GETAWAYS
A Weekend in WALES
WE ARE OH-SO-LUCKY TO LIVE ON AN ISLAND THAT HAS SUCH A RICH AND VARIED TAPESTRY . FROM ITS HISTORY TO ITS GEOGRAPHY THERE IS EVERYTHING AND MORE TO EXPLORE , YET HOW OFTEN DO WE VENTURE ABROAD IGNORING WHAT IS ON OUR OWN DOORSTEP ? BREATHTAKING SCENERY , A PLETHORA OF INTERESTING SIGHTS , A WONDERFULLY WARM WELCOME AND A FEW GASTRONOMIC TREATS … WELCOME TO WALES . BY SAMANTHA READY
OK , so Wales isn ’ t exactly on the doorstep , but it ’ s not a million miles away either and once you can escape the monotony and humdrum of the motorway , you soon realise that part of the beauty of a trip to this part of the country is the journey to get there .
Our destination was beautiful Mid Wales , an area that screams outstanding natural beauty , is renowned for conservation and is steeped in history too , but perhaps more surprisingly is also flying up the ranks of gastronomic acclaim .
Our first stop was to the simply breathtaking Lake Vyrnwy in Powys . After meandering the winding country lanes and tiny villages , we had timed our arrival at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel perfectly – just in time to witness the cascading waterfalls over the edge of the gothic dam that crosses the entire lake and see the sunset beyond the fairytale tower house that sits resplendent at the water ’ s edge
Having built up a healthy appetite from a long journey and all that fresh Welsh air we headed for dinner , stopping first in the lounge for an aperitif ( there is an impressive gin list ) and to peruse the the menu , which features a host of locally sourced seasonal produce .
The AA Rosette Tower Restaurant offers both daily and seasonal menus and an extensive wine list of over 100 tipples to suit every palate and purse , and offers a comfortable and welcoming dining experience .
We began with the homemade vegetable soup and fresh bread , as well as the roast butternut squash , feta cheese , pear and pickled walnut salad which came beautifully presented on a slab of Welsh slate .
Our main course option had to be as local as we could go , so we plumped for the Welsh lamb ; a delicate rump served with a rich dauphinoise and braised leeks , and the Welsh Black beef – a dish that offered a glorious fillet combined with a rich cheek , roasted potatoes , blue cheese mousse and salsa verde and well worth the menu supplement !
We were pleased to have saved room for pud when our chosen options of chocolate marquise – a smooth bittersweet dome of chocolate with honeycomb ; and the apple crumble tart – sweet , simple and delicious with clotted cream ice cream , arrived again all beautifully presented . Finishing with coffee and petit fours in the lounge on the cosy sofas in front of the roaring fire was the perfect end to our meal and our first day .
Waking the next morning to sun over the lake was blissful , we were able to secure a lakeside table for breakfast and honestly spent more time looking outside than at our plates ( even ones heaving with fresh local pork and leek sausages , bacon and eggs ).
We were reluctant to leave , but of course the purpose of coming here was to explore , so off we set through the Mid Wales countryside , stopping in quaint villages and taking in sights such as the beautiful Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall and Powys Castle ( those staying longer can embark on numerous walks , fly fishing , watersports and bird-watching too ) and were even able to head as far as Cheshire Oaks before arriving at our final stop : The Dragon Hotel in Montgomery .
Montgomery is everything you could hope for in a small town — set in the Mid Wales Welsh Marches , the rolling landscape is beautiful , the nearby Montgomery Castle ruins are a must-see offering far reaching views of the village and countryside beyond . The market town , with its central clocktower that appealed to my Back to the Future loving husband , has plenty to do – museums , collections and shops – without being busy or overrun and surprisingly it is somewhat of
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