About Us

Built in 1878 and once a Victorian workhouse, Brynafon Hotel is now a beautiful comfortable, friendly, family-run hotel. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Gwastedyn Hill and the Druid's Circle and a stone's throw from the River Wye and the undiscovered Elan Valley.

The hotel has currently 18 standard, deluxe and family en-suite bedrooms, some being pet-friendly. We have a large car park, 4 conference rooms, lounge, bar and restaurant.

We cater for weddings, conferences, family reunions, group gatherings, short breaks or just overnight stays.

The Restaurant serves great Welsh food all day using local quality produce. Why not try our speciality Welsh Tapas or our Welsh Kitchen Tea.

Things To Do

At Brynafon we are lucky enought to be just 200 years from the nationally renowned Gigrin Farm Kite Centre, 2 miles from the Elan Valley nature reserve and next door to the River Wye.

Great place for outdoor activities whether it be walking and hiking (we have a number of walks to suggest and can provide packed lunches on request). Shooting, fishing, horse riding, quad biking (can all be arranged locally). Cycle routes on the doorstep, all abilities catered for from the extreme mountain biker to the happy peddler. Brynafon has a lock up barn where you can store your bikes overnight.

Style

Brynafon Hotel is in Rhayader, Wales; set against the dramatic backdrop of Gwastwedyn Hill and a stone's throw from the river Wye. Found next to the beautiful yet largely undiscovered Elan Valley and next door to Gigrin Farm where some 200 Red Kites are fed daily, Brynafon Hotel in Wales is a must to visit at any time of year.

What is now holiday accommodation was part of Victorian Britain's Welfare system. The background to this wonderful historic hotel is typically British and further information can be found in the bar. The hotel has many original features including the Welsh slate floor, the washing trough in the bar (now home to several carp!), the ‘spike'; where inmates crushed rocks to earn their keep (now a budget bedroom), and many more. We have even had reports of ghostly encounters - leftover spirits from former applicants perhaps!

Our History:

The building once the Rhayader Workhouse has taken on a number of uses over its 150 and more years from when it was built in 1870 as part of the welfare reforms under Welshman David Lloyd George. After the closure of the workhouse in the late 1930's it has since been used by the Royal School for the Deaf, as a wartime evacuee house, a factory, and a local fire-drill site. In 1989, after about 30 years of dereliction, it was converted into self contained accommodation, and finally a hotel.

Highlights

Not just accommodation, Brynafon is a small hotel with a popular restaurant and bar boasting an excellent range of local and organic produce and exclusive Welsh Tapas sourced from some of the best producers in Wales. Open all day every day we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as cream and high teas. We believe that we give our guests great value bed and breakfast accommodation in one of the most unusual historic hotels in Wales.

Being a country hotel we have excellent walks in the Elan Valley and surrounding Cambrian Mountains. Teas, coffees and some interesting displays makes the Elan Valley visitors centre and Elan Valley dams a must see for anyone wanting to visit and experience a part of welsh history. At certain times of the year there is opportunity to actually go inside the Pen-y-Garreg dam wall and climb the middle tower as well as abseiling for charity down the Claerwen Dam Wall.

A fully serviced conference venue Brynafon Hotel has hosted numerous meetings, team building & training functions, family parties,business lunches and residential conferences.

Since Brynafon Hotel became licensed for civil wedding ceremonies we have been lucky enough to host many happy occasions from 20-200 guests.

We can arrange horse riding, cycling, fly-fishing, clay-pigeon shooting and guided walks and much more to complement your stay and ensure that you have a happy and healthy holiday.

Trading Since

2004

Find Us

Brynafon is situated half a mile south of Rhayader, on the A470.