CHECKING IN: PLAS DINAS COUNTRY HOUSE

A couple of weeks ago, before the Coronavirus had seized Europe and quarantines had fallen into place, I went on a short trip to North Wales to kick back, relax, and prepare myself for my final two months of university. As it happens, my entire uni soon shut down, my graduation ceremony was cancelled, and everyone I had come to know and love over the course of three years disappeared home. But I guess, as we say in Welsh, mae’n beth ydyw, it is what it is. Before all of this happened, though, I found myself staying at the most beautiful place in the whole of Wales – and am now here to tell you all about it.

Plas Dinas Country House is a gorgeous award-winning hotel perfectly located between the Irish Sea and Snowdonia’s mountain range. The setting is stunning, with an extensive 15 acres of land surrounding the house where you can sit in the garden and bask in the sun reading a novel, utterly enveloped by the Welsh countryside, as little rainbows bounce away from the fountain and onto the grass around you. 

This grandeur building dates back to the mid-1600’s and is Grade II listed, swathed in history and extensive Victorian additions. The hotel was a favourite of Princess Margaret (my second favourite royal!*), who would often spend weekends at this humble estate. As you walk through the door, you will be greeted by old family portraits, breathtaking oil paintings, and memorabilia from the time of Princess Margaret, and Lord Snowdon.

One of my favourite places in the whole house is the Drawing Room, as it is full of original furniture and Victorian relics. I feel as though this room embodies the true heart of the house, with its roaring fire, baby grand piano, and glistening chandeliers. You can sit back on one of their plush fabric sofas, listen to the relaxing lounge music, read one of their old books or luxury magazines, or perhaps play a game of chess or backgammon. Make your way over to the Honesty Bar or order a drink from their menu, and simply kick back and relax. 

With several of their 10 bedrooms spanning back an incredible 400 years, these little pockets of history are all individually designed, flaring their own personalities. I spent my evenings in the Princess Margaret Suite, arguably the best room in the house. With crisp linen, plump cushions, goose down pillows and duvets, and a stunning embroidered cover, I felt myself melt into the bed at night. I had never stayed in a four poster bed prior to this, and let me tell you, it is a truly divine feeling.

We were welcomed by mini bell jars filled with homemade fudge and biscuits, and a wonderful service en chambre box full of a wide selection of teas (with their loose leaf tea being to die for!), coffees, and thick hot coco. The room housed a little ‘in case you forgot’ kit full of necessities that hotel-goers often leave at home, and the bathroom featured a small toothpaste and Molton Brown toothbrush (who knew that they even did designer toothbrushes?) and the most divine moisturiser I have ever tried. Honestly, had I forgotten to pack my entire wash bag, I would have still come out of it sparkling clean.

We would wander about our suite in our fluffy bathrobes and slippers, draped across the chaise lounge as we flicked through luxury magazines and antiquated books half the size of my body. There was a gorgeous stag head decanter on the centre table topped with sherry, beside two beautiful crystal glasses which we used to toast our arrival. One of my favourite parts of the room was the writing bureau, as it had original letters regarding Princess Margaret framed on the desk and made me feel as though I were an old Jane Austen character. 

The room had an en-suite with mist-free heated mirrors, and windows overlooking the grounds and nearby ocean. The bath was large enough to fit two people, with a flat-screen television, luxe bath milk, and a tiara to recreate Princess Margaret’s iconic bath photo beside it. I spend approximately two hours in that bath, reading magazines and watching shows, gradually growing more and more wrinkled, and a further 20 minutes trying to wash the soap from my hair in their large and powerful shower. It was a very relaxing time.

 

 

For breakfast, expect to be swathed in glorious morning sun, sat surrounded by museum-worthy paintings and a wide selection of food options. I loved waking up to freshly baked croissants and pain au chocolat which were soft and warm in the middle and had a divinely flaky outside. We would then snack on their seasonal berries and fresh fruit, homemade fig and almond granola, and yoghurts and breads whilst we awaited our menu-chosen breakfasts to come from the kitchen. 

I ordered a Welsh breakfast with grilled thick-cut bacon and local butchers’ award-winning pork and leek sausages, and my travel partner ordered smoked salmon with crushed avocado. As we had come to expect, both were delicious. To go with the meal, I tried a pot of white tea – which I usually have reservations about but was surprisingly flavoursome and featured complex sweet notes. My travel partner ordered a pot of freshly brewed coffee which she informed me, ’embodies everything a real coffee should.’ 

The back of the breakfast menu had translations for popular Welsh food words, such as pwdin du (black pudding) and paned o de (cup of tea), which I thought was a nice little nudge to the Welsh heritage which the house is swathed in. The breakfast room featured two large windows which overlooked the gorgeous gardens, which were full of just-sprouting spring buds, and was a beautiful sight to start the day.

 

Dinner at the country house was particularly splendid, with a very small and thoroughly perfected menu. Evening meals are served in the Gun Room, which features a stunning stone inglenook fireplace which the original house was built around. It feels very intimate, as you’re sat relatively close to your dinner companion and the room is lit by candle. 

We had little tasters between courses to refresh the senses, with my personal favourites being the gin and elderflower sorbet and the pea and almond soup with treacle bread. It was a delightful way to work up to the main courses, and we spent the extra time talking about the dishes, taking in the details of the room around us, and listening to the soft jazz music which played in the background. The food staff would wear gloves as they brought out each dish, a nod to the high class dining we were experiencing. 

The cuisine in the Gun Room is the sort that forces you to eat slowly, really paying attention to each sensation and bite. Some of my food highlights include their pork cheek with spiced plum, cod with crispy squid and chorizo, and the incredible cuts of lamb with flavoursome veg and creamy potato. The slower speed at which I ate everything made the whole experience more intense and flavoursome, and the dishes kept me full for the rest of the day. 

As I am currently lactose-free, I did worry that my diet would restrict me from trying some of their dishes, but they were prepared and more than happy to work around it, sourcing equally as delicious alternatives to some of the ingredients. For example, dessert entailed gorgeous fresh berries with pink meringue and sweet lactose-free ice-cream – mouthwateringly divine, and the cherry on top to a truly tasteful evening.

 

My stay at Plas Dinas was made all the better by the hosts, Daniel and Annie. Whilst I was unfortunately unable to meet Annie in person, she was helpful and friendly in the booking process, and then Daniel was very charismatic and eager to show me his personal favourite parts of the house. We were well cared for throughout the course of our stay, with the several staff members we met being very lovely and hospitable. Together, the team made sure that we were well looked after, and were always ready to offer any additional services that we may have needed. 

This trip feels like a world away from the stresses surrounding us from Covid-19, and I cannot wait to go back when this is all over. The house embodies everything a country house should – luxury, an abundance of gorgeous food, and lovely hosts. 

*For reference, my ultimate favourite Royal is Queen Victoria, due to her relations with India and her death-defying love for her husband. She was a controversial ruler in many respects, but I feel as though her genuine love and respect for others cannot be doubted.

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