human intervention), pictures of all the rooms, as well as loads of ideas of how to spend your time in the Brecon Beacons. The hotel is set in beautiful grounds with stunning views across the valley. You are well looked after from the start and all staff seem exceptionally nice and helpful - you know straight away that you have arrived in someone's family home rather than a corporate establishment. All rooms are decorated individually, and contemporary Welsh art can be found throughout the building. I particularly liked the little touches of handmade soap and heated towels in the bathroom, as well as the pile of Wellington boots in the cloakroom reminding me of the rain more typically associated with these parts. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and enjoyed gloriously sunny days cycling up and down the surrounding hills, taking in castle ruins, ancient churches and picturesque villages along the way. We were served lovely three course dinners, ending on an exotic selection of home made icecreams; you can tell how much fun someone is having with the ice cream maker - Malibu and Coconut anyone? Everything was beautifully presented and delicious and not at all what culinary sceptics might expect in the backwaters of rural South Wales. Thank you!

This is an extremely atmospheric old place - full of faded grandeur…read more Apparently Arthur Conan Doyle was a family friend who often came to stay here and it is said that during his many visits he learnt of the local legend of the hounds of the Baskervilles which lent inspiration to one of his more famous works. While the place is not as gloomy or forbidding as something from that tale, it is certainly evocative and we had an excellent time here. We can recommend staying in one of the 'executive' suites as they are massive and are state of the artfor 1970 something. A real experience!

This place in great for an eccentric weekend away! Part of the Hounds of the Baskerville history,…read morethis is one of the few hotels that will let you bring your dog!!! - and the dog can stay in the room with you for just £3 per night. For those of us with dogs who feel bad leaving them behind this really is a big plus! If you like walking this is an ideal break for you and your mutt; acres and acres of beautiful scenery to wander through; take a packed lunch. Best summed up as eccentric; this place is true value for money offering huge executive suites with jacuzzi baths in the room at really cheap prices - great for a romantic get-away or a chill out with the girls, excellent food you'll just have to tell everyone about it!

We were camping up the road in the Bycross campsite, but decided against cooking and ended up here…read moreat the Red Lion. While waiting for our food, we overheard a regular tell the lady behind the bar that the wall mounted ashtray outside had blue tits nesting in it! They lady then went off and made up a laminated sign asking smokers not to use the ashtray and why. How sweet. We both went for the chicken and brie pie. An odd combination it turned out, but it had chips, which is what we both really wanted. That said, we did eat the pie and it warmed the cockles of our hearts. The main bar was almost empty apart from a local and the lady behind the bar. We had a brief chat as we left. I enthusiastically explained that we had been canoeing down the river. Met with a quiet enough reaction, we then left. My partner explained as it was a big fishing pub, mentioning you are a canoeist is not advised as a friend of his had done this in the past and was told that canoeists were not welcome. Truth be told were made very welcome. I would definitely return to The Red Lion Hotel if am back in the area.

My boyfriend and I did a 3300 mile, six week UK road trip and didn't plan out a lot of our hotels…read more We showed up in Hay-On-Wye and pulled over to use Expedia to find a room. We were able to book one night at The Swan for 120 pounds, which included breakfast. The Swan is adorable and filled with character. Our room was at the end of the hall on the second floor, with a big window looking out over the garden. Our room was cozy with a comfortable bed and all of the amenities that we could need. The floorboards were very creaky and loud, but we didn't have a problem with noise preventing us from sleeping. The service in the hotel was friendly, but spotty. It's not a huge hotel and didn't have a lot of staff. We often found the reception desk empty, as the lone staff member was helping someone away from the desk. When we wanted a drink from the bar, the woman at reception had to leave the desk to take on the bartender role. The same thing happened when we needed extra towels. They were always pleasant and professional, but I got the vibe that it's frustrating for them to run all over the hotel. The Swan has a great lounge area, with many different spots to relax. I spent several hours reading in a quiet corner and loved every minute of it. This was probably my favorite aspect of the hotel. They do have free- wifi, but I couldn't find a spot that gave me a good connection. It was nice to put "unplug" from my devices for a bit, so it didn't bother me. We really enjoyed the morning breakfast too. The yogurt was delicious!

I tried to have dinner here and was summarily turned away. I stood in the bar for a fairly long…read moretime, but the help ignored me. Finally, I walked into the back and had to ask them whether they had any table space. The restaurant at the Swan needs to teach its staff members how to treat customers. I ate at the Old Black Lion up the street, which had superior food and service.

A wonderful, traditional 16th Century Inn. Lovely people, lovely pub, lovely beer and lovely food!…read moreDoes accommodation at 40 pounds a night. I must come and stay here. Can't remember both beers I had, but one of them was Masters Devons Pride. They were both good. I think I might have eaten the Smoked Haddock & Spring Onion Fishcake too but my memory fails me slightly. I enjoyed whatever I had!