Rosanna Head discovers that this is the perfect base to explore the Pembrokeshire Coast

Situated in the heart of Pembrokeshire you will find Lamphey Court Hotel, nestled on acres of grounds surrounded by the Pembrokeshire National Park. As you make your way up the long drive lined by towering trees, you feel a little like royalty as you approach the grand Georgian Mansion.

Lamphey Court offers a relaxing retreat from fast paced city life and is an ideal base to explore Pembrokeshire coast and the attractions Lamphey has to offer.

Friendly staffs are eager to make you feel at home. The hotel’s luxurious and grand decor ignites thoughts of regal endeavors. The bedrooms are stylishly designed and you are spoilt by an abundance of space and light and fantastic views.

The hotel offers a good selection of food and drink and there is a cosy bar to enjoy a post dinner aperitif. The restaurant serves up great British classics using as many of the best locally sourced produce as they can, try a juicy steak, country-crab, sumptuous scallops straight off the day boats at Milford or for a more hearty option, try the homemade pie. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and there is a good selection of new and old world wines to try. If you enjoy afternoon tea, kickback in the reading room and savour the hotel’s cream tea with delightful crumbly scones and Welsh clotted cream. Chef can cater for special medical dietary requirements.

Rejuvenate in the hotels state of the art spa. Take a plunge in the whirlpool and catch some waves in the 14-metre swimming pool or settle in one of the poolside loungers with a good read for a relaxing afternoon snooze. The Spa offers a select range or therapies and product lines, the perfect pamper. If you still feel sporty, there is a tennis court on grounds, hire rackets from reception. For an extra treat, glam up with a visit to the on-site hairdresser, haircuts from £25.

Lamphey Court Hotel is a Grade II listed building, formerly a Georgian mansion built in 1823. Close by, you will find the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace, established in the 13th century, whose grounds fill you with trepidation and wonder of memories of past. Immerse yourself in more history close by at Carew Castle, built in 1270, the history of the castle dates back through Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods, right back to the 17th century. Enjoy a stroll around the castle grounds where you may stumble upon wild ponies and Carew Mill. The mill is the only intact tidal mill in Wales, one of only four in Britain. While its precise date of origin is uncertain, documented evidence indicates a mill of some kind was there in 1542

Blow out the cobwebs with a leisurely stroll at Freshwater East Beach, a part of the coastline that is just glorious. Pembrokeshire is Britain’s coastal national park and has an abundance of habitats and wildlife that covers over 258 miles of the coast.

Prices start at £59 for a one night escape and up to £185 for an indulge package to include: a two night stay, breakfast each morning, a three course meal on first evening, two 25 minute spa treatments and use of all the facilities.

Visit www.lampheycourt.co.uk/spa.php for prices and availability.

Useful Links

Visit Pembrokeshire – www.visitpembrokeshire.com Carew Castle – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carew_Castle Lamphey Court – www.lampheycourt.co.uk/pembrokeshire.php