Two Night Getaway with Afternoon Tea for Two

Afon Rhaiadr Country House Michael from Project Management, October 2025

We chose Afon Rhaiadr Country House for our Two Night Getaway with Afternoon Tea, and I can honestly say it was a magical experience.

The house is a hidden gem in Southern Snowdonia, tucked at the foot of the legendary Cadair Idris mountain. I know calling a hotel “magical” sounds cliché, but it truly is. The country estate is filled with old-world décor, with grounds that include a forest, a stone bridge and cascading waterfalls. At the back of the house there’s a bird feeder that attracts dozens of birds – we happily spent hours just watching them.

We arrived for our 4pm check-in and were warmly welcomed by Gina and Gareth, the owners. Gina gave us a tour of the house and gardens, showed us where breakfast would be served, and even let us peek inside a couple of the other rooms before the other guests arrived. We had upgraded to a king-size room, perfectly positioned just above the bird feeder. The rooms had everything you could want: robes available at reception, luxury shower products, and even real milk in the hallway fridge (a small but brilliant touch). Our names were written on the bedroom door, another simple but homely touch.

Another detail that really impressed us was the guest handbook in the room. It’s a treasure trove of local information, with useful numbers and addresses, travel and tourist guides, weather warnings and even detailed hiking trail routes. It even featured not only a list of local pubs, but they were arranged by dress code, so we didn’t have to worry about rocking up in walking boots. It was one of the most comprehensive and genuinely helpful guides I’ve ever seen in a hotel, another example of the incredible attention to detail here.

For Afternoon Tea, Gina let us choose between the luxurious lounge or the bright conservatory. We picked the conservatory for the bird-watching, and to our delight the furniture had been rearranged to give us the best view. Gareth explained the sandwiches he had prepared, while Gina’s home-baked cakes and scones stole the show. We were encouraged to take our time, so we spent hours sipping tea, watching the birds and indulging in plate after plate of treats.

At this location you are required to book breakfast when booking using a gift experience voucher, and we were thrilled that we did. There’s a menu of twelve different options, ranging from a hearty Full Welsh (with black pudding, of course) to pancakes, smoked salmon and eggs, or granola and yoghurt. My personal favourite was The South African – smashed avocado, shallot and tomato on toast, topped with an egg – a 10/10 start to the day. Everything was customisable too, with veggie, vegan and gluten-free alternatives to suit every preference. All of this, as well as a range of cereals, juices and tea/coffee.

Each morning before we headed out, Gina asked our plans for the day and advised on local goings on any the best places to eat. As we had mentioned that we wanted to hike up to the summit of Cadair Idris, she kindly kept an eye on the wind conditions for us, and advised on which route would be best with the conditions in mind, and even printed a map that she handed to us at breakfast. That level of thoughtfulness really set the tone for the whole stay.

Overall, we had a truly incredible experience. Gina and Gareth clearly love what they do, and it was so warming to return after a long day of hiking and exploring local towns to find them genuinely interested in how our day had gone. We cannot fault the hotel in any way. Their hundreds of glowing reviews are an honest testament to a couple who work tirelessly to make every guest’s stay a magical one.