Last weekend saw a motley gaggle of 6 dads, 9 lads and 1 daughter make their way to The Hiraeth Bunkhouse situated just outside the NW Brecon Beacons a mile from the village of Llanwrda. The weekend was a great success helped partly because of the company, partly because of the snow but mostly due to the bunkhouse and its setting. The bunkhouse is a little bit special and if you visit the website the story of its creation comes over very much as a labour of love and it certainly shows. I can honestly say it is the best bunkhouse in terms of facilities and meticulous attention to detail I have ever visited. What makes it even more remarkable is that it is also very, very reasonably priced.
The owners, Gaynor and Clive Pritchard, made us feel exceptionally welcome during our stay and couldnt do enough for us. They live in the adjoining property and so are on hand to help you with any query. I would like to personally thank them for their warmth and friendliness during our stay.
The bunkhouse itself consists of 2 floors: the upper floor for sleeping and the ground floor for cooking, eating, cleaning and lounging around. The 2nd floor consists of 4 dormitories, one with 7 beds, one with 3 beds, one with 4 beds and the other with 6 beds in a combination of single and double bunks. This was used to perfect effect for our weekend and enabled us to put the kids in 2 dorms and the adults in the other 2. The downstairs consists of 4 wet rooms, an outdoor drying room and a kitchen come dining room come common room.
Throughout the inside, the bunkhouse is decorated simply but effectively with soom really nice touches like under floor heating, exposed original beams and a superbly equipped kitchen. On top of that there are chairs a plenty, sofas and tables to make sure that even if a full 20 people turn up they can be accomodated well. Another nice touch is that there are a few games for those that like to test their brains a bit, leaflets and a very good guide to the bunkhouse and the surrounding area. Lastly, and this is a nice touch for families/groups with children is that Clive and Gaynor also can provide a flatscreen TV and large assortment of family videos if requested.
Although we didnt have time to check it out, there are also fields attached to the property which in the summer would make a great area for the kids to play and also for the adults to have a barbeque. Obviously last weekend was a bit cold and wet for us to do anything on this visit. The outside and general finish of the bunkhouse is exceptional and obvious thought has been put into its creation.
All in all, we had a fabulous time at Hireath and would have no hesitation in recommending it to others. I can also heartily recommend you having a chat with Gaynor to ensure that you have everything you possibly need for a great weekend. If you want a superb bunkhouse in a lovely location run by wonderful people that will give you a great weekend you need look no further than Hiraeth
We’ll definitely be back…!
Sounds like you had a great weekend. Generally , I prefer good bunkhouses to YHA hostels
these days. For me they have become far too grand in pampering to our modern cosseted youth.
- and prices to much. Last October, I stayed in an excellent bunkhouse on the outshirts of
Grasmere . Again , the couple who run it could not have been more helpful.
This bunkhouse was the best specced one I have ever been to and better than most hotels I have stayed in too!
Always helps when you have good, honest owners who go out of their way to make you feel welcome