It seems the sun always shines on Llys Meddyg. It rained for the entirety of our drive from Bristol to Wales, but then, as if on cue, the sun popped out as we drove into the charming town of Newport. We've since revisited twice, and the same thing happened each time. Set on the high street, this former coaching inn was lovingly brought into the 21st-century by owners Ed and Louise Sykes a few years ago. After having children, they decided to return to their Welsh roots, and snapped up Llys Meddyg to create a relaxed seaside haven with 8 lovely rooms and a restaurant. Natural materials abound – slate, wooden furniture, seagrass flooring – and handwoven woolly Welsh blankets provide colourful warmth.
Food is at the heart of the operation, and on our visit, we found it very enjoyable – locally caught seafood, organic veg and meat reared close by. There's a cosy cellar bar for a pre-dinner drink; a beautiful Kitchen Garden room for summertime eating, and a wood-fired oven for casual pizzas. Families are well catered for, and you can even bring the dog. Cosy in winter, bright and breezy in summer – and a warm welcome all year round.
Highs
- The beautiful beaches and coastal hikes of Pembrokeshire National Park are on your doorstep; and with free pick-up from the train station and a good bus network you could leave the car at home
- We loved the hearty breakfasts – smoked haddock with poached eggs, fresh fruit pancakes with local yoghurt and honey
- The simple, homespun bedrooms achieve that alchemy of being cosy yet light and airy
- Well-equipped for families travelling with small children, and babysitting can be arranged
- Newport is one of the nicest towns in Pembrokeshire and there are several other lovely cafes and pubs nearby
Lows
- The garden bedrooms (especially room 7) can be noisy on summer evenings or if there's a function happening
- Dinner service can be patchy; not ideal given the prices
- A cosy, shabby chic feel rather than an overly polished vibe
Best rooms for families
The Large Garden Room, Blue Room and Pink Room all have sofabeds that can sleep up to 2. If you want more space then the Large Garden Room and the Cosy Garden Room are opposite each other in the mews building.
Parents should know...
Stairs are steep and there is no lift
Baby monitors work from all bedrooms to the Dining Room restaurant and Cellar Bar, but you might feel more comfortable only using these if you are staying in the main house.
A special kids' menu is available all year (think spaghetti bolognaise, sausages, fish goujons with mash or chips), and requests should anything different be required are easily accommodated. Children are welcome both in the a la carte restaurant, The Dining Room, and the more informal Cellar Bar. The Kitchen Garden is open for lunch and evening meals during the summer, and this opens out onto a beautiful enclosed garden with outdoor seating, ideal for families
- Newport beach and sand dunes
- Pushchair-friendly walk along the estuary path to the Parrog
- Crabbing at the Parrog
- Newport Playpark 5 mins away
- Baby and toddler pool in Fishguard
- Coasteering, horse riding, kayaking, seal-watching trips for older kids...
- Boutique Hotel
- 8 rooms
- Restaurant + bar
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
There are 8 simple but comfy rooms of varying sizes - some in the main house, others in a mews building just behind it - all done up in what you might call coastal-casual style. Those in the main house use slate, stone and wood to bring the outside in, with splashes of colour from handwoven Welsh blankets and cushions, as well as local art on the walls (much of it for sale).
Our loft room was snug and romantic - just mind your head on those sloping ceilings. A long soak in the huge bath was a wonderful luxury after climbing Carn Ingli, which you can see standing high above the village from the bathroom window. On another visit, we stayed in the smallest room, situated in the garden annexe. We had no complaints: the bed was huge and comfy, with plenty of pillows. Our spacious bathroom featured a heavenly double-ended bathtub, with an overhead shower, Aromatherapy products, indulgent bathrobes and a funky wooden sink.
Expect tea and coffee trays with cookies and fresh milk, honesty minibars, a flatscreen TV (ideal for rainy days or when you're too tired to prop up the bar after dinner); and there are irons and boards on request.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- Iron
- Minibar
- WiFi
Eating
For many, food is the main draw of Llys Meddyg, and we found all our meals to be exceptional. From 6.30pm, the cosy, slate-floored Cellar Bar is open for pre-dinner drinks and canapes. There's a handful of tables, a wood-burning stove and a piano, should you fancy a play. You can eat down here if you prefer a more casual vibe, or if you want to being your dog along.
The Dining Room feels special and it is also open to locals, many of whom come by to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Most of the food is locally sourced (they also make their own small-batch hand smoked salmon, which you can buy to take home), and it's all deliciously fresh. When we first visited, our starters - beef carpaccio with celeriac and watercress, and wood pigeon with beetroot mousse were fantastic - and the slow-roasted pork belly with saffron fondant and 5 spice jus that followed was outstanding. On another visit, the crispy ham hock with watercress and onsen egg was fantastic, as was the smoked goat’s cheese with beetroot, pickled apple and halva. For dessert, I adored my gorse flower pannacotta with rhubarb, honeycomb and almond tuille, and we both wished we had room left for the local cheeses and chutneys. The wine list is sensibly priced but with a great variety; suggestions are provided with your menu.
For breakfast, cereals, yoghurt, fruit salad, jams and honey are set out for you to help yourself, and then you have the option of a Welsh fry up with combos of delicious local bacon, eggs and sausages, smoked haddock and poached eggs, or the rather lighter fresh fruit pancake with yoghurt and honey. Service stops at 9.30 - a little early for a lie-in (though it is later on Sundays).
The lovely, light Kitchen Garden room is open all day in high season, serving more casual food - shared roasts, tapas and charcuterie plates, burgers, local fish bouillabaise and delicious desserts. Out of season it's often used for functions so do check when booking. It's an idyllic spot for a wedding, with huge doors opening out on to the enclosed terrace and picturesque kitchen garden, the rolling green hills providing a stunning back drop. Newport offers a few lovely little eateries - the staff can point you in the right direction.
Features include:
- Bar
- Kids' meals
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Walking - it would be criminal not to make the most of the stunning coastal path that starts around the corner from the hotel. We love the Witches Cauldron near Moylgrove. If you're feeling fit, you can hike the 11 miles to Fishguard, then bus back for a soak in your tub before dinner. Alternatively climb Carn Ingli ('Mountain of the Angels') which overlooks the hotel
- Coasteering, sea kayaking and surfing are all on offer locally, for those who like adventure
- Hire e-bikes from the hotel for a pedal-powered cruise of the local area
- Families can take buckets and spades along the coastal path to Parrog (20-min walk), and spend a day on the beach
- Birders can visit RSPB sanctuaries at Ramsey Island and Skomer Island. Skomer is one of the biggest puffin colonies in the UK, and both islands are home to a wealth of seabirds: shearwaters, guillemots, razorbills, shags and oystercatchers
- There are oodles of painters, potters and weavers in this area, producing beautiful artisan products - certainly worth taking a look at their galleries, and meeting the artists
- Drive along the coast to nearby Cardigan or Fishguard or head inland through spectacular scenery
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Trekking
Best Time to go
Pembrokeshire is a year-round destination. It is busiest in the summer months - July and August being the peak season, when families come to Wales for the summer holidays. We visited in early May and were surprised by how quiet it was - we felt extremely privileged to be enjoying such spectacular scenery almost by ourselves. Whatever time of year you come, be sure to bring wellies and wet weather gear just in case, as well as hiking boots.
Our Top Tips
Turn left out of the gates, walk a little way down the hill and you'll see a footpath off to the left. Take this path down to the estuary and it will take you down to Parrog and along the coast; beautiful.
Avoid room 7 if possible: it is the one most likely to suffer from noise as guests leave at closing time.
Avoid room 7 if possible: it is the one most likely to suffer from noise as guests leave at closing time.
Location
Llys Meddyg is in the centre of Newport, on the Nevern estuary and within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in west Wales (not to be confused with the Newport near Cardiff!). It's 21km south of Cardigan and 14km north of Fishguard.
By Air
Cardiff is the closest airport, but Bristol is only 2-3 hours away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
Most people hire a car.
By Car
If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. There's free parking at the hotel.
By Train
The nearest stations are Fishguard or Haverfordwest. There are plenty of taxis to whisk you to the hotel.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Cardiff 120.0 km CWL
- Bristol 160.0 km BRS
Other:
- Beach 0.5 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 6 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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