RWST Holiday Lodges, Llanrwst Review

Reviewed by Cath Joyce

There is nothing better than spending a few days away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and taking the time to recharge your batteries in a beautiful place. My husband and I have both been under a lot of pressure at work, so a couple of nights away was just what we needed and where better than Snowdonia, a place we both love.

We have visited North Wales many times before but never stayed in Llanrwst so were really looking forward to our stay at RWST Holiday Lodges. Situated in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Conwy, Llanrwst is the perfect location to explore North Wales and two nights really wasn’t long enough to see everything the area has to offer.

When we arrived, we were struck by how inviting the site looked, arranged around a landscaped courtyard, the lodges all have outdoor seating areas and there are also communal areas for barbecues and relaxation. The location is stunning and with the river running alongside the lodges it is such a lovely place to sit and enjoy the views. There is also a new shared hot tub looking out over the river, which wasn’t in use whilst we were there, but I can see this being the perfect place to relax after a busy day. You don’t park by your lodge, which makes it feel nice and peaceful, instead parking is available on the drive, but it is only a short distance to carry bags, so this wasn’t a problem at all.

When we walked into our lodge it was clear that RWST offers genuinely luxurious standards both in terms of the accommodation and the high standard of maintenance and cleanliness both inside and out. Looking around we felt our property and the surrounding areas were exceptionally clean and well looked after and there were lots of newly potted trees and shrubs outside, adding to the overall attractiveness of the place.

We stayed in Pine Lodge, a great open plan living space consisting of lounge, dining area and kitchen as well as a bedroom with ensuite shower room. It was tastefully decorated and the added touches like the cushions, throws and accessories gave it a lovely luxurious feel. The sofa and bed were both very comfortable and the combination of fresh air and exercise meant we slept well both nights! The kitchen was compact but had a full-size fridge, cooker and microwave oven and on opening the cupboards we found pans, crockery, glasses, utensils and there was even an iron and mini ironing board! There was plenty of storage in the bedroom for clothes, both in drawers and hanging space. The en-suite bathroom was fabulous, it was super clean and fresh and came complete with shampoo and conditioner and large fluffy towels. The lodge had electric heating which was simple to use and despite being cold outside quickly warmed the rooms making it lovely and cosy.

The view from our lodge was lovely and whilst we didn’t make as much use of our outdoor space as you might in the height of the summer, I can see that it would be a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a meal and drinks in the warmer months.

We were spoilt for choice with activities but decided to make the most of the nice weather and spent a lovely day in Llandudno. Walking up the Great Orme was exhilarating but the best part of the day had to be spotting a huge group of seals on the beach just before we got back into Llandudno. We also walked from the lodge up onto the forest trails and after a full day walking treated ourselves to delicious cake at the Tu Hwnt i’r Bont tearooms, an incredibly picturesque building at the side of the river, by the historic three-arched stone bridge.

The beauty of self catering accommodation is you can choose what you want to do for meals and as Llanwrst is only a couple of minutes walk it gives you plenty of options for food. We saw a couple of takeaways, cafes and an Indian restaurant but if you prefer to self-cater there is a small supermarket where you can get everything you need.

RWST offer one, two, and three-bedroom single-storey lodges with a number of dog-friendly lodges and Wi-fi is available in all lodges. For those wanting to do a spot of cycling or mountain biking there is a secure bike lock-up area and a wash station for your bike/furry friend. There is also an on-site launderette which could come in handy for longer stays or muddy bike rides! They also have a new gym, we didn’t use this but will be welcomed by some guests.

Could anything have been improved about our accommodation? The only niggle we had (and it is really minor) was the absence of coat hooks, we hung our coats on the back of the dining chairs, but this wouldn’t be ideal if we had been out walking in the rain and had wet coats.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the RWST Holiday lodges, even though we crammed in loads of walks and sightseeing I felt rested by the time we returned home. RWST is the perfect base to explore North Wales and with so much to see and do in the area we will definitely be making a return visit soon.

Rating: 5 out of 5

A two bedroomed lodge costs from £250/week and you can book directly through their website here.