Felin Newydd House

Rooms

Huw and Elizabeth want guests to feel that this is a proper home, not a hotel, so none of the 9 bedrooms are named or numbered. They form an interconnected ring around the wide, glass-domed staircase, 7 bathrooms dotted between them. Part of the delight of staying here is learning how it all fits together, opening what must be a bedroom door to reveal another corridor, or a majestic white and chrome bathroom. It’s like inhabiting an Escher engraving.

Rooms are decorated in comfortable country-house style with antique furniture discovered during renovations, or bought at local auctions. Thick biscuit-coloured carpets, Persian rugs of all sizes, school trunks, sofas and chaises longues, piles of leather suitcases; prints and paintings have been chosen to fit the character of each room. The best of the bunch has a stone balcony overlooking the herbaceous borders, and a gargantuan four-poster bed.

We had a lovely roomy pink twin (4 of the doubles can be made into twins), with both a shower room and a grand bathroom. Oh, the luxury of a bath with a view. Smaller, cosy rooms at the back of the house are ideal for kids. Crisp white cotton bedlinen, new mattresses and down pillows, coupled with the deep, rural silence, guarantee peaceful sleep.

Features include:

• Microwave

Eating

All the country house requisites are here. The roomy kitchen has a long wooden table for indulgent breakfasts and an Aga and gas range to cook them on. Views out over the herb garden provide inspiration, and there are huge quantities of good china, cutlery, saucepans and utensils for even the most demanding cook. There is also a large dishwasher for the aftermath. Beyond the herb garden outside, there’s a charcoal barbecue, chairs, tables and a large parasol for summer lunches on the patio, washed down with plenty of Pimms. For more formal occasions, double doors reveal a stately dining room, complete with grandfather clock, white linen table cloth, and huge windows overlooking the front lawn.

If you haven’t come here to cook, a chef or caterers can be brought in to do it all for you. They’ll make the most of the good quality local produce while you lounge the drawing room or play croquet on the lawn. There's also a fully stocked wine cellar from which to choose your tipple.

Local eateries include the Felin Fach Griffin Inn a couple of miles away, nationally lauded for its food and wine. The River Café in nearby Glasbury overlooks the Wye and specialises in authentic Italian food.

The useful "Book of Things" in the morning room has a comprehensive list of local suppliers and restaurants.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Microwave

Activities

• Walking – as well as 50 acres of grounds to explore, you are on the edge of the wild and beautiful Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains, teeming with wildlife, and with breathtaking views in every direction
  
  
• Outdoor pursuits – Huw can lay on riding, croquet lessons, clay-pigeon shooting, kayaking, river fishing for trout and salmon, lake fishing, canoeing on the Wye... you name it
  
  
• Books – the market town of Hay on Wye is a 15-minute drive away. With 30 second-hand and specialist bookshops, it’s a bookworm’s happy place. During the 10-day Hay Festival of Literature at the end of May it’s flooded with authors, broadcasters, celebrities and bibliophiles
  
  
• Shopping – Llandeilo, 40 minutes away, is a medieval town packed with antique shops to browse. For a more overwhelming antique experience, Builth Wells, 21km north of Felin, holds huge antique fairs in May and September at the Royal Welsh Showground. Abergavenny, 30 minutes away, has an indoor market, perfect for the wet Welsh weather: depending on the day you visit you'll find a traditional general market, craft fair, antique fair or flea market
  
  
• Racing – Chepstow Racecourse, 56km away, has jump and flat race meetings every month throughout the year, and Britain’s newest racecourse, Ffoslas Racecourse in Carmarthen, is 96 km away

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Shopping / markets
• Wildlife
• Wine tasting

Kids

Kids are really welcome here, but there are a few caveats -it's not somewhere to just let them run riot, even if you are booking the house for exclusive use (see 'Families should know' below).

That said, children love it here, whether they're exploring the hollow trees in the grounds, watching heron fish on the pond or playing croquet in the gardens. There are a lot of quirks to fascinate kids in the house. The owners have even hosted a party celebrating a 2-year-old's birthday here, and you can book a photographer for the day if you are hosting a similarly special event.

Note that it's also a dog-friendly spot so bring your favourite canine - they have a kennel, 2 dog beds and plenty of fields for them to run in - making it a great spot for all the family.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

4 of the 9 bedrooms have double beds that can be arranged as twin beds; cots fit in every room and you can also borrow 1 of the 2 camp beds if needed. We thought the small cozy rooms at the back of the house would be great for kids.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport 2 hours
• Hospital: 30 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Felin Newydd House is about 7 miles from the town of Brecon, a mile from the small village of Llyswen, at the foot of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains in Wales.

By Air
The nearest airport is Cardiff International (80km), with regular scheduled flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Newcastle. The nearest transatlantic flights arrive and depart daily from Bristol Airport, a 2-hour drive away. London Heathrow is 3 hours away, London Gatwick 3 hours 30, London Stansted 4 hours. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
Huw and Elizabeth can organise cars or coaches to pick up guests from airports; enquire when booking.

By Train
The nearest railway station is in the market town of Abergavenny, a 40-minute drive from Felin Newydd. Hourly trains take 2.5 hours from London Paddington to Abergavenny, changing once at Newport Gwent. Collection from the station can be arranged.

By Car
A car is essential if you want to shop, eat out or explore the area. The house is clearly signposted from the road, and there’s tons of parking on the sweeping gravel drive. You’re just 15 minutes' drive from Hay on Wye, 20 minutes from Builth Wells, and 40 minutes from Hereford. If you’re driving from Cardiff, allow 1 hour; Bristol 1.5 hours; Birmingham and London 2.5 hours.

If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around