Llanthony Priory hotel, a hidden Welsh hotel with just five rooms built into the ruins of a 12th-century priory, offers an experience unlike any other in the country, according to a recent review. The hotel, located deep in the Black Mountains of Wales on the eastern fringes of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, is so remote that even in the 12th century it was described as 'truly suited to the monastic life… in a wilderness far removed from the bustle of mankind'.
Setting and Atmosphere
The hotel and cellar bar are run by Annabel and Jamie, a couple who grew up in the area and became its owners relatively recently. Their hands-on approach gives the place a homely and family-run feel; Annabel took care of reservations and showed guests to their rooms while Jamie prepared a superb breakfast the next day. The communal living area features flagstone floors, a huge stone fireplace, and stunning views of the priory ruins. Rooms have low and tilting door frames and skewed floors, adding to the historic charm.
Bedroom windows look out over the ruins, offering a view that cannot be found in any other hotel in the country. A narrow, dimly lit stone staircase leads directly from the rooms to the cellar bar, which has stone-vaulted ceilings, flagstone flooring, a large fireplace, and wooden tables and chairs. The bar is also open to non-guests, accessible from the priory grounds by descending stone steps.
Food and Drink
The locally-sourced and home-cooked food includes hearty dishes like 'very local lamb' named after the hermit who founded the abbey and homemade lasagne. The breakfast is described as 'superb', with bespoke orders taken the night before. Local beers are available, such as Blorenge Golden Ale (£5.30 a pint) from Tudor Brewery in nearby Llanhilleth. Guests can also enjoy set honey from Hay-on-Wye with toast.
Activities and History
The abbey ruins are open to the public daily, and hotel guests can enjoy them with a drink at sunset, described as a 'truly magical experience'. The area offers several walks, including a 20-mile circular hike along the ridges above the priory, following the Wales-England border. Visitors can ascend Rhiw Cwrw ('beer track'), used by monks to carry beer over the mountain. The priory was founded by Norman knight William de Lacy, who established a hermitage before it grew into an Augustinian monastery, dissolved in 1539 by Henry VIII.
Pricing and Rooms
Rooms range from £165 (or £135 for single occupancy) to £320 for all three rooms in the West Range, which includes a shared bathroom and is typically booked together. The hotel has a total of five rooms, with the West Range offering three rooms for groups.
