We tried to get into the Harbourmaster a couple of years ago, only to met with incredulity that we were trying to make a reservation at such short notice - it was a few weeks before we wanted to stay rather than the expected months. I’m glad to say that we made it in this time, although the notice was still short, the new rooms and off season timing must have worked in our favour.

We stayed in what I guess is one of the best rooms, with a terrace, sea-views, large bathroom and king size bed - all the trappings of a boutique hotel. The room was lovely, clean and only recently opened I happily whiled away a few hours lounging on the red velvet settee alternating between the well stocked mini-bar, wind-swept sea view and wide screen TV. My wife meanwhile indulged in the Molton Brown toiletries and the free-standing bath.

One of the other key ingredients of a night away in a hotel with these credentials is food. Dinner was good, not great, but that may be my own fault as I ordered scallops with a salsa verde and steak, both good staples of any menu, but offering few opportunities to shine and my wife stuck to soup and duck (which was the highlight of the meal and very flavoursome). I really liked the service, efficient and local, which really helps to give a sense of place. Cheese and chocolate cake (which actually may have been the real highlight of the meal!) for dessert then into the bar. Now I’m a big fan of bars and this is a really good one - a broad range of drinks, a healthy positive atmosphere and a real cross-section of customers. Pretty much perfect and thoroughly recommended to anyone in the area.

Somewhat bleary eyed (she made me finish that bottle of champagne) we ate a comfortable and thoughtful breakfast from a choice that will cater to all tastes, then headed off substantially poorer but fulfilled.

Following my moaning and complaining about the websites or lack of them of a couple of Welsh businesses, I’m happy to illustrate #3 in the WelshDirectory directory website type taxonomy, the reformed offender. These are sites that were once inadequate but that now grasp the metal and come to the fight fully loaded.

The Gwesty Cymru site was once a real fur coat and no-knickers contender, lovely colours, great pictures, well-written text but no online booking (to me that is essential on a Hotel website), poor directions and generally of very limited use to the traveller. When I visited in the summer I had to use Google Maps to find the place. Now the site has truly reformed, still the great look and feel, even better pictures plus online booking, example restaurant menus and great directions … all-in-all a real success and what a hotel website should be …. well done GWESTY CYMRU!

I spend a fair amount of time thrashing around the web looking for decent Welsh sites. Inspired by a recent shopping trip and a purchase of a new brand of Welsh cakes (cranberry and white chocolate - just like mam never made), I thought I’d see what the websites of the two main players in the transaction were like.

The fabulous welsh cakes  (that’s the brand name) were tasty and their packaging about as trendy as can be — so inspired I thought there’s got to be a great website, the URL is proudly on the pack … what I found was a disappointment. One of those fur coat and no-knickers websites (#1 in the WelshDirectory directory website type taxonomy). By this I mean a site that is easy on the eye, carries some links, has a few pages - and absolutely no content of value to the potential customer. ‘Contact us for details’ / ‘email us for a price list’ - why? that’s what I came to the website for! Really a missed opportunity for all concerned. A nice online catalogue and shopping cart, would have undoubtedly yielded a modest yet worthwhile order, much of which I’d have given away which would have further spread the word, generated orders … instead of that nothing. Sigh!

So inspired(!) I moved on to the second part of my journey across the web and failed to find my destination. The shop I’d visited was Snails Delicatessen in Rhiwbina, a relatively new deli which is obviously doing well but where’s the website? (I’d better make that #2 in the WelshDirectory directory website type taxonomy) - there isn’t one. Now I’ll set my targets slightly lower for the website for a shop. No need for online sales (that’s a different type of business), but I do want some information - contact details, directions, opening times and a little bit of eye candy to wet the appetite. Any whistles and bells like online ordering are a bonus. Again disappointment!

Next time I’m determined to find some highlights of the Welsh Web…

I take great pleasure in travelling through Wales and have had the privilege to stay in some wonderful places, so I thought I’d take the time to share some of them with you.

Earlier this year, during the grey damp patch we got when we all expected summer (August), we visited Aberystwyth and stayed at the Gwesty Cymru.

We arrived in a rain storm that accompanied us for the whole of our visit (which isn’t a negative comment from me being a connoisseur of drizzle). We watched the rugby in The Academy, which is a place I always enjoy, any mix of beer and architectural beauty always gets to me.

After checking in and settling in to our magnificent room (of which more later) we went for a drink before dinner that never materialised at The Orangery. I’ve read of The Orangery as being similar to a bar in Cardiff - I can confidently say that if the service was as bad as we experienced it wouldn’t last long in Cardiff. Enough said…

So instead we had a quick drink in the compact hotel bar. The hotel itself was a real revelation - we stayed in the room right at the top of the hotel - tucked away in what I suggest is the best room on the Welsh coast (quite a claim, but I challenge you to prove me wrong). Cool colours, slate and wood, luxurious furnishings and one of those enormous beds that you can hide from your spouse in (sorry). I even loved the stair carpet and the door handles - suffice to say I’m not going to find fault. As the hotel had only been open for a few months I hope it can stand up to the battering it’ll get over the years.

We ate in the restaurant that evening - crab cakes and locally caught fish, then finished with a excellent Panna Cotta that was subtly flavoured with rosemary and came as the highlight of a well cooked, well presented not overly fussy meal made from what I’d judge to be appropriately sourced (local) ingredients.

Next morning, the Welsh breakfast came up to my exacting standards and the bill came as a pleasant surprise as we left smiling into the grey summer wind and rain of West Wales.

My one concern is Aberystwyth; does it deserve such a gem?

So thoroughly recommended, but hey, don’t book the attic room … it’s mine!

If you have any opinions, reflections, corrections or additions then I’d love you to let me have them - please leave a comment.

Gwesty Cymru website

visit the Gwesty Cymru website

It’s easy to be trite when writing about this book, from its self-effacing title through its lack of sentimentality and romanticism, this book is just what a history book should be. Informative, well-written, concise and focused, a history of the country that remains firmly grounded within the richly woven context of the times it describes.

Recently updated to bring the book in the era of the current semi-autonomous state, even for those of us who’ve read this book previously, it’s worth another look. My advice is to let Mr Davies guide you through Welsh history and then use other sources to dig deeper.