Tan-y-Foel

Tan-y-Foel, “the house under the hillside,” sits high above the Conwy Valley, just outside Betws-y-Coed, within 6 acres of rugged woodland and pasture on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. This small 5 star country guest house, owned and run by Janet and Peter Pitman and their daughter Kelly has fabulous views of the Conwy valley. In contrast to the traditional exterior the interior is modern, lots of creams and buttermilk colors have replaced the brighter modern décor that the Pitmans previously favored. Janet, a Master Chef of Great Britain, uses organic and fine local produce some of which are home grown in the vast new greenhouse and takes pride in her modern cooking with Oriental and Asian influences. Dinner is served in a delightful little beamed dining room that in former times was the farm’s dairy. Rooms 4, 5, and 6 enjoy spectacular views. Rooms 1 and 9 (an especially lovely converted hayloft) have separate entrances. In 2012 they are adding a family room with two adjoining bedrooms and a facility for walkers and bikers where they can leave their equipment. The rugged grandeur of the Snowdonia mountain passes is in complete contrast to the pretty countryside around Tan-y-Foel. Castle lovers head for Conwy and Caernarfon.