Castle hotels in Wales | romantic retreats for a memorable couples holiday

Step inside the ancient, 12th-century brick walls of the Roch Castle Hotel, and you’ll find that its bright and airy interiors are furnished from top-to-toe with modern luxuries. The six spacious guest rooms are each decorated with rich hardwood floors and cool biscuit hues, while warm lamps and overhead spotlights create a calming ambience. For views over the Pembrokeshire coastal path or St Brides Bay, pick a room in one of the castle’s stone turrets with original arched windows. Super-king size beds with premium mattresses and 300 thread count linens are comfy relaxation spots – lie back for some downtime after a long romantic walk on Newgale beach.

Once you’ve tucked into a breakfast of traditional Welsh laverbread, explore the hotel’s surrounding 12 acres of garden and woodland. The ancient town of Haverfordwest, with its pretty winding river and bustling farmers’ market, is only a 15 minute drive away. Try a selection of regional cheeses and traditional home-made cakes from the hotel’s Lolfa (lounge) menu before heading out to browse the town’s bustling high street.

Treat your partner to an evening of fine dining at the castle’s Blas restaurant. The 2 AA rosette-awarded restaurant serves up Welsh dishes made from fresh ingredients, such as locally-farmed duck or lamb. For a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, book the hotel’s Romantic Retreat service (before your arrival) and receive a box of wickedly Welsh chocolates, bottle of sparkling wine and breakfast in bed for you and your loved one.

Indulge in an experience fit for a king or queen with a stay at the ornate Ruthin Castle: the hotel’s Moat Spa has its very own detoxifying thermal suite for a rather regal pampering experience. Treat yourself to a rejuvenating Welsh sea salt scrub or a brightening Skin Solutions facial, or personalise your selection with a manicure, pedicure or massage. Look out for spa packages that come with a complimentary light lunch and a refreshing glass of wine. Make the most of spending quality time together and book a shared Arabian-inspired Rasul mud treatment, which includes a cleansing body mud mask and rainforest shower.

Built in 1277 for Edward I, this historic hotel has all the fairy-tale trimmings, from towering battlements to creeping ivy and roaring fireplaces inside. Choose a spacious suite decorated with original oil paintings or rich wood panelling and get a good night’s sleep on a cosy four-poster bed. Dock your iPod, slip into your complimentary fluffy gown and order room service – available 24 hours a day – for an intimate night in. In the Deluxe or Luxury rooms, large bay windows look out over lush gardens and the idyllic surrounding woodlands.

In the oak-panelled Library Bar, sink into a Chesterfield sofa and savour a cream tea with sandwiches and freshly made cakes – swap tea for prosecco for a real treat. Alternatively, head to Bertie’s Restaurant in the evening to dine under the glittering chandeliers before mulling over a tipple in front of the open fire in the Cornwallis Room.

For an idyllic weekend of rest and relaxation, check into Bodysgallen Hall Hotel. This four-star hotel is set in a majestic 17th-century country house surrounded by 200 acres of mannered gardens and wild parkland. From a cosy armchair in your country house-style suite, look out across the manicured grounds to spot the mountains of Snowdonia and the historic Conwy Castle nearby. The Hall Cottages are separate from the main house and have secluded gardens, ideal for a weekend of romance.

The hotel’s 3 AA rosette-awarded restaurant, the Dining Room, offers traditional Welsh fare in an elegant setting. From Tuesday to Sunday, the chef fills plates with fine-dining gourmet delights: look out for dishes like tender sea bass with red wine-glazed artichokes and delicate duck egg starters. On Mondays, the menu is more relaxed with hearty lamb or steak mains. As well as local produce, the kitchen incorporates vegetables grown in the hotel’s gardens to its dishes.

Step into the hotel’s spa to find a large indoor pool with a spa bath, as well as a sauna and steam room. Book a full-body massage to release tension from your muscles, or lie back with a soothing facial to rejuvenate your skin. There are six tranquil treatment rooms for both solo pampering sessions or romantic couples’ massages. If you’ve planned a special dinner, prepare beforehand with a manicure or tanning treatment.

For an intimate weekend away with a loved one, pick a spacious room in the secluded Castell Deudraeth. Built in the 1840s, this Victorian castle is part of the Portmeirion village: a selection of winding streets and picturesque buildings complete with a waterside hotel and charming cottage-style rooms dotted about the main square. With only four suites and seven bedrooms set within a Victorian walled garden, Castell Deudraeth is ideally-sized for a calm weekend away. Head to the hotel’s outdoor poolto while away the afternoon, or book a treatment at the tranquil Mermaid Spa. But first, drop your bags, find a quiet spot among the flowers and listen to the gentle trickle of water fountains.

While fine dining can be found at Castell Deudraeth’s sister establishment, the Portmeirion Hotel, for all-day gastropub-style dishes, pop into the castle’s Brasserie. On a warm evening, take a seat on the terrace with your partner and tuck into a hearty meal accompanied by a glass of red.

The cosy rooms at Castell Deudraeth are filled with locally-sourced furnishings. Each is furnished with Welsh oak tables and chairs, while slate and stone floors are warmed with underfloor heating. Modern armchairs and sofas in cool greys are ideal places for relaxing after a long day spent wandering the nearby woods, while extra bedspreads and scatter cushions add those final homely touches. For more independence, book one of the cottage-style chalets within the grounds and prepare a romantic dinner in your own kitchen.

Medieval architecture and modern luxuries come together in Cardigan Castle to create a fairy-tale holiday setting. When booking your stay, choose how independent you want to be: the hotel has both cosy bed and breakfast-style rooms dotted about the castle as well as independent self-catered apartments.

In the morning, treat yourselves to a long lie-in and breakfast in bed – a continental breakfast hamper can be delivered to your door on request. If you prefer to dine with views of the grounds, visit the grand 1176 restaurant, where floor-to-ceiling windows give stunning views of the River Teifi. Sit out on the terrace and survey the old castle ruins with a cold glass of prosecco on a bright afternoon. On weekends, the generous Sunday lunch is a must – the menu includes hearty dishes like roast loin of pork with crispy crackling.

As the stars come out, take a slow stroll with your partner through the castle grounds and grade-II listed gardens before retiring to your room. In the bed-and-breakfast accommodation, you’ll find comfortable double beds with crisp white and blue linens decorated with soft velvet scatter cushions and Welsh woollen throws. Freshen up in your modern en-suite bathroom or have a long soak in your free-standing slipper bathtub using your complimentary organic products. In the self-catering cottages, take a seat at your own wooden dining table as you sip a glass of wine, or cosy up by the log-burning fire in the Gardener’s Cottage.

Treat your loved one to a unique experience in a historic setting at the Brecon Castle Hotel. Sink in to a four-poster, canopy-topped bed decorated with plush scatter cushions and relax with your partner while you look out over the romantic rolling hills or castle ruins. Each room here is individually decorated with fresh tones like cream and duck-egg blue, while rich dark wood furniture adds to the Georgian-style décor. For an intimate stay, reserve a self-catering Mews apartment and spend an evening in with a home-cooked meal. Alternatively, head to the Beacon’s View Restaurant to taste their seasonal international menu on the terrace. Each dish is created using locally-sourced produce – look out for options like freshly caught pan-fried scallops or tender Welsh gammon steak.

Set in a former Georgian coaching house that looks out over the River Usk, this airy hotel incorporates the ruins of an 11th-century castle next door to create a magical location for both romantic mini-breaks and special occasions. Exposed beams, high ceilings and ivy-covered stone walls feature throughout, while sweeping views over the Brecon Beacons National Park complete the fairy-tale feel.

As well as the castle ruins on your doorstep and the surrounding national park with its many walking trails, there’s plenty to experience in quaint Brecon. Take a 5 minute stroll from the hotel to Brecon Cathedral to marvel at the Gothic architecture, or wander down the cottage-lined high street to sample the delis and local craft shops.