-Festive fine dining in a Michelin-starred hotel restaurant
-Celebrate Christmas at the AA Hotel of the Year 2014-2015 for Wales
-The perfect post-Christmas escape surrounded by the Cambrian Mountains
-Spend New Year amongst history and stunning scenery where Queen Victoria once lived

The festive period is a time of indulgence and tradition. Where better to celebrate it than at Ynyshir Hall, an award-winning country house hotel in Wales with a long and fascinating history.

Surrounded by the Cambrian Mountains, this handsome white Georgian manor house is the only member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel group in Wales. Set in 14 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and surrounded by an RSPB reserve, Ynyshir Hall was once owned by Queen Victoria who was charmed by the estate's bird life and was responsible for planting many of the garden's trees. Later it was bought by the owner of Mappin & Webb jewellers, William Hubert Mappin. On his death 1,000 acres were sold to the RSPB to establish the reserve that exists to this day.

Ten individually-decorated rooms mix traditional and contemporary décor are name after artists, all with views over the gardens and mountains beyond. Some suites have their own real fires for added festive cosiness, as do the public spaces.

Ynyshir Hall was awarded 2014-2015 AA Hotel of the Year for Wales in the same year that head chef Gareth Ward, previously at Sat Bains, achieved his first Michelin star here. The award-winning combination of stunning hotel setting and the innovative approach by Ward speaks for itself.

The surrounding countryside produces an abundance of fresh, local ingredients as does the kitchen garden with fruit, vegetables, herbs and salads. Ynyshir Hall's succulent seafood comes from Cardigan Bay — with lobsters, crabs and shrimp landed at Aberystwyth and Borth while local rivers are abundant with wild salmon and sewin. Ynyshir Hall has tender-sweet Welsh lamb along with free-range chicken and Welsh Wagyu beef which is second to none. Pork is organic and bacon is hand-cut for breakfast with sausages prepared to the hotel's own recipe. To partake of all this sumptuous fare spend Christmas at Ynyshir Hall.

Christmas at Ynyshir will be especially memorable this year with all the awards beginning with a champagne celebration cocktail party on Christmas Eve, followed by a gourmet dinner. Christmas Day brings a buffet breakfast with time for a tour of the gardens and RSPB reserve before pre-lunch Champagne and a traditional lunch with more adventurous options included. Christmas Cake with afternoon tea should keep guests sated before a sumptuous evening buffet. There's a Boxing Day buffet breakfast before afternoon tea which will be served in the two lounges at the hotel followed by a gourmet, lighter dinner. A Bucks Fizz breakfast sees guests off in good spirits on December 27.
Doubles from £1050pp for three nights including all of the above.

Twixmas is a time for relaxing between the main events so sleep well – there is no noise, traffic or light pollution at Ynyshir so guests can explore further afield with peace as a backdrop– walk on the windswept beaches of Ynyslas beach or stay inside by the hotel's roaring log fires reading. Holistic treatments are also available to further help guests unwind, from traditional Swedish massage to energy healing and meditation walks. Doubles from £215 B&B.

Guests staying for New Year are greeted with mulled wine and mince pies, followed by Champagne cocktails and canapés in the bar before a luxurious gourmet Michelin dinner. New Year's Eve starts with a hearty Welsh Breakfast before guests just relax or explore the grounds and surrounding area before more Champagne cocktails in the bar, a different yet equally sumptuous Michelin dinner, music and dancing as midnight strikes – and beyond all with a glass of champagne. New Year's day brings a late brunch, Welsh Afternoon Tea and a lighter Michelin dinner. Doubles from £1050pp for three nights including all of the above.

www.ynyshirhall.co.uk
Eglwysfach, Powys, Wales, SY20 8TA Telephone: 01654 781209 Twitter @ynyshirhall