Barmouth Bae Abermaw

I was looking for somewhere that was restful, uplifting and with some exciting but not too strenuous things to do in the vicinity, and Bae Abermaw hotel was ideal. It combines a striking and very pleasant interior with a really fantastic location.

Inside:

The light and minimalist decor made a really welcome and restful change from the usual chintzy style. The lounge is really spacious, stylish and a pleasure to be in. Both here and in the dining room you have great views over the mouth of the Mawwdach estuary.

From our room on the second floor ( no. 10) the views were really stupendous. You look out over the Mawwdach estuary which is constantly changing depending on the tides and the weather conditions. This is great for when you are planning on spending time in the room not just sleeping there. The decor is all white/beige, so very restful, if a little unadventurous and showing some signs of wear - though still felt very clean. The bed was extremely comfortable, and large. Sheets were cotton. The ensuite bathroom was very spacious (tall people might find the central beam a problem). Power shower (over bath) was fantastic. From the loo you have the same view as described above (and you're not overlooked!). Nice soaps etc. Don't expect good reception for the telly, which was also on the small side. But you do get mobile phone reception.

There are a few small niggles about the room, which I offer as constructive criticism (they didn't spoil the stay):

The room was a little small for the price, e.g. no room for bedside tables and door is quite close to the bed. Lighting is very bright, with no bedside lamp in reach of the bed. Curtains let the light in. Bright corridor light came in under the door, so I had to stuff a towel in the gap. A few hooks for hanging up bags, jackets etc. would be helpful.

Food:

The evening meal was really excellent and good value given the quality. Beautiful flavours and attention to detail without being overly fussy. I wonder if the breakfast was cooked by a different chef - it was good, but a little on the greasy side. Non-cooked breakfast items were extremely good.

Service:

Very friendly and attentive, made you feel like a valued customer and individual whose needs were important. If anything perhaps a little too assiduous, could be just a bit more relaxed.

Outside:

Nice Victorian building with pleasant garden and strategically placed benches to catch the views and watch stars. Easy parking. Far enough away from the road (more generally, traffic noise seems to be the one drawback to this beautiful area). The hotel is up a steep hill so this could be a problem for those with limited mobility.

Surroundings:

Couldn't be better! I've already described the views. The famous 'Panorama' walk starts just above the hotel (you can drive to the start). It's a very rewarding walk for very little effort (I am used to stunning mountain walks but currently what I can do is limited due to pregnancy, so this was particularly welcome). Amazing views back along the estuary and to Snowdonia mountains, and out to sea. I admit we were very lucky with the weather but I would have thought this would be dramatic in most weathers. You are also in walking distance of Barmouth beach which has a large expanse of sand and great backdrop of hills / distant mountains. Then there is the footbridge over the estuary - a great pre-breakfast walk - which leads to the long estuary path. Finally, many other great destinations are within easy reach, e.g. Harlech Castle or walks up Cader Idris. We felt like we did a lot in a couple of days yet still had time to relax.

All in all, highly recommended.