A Restorative Weekend at Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel – A weekend filled with fun activities, fine wine and great food with Warner Leisure Hotels in North Wales near the beautiful seaside towns and beaches of Llandudno, Conwy and Bodnant Gardens. The castle hotel is set in 260 acres of Victorian parkland with walled gardens and woodland walks, all of which we took advantage to explore.

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Warner Leisure Hotels

Who doesn’t love a “staycation” weekend away……away from all of the daily stresses of work and life and with no washing up or cooking. This is exactly what we enjoyed a week ago when we were invited to stray at Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel near Conwy in beautiful North Wales. Our weekend was made even more perfect as we only live about an hour away from Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, and so it was a short drive up there. We were blessed with the weather too, with hot sunny days which made walks around the 260 acre castle estate and walled gardens more pleasurable. Like me, you may have seen the great adverts for Warner Leisure Hotels on the television, then you’ll know that they specialise in UK short activity breaks just for grown-ups. The regional chain of hotels hosts accommodation ranging from manor houses to coastal resorts and villages, all a stone’s throw from some of the country’s best-loved beauty spots, and Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel didn’t disappoint and was in a stunning location.

Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel is situated Snowdonia and the North Welsh coast and is a Victorian castle. Pronounced “Bod-el-with-an” it boasts facilities and rooms in the main castle building as well as in the Garden Lodges, where we stayed. Our Garden Lodge room, or should I say suite, was beautifully decorated and furnished with local art work and Welsh textiles. It comprised a hallway with coat and luggage rack, a large bedroom with a TV, king-size bed and ample space for putting all your cosmetics and bits and bobs away. There was a large en-suite with toiletries and two wardrobes with plenty of coat hangers. The living space was charming with a fire-place and enamel stove, a fridge, sofa, easy chairs and a veranda. There was tea and coffee-making facilities with a choice of teas, hot chocolate and coffee, plus a welcome bottle of wine with home-made chocolate brownies and crisps for “get you in nibbles” as part of the Signature Experience. Our garden lodge room overlooked the lovely gardens and fountain that is the heart of these lodge bedrooms and had a private parking space just for us nearby.

One of the attractions at  Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel are the activities on offer, and we took full advantage of them whilst we were there. We tried out some archery, which I absolutely loved, as well as rifle shooting, croquet and a bit of putting too. Then there are the grounds – the hotel itself is set in 16 acres of gorgeous grounds backed by a further 260 acres of Victorian parkland to explore, including some fascinating historical “practice trenches” from WWI which are still visible. There are guided walks from easy to challenging, as well as some fantastic new guided walks for 2018 which are exclusive to Bodelwyddan guests. The hotel has joined forces with a local walking organiser to give you a great walks around the best parts of Wales. The Victorian walled garden was one of my favourite places to wander around, and the oldest tree in the grounds is a beautiful Black Mulberry which is over 370 years old. There are set pathways through the fantastic Victorian semi-native woodland with its seasonal bulbs carpeting the area and quirky Victorian box wood. The gardens are steeped in history with reference signage telling you all about them too, which was very interesting.

Image: Warner Leisure

After an energetic but wonderful day of walking, archery, shooting, croquet and putting, we looked forward to dinner in the lovely St David’s restaurant. The menus change daily, and there is always a fabulous selection of dishes on offer. There is a carvery with two roasts to choose from, a salad bar, a buffet with daily themed choices such as curry, fish and chips and mixed grills. The starters and desserts are brought to your table as well as any “classics” you may have picked from the menu. I chose the Confit of Duck Leg one night and the Sirloin Steak on the other night. As well as the desserts which suggested bread and butter pudding, fruit pies, ice cream and cheesecakes, you can have a cheeseboard, which we did one evening. There’s also a choice of hot drinks, and wine and other beverages can be pre-purchased or ordered from the bar. We enjoyed both evening meals and the choice was extensive with something for everyone. Breakfasts were just as enjoyable with a choice of dishes from the menu such as kippers, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs as well as a fully cooked breakfast buffet with pastries, cereals, fruit and yogurts.

For a mid-morning snack, afternoon tea, cakes or light lunch, the Mulberry Lounge is a lovely place to go to relax and enjoy a bite to eat. We enjoyed a Ploughman’s Lunch for Two there one afternoon as well as being able to order a packed lunch which comprised a round of sandwiches each with mini pork pie, fresh fruit, a drink and a packet of crisps. Next to the Mulberry Lounge is the Mulberry Leisure Club, where you can swim a couple of lengths in an indoor heated swimming pool or just relax in the spa pool. The sauna & steam room are the perfect place to relax after a round of golf, and you can indulge in some wonderful beauty treatments to soothe the soul leaving you well and truly re-charged, as I did when I was there – I had a facial, manicure and pedicure one afternoon. And once the sun has set and after dinner, there’s plenty of entertainment in the Lowther Hall; we saw an Annie Lennox Tribute show as well as an 80’s band called The Wild Boys. And reserving your favourite seat isn’t a problem with the Warner Table service. It’s all about making the most of your time while you’re on holiday, so you can now reserve your seat in the Late Lounge for the evening’s entertainment, which means you can dine at your leisure, indulge in a pudding and perhaps enjoy another glass of wine – all in the knowledge your seat is held for your arrival. Your seat is guaranteed in the same place for the duration of your stay, as is your dining table in St David’s Restaurant too.

Image: Warner Leisure

Image: Warner Leisure

Image: Warner Leisure

Overall, we both had a wonderfully restorative stay at Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel. Our Garden Lodge room was fabulous and the activities and entertainment on offer was brilliant, and we both really enjoyed our archery and shooting classes. The food was delicious and the grounds were stunning, with wide open views of the surrounding countryside, and the opportunity to visit nearby local seaside towns, castles and gardens. And for anyone who fancies a break at one of Warner Leisure hotels, I am delighted to be able to offer a discount code for you, as explained below:

Discount code:

Get £20 OFF per person, per break  from the 04/05/18 to the 31/12/18

When booking your Warner Leisure Hotel break, use this code:

LAVANDLOVEWLH

Book your breaks here:

Warner Leisure Hotels

Disclaimer: I was paid to visit Bodelwydden Castle Hotel as well as not having to pay for my stay. However, all views and opinions are my own and I was not asked to write a favourable review. 

Why not read all about Heather’s stay at Warner Leisure Cricket St Thomas?

REVIEW: WARNER LEISURE HOTELS CRICKET ST THOMAS – LEISURE BREAKS FOR THE 50+ TRAVELLER

Image: Heather on her Travels