A Review of My Stay In Portmeirion Village

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When I decided to visit Portmeirion, a coastal village in Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales, which was the site for filming the 1967 BBC series “The Prisoner,“ I had to choose where to stay. There are several types of accommodations at Portmeirion, including the Grade II listed Hotel Portmeirion, Castell Deudraeth, and 32 individually designed rooms and suites in the surrounding Portmeirion village. Portmeirion also has 13 stylish self-catering cottages. While I knew I wanted to stay in “The Village,” I couldn’t find a way to search for all the rooms on the website.

I called the hotel via Skype and spoke to a pleasant Welsh woman who helped me figure out my needs for my visit. She suggested I book a room that included breakfast and dinner, which made sense because I wouldn’t have a car and would have no way to get from Portmeirion to the nearby village. The price for my room and board was £244 per night. It wasn’t cheap, but for a trip of a lifetime, I didn’t want to haggle over the cost. In the end, the price was reasonable considering what I received.

I checked in at Castell Deudraeth, where they confirmed my dinner and breakfast times. From there, I took a shuttle in a cart to my room, Cliff House 1.

Cliff House 1

Cliff House 1 is one of the eleven double rooms within the village. Located overlooking the Dwyryd estuary – the room is furnished in a classic Portmeirion style.

Built in 1969, the Cliff House is the last cottage constructed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. The architecture is characterized by eccentricities such as trompe l’oeil windows and an 18th-century stone statue known as the Huntsman outside. The Cliff House serves as an impressive introduction to Portmeirion Village, offering breathtaking views across the Dwyryd Estuary on the North Wales coast.

The addition to the original house where my room was located offered an amazing cliffside view. The furnishings were simple and there was no large flat-screen TV, but I wasn’t there for luxury accommodations. I viewed my room much like I do when staying in a national park. I was there because of the place around the room, not because of the room itself.

The bathroom was smallish but had a quaint charm. 

The view from the cliff over the estuary was particularly inspiring.

My room was situated on the road that led from the main parking lot to the village. This meant there were people walking by throughout the day, but it became much quieter and more secluded in the evenings.

On my second day, rain was in the forecast. I did my sightseeing in the morning and spent the afternoon in my room watching the incoming storm. It was the perfect time to catch a nap with the sound of the wind and rain outside.

Meals

On my first night, I made a reservation at Castell Deudraeth’s brasserie. It was the less formal of the two restaurants on the property, and I felt it was more appropriate for a traveling day.

Before the meal, I was offered a seat by the fireplace.

I looked over the menu while warming up from the chilly evening. Once in the dining room, the space opened up. This picture is from the next day, as my evening pictures came out a little too dark.

My meal package included a starter, main and dessert.

I had the prawn starter, venison haunch steamed pudding for the main and finished with ice cream.

For my second evening, I dined at the Hotel Portmeirion.

The dining room menu was a fixed price for two or three courses. Once again, my package included a three-course dinner.

I started with the wild mushroom dish. Then I ordered the Welsh lamb loin because how could I pass up local lamb, and finished with the blood orange souffle with Earl Gray ice cream.

Breakfast

Breakfast each morning was in the Hotel Portmeirion dining room.

The meal was a buffet and you could also order an item from the kitchen from the menu,

I appreciated the full pot of coffee but felt the toast was a bit overboard for a single guest. 🙂

The first morning I ordered the avocado toast.

And on my second morning, I had the eggs benedict.

Final Thought

The main reason I stayed at Portmeirion was to be inside the village. Staying in one of the rooms allows you to walk around after the majority of the guests have left for the day. I paid extra for the full board because I’d be staying onsite for the entire time, and it was the most convenient option. I wasn’t aware that the restaurants are well-regarded in the area and that people travel to Portmeirion just to have dinner. 

I’m not sure if I’ll ever make it to Portmeirion again, so I’m glad I splurged on my room and got to stay in the village. It’s not the most luxurious hotel I’ve ever stayed in, but I’ll remember it for the unique experience.

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