#1 of 1 special hotel in Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach)
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
The Hafod overlooks the Devils Bridge Waterfalls and is 300 metres from the Rheidol Valley Railway Station. It offers rooms with countryside views, free Wi-Fi and a restaurant. Rooms at the Hotel Hafod all feature a TV, telephone and radio. There is a garden with views of the Cambrian Mountains. Staff can provide maps for walking routes which surround the Hafod. Aberystwyth is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Free parking is available at The Hafod.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Devil's Bridge, Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach) SY23 3JL Wales
The Hafod Hotel
441 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled near scenic attractions like Devil's Bridge, The Hafod Hotel garners acclaim for its ideal location, perfect for those keen to explore the picturesque surroundings. Guests often compliment the hotel's service, describing the staff as friendly and attentive, though a few note occasional lapses.
The dinner, bed, and breakfast package, in particular, is celebrated for its excellent value and quality. The hotel's blend of historic charm and modern design, alongside its clean, well-appointed rooms with striking views, contribute to its enchanting atmosphere, making it a favored destination for travelers seeking both comfort and beauty.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Best feature is the location, which is totally amazing and most rooms overlook the Devil's Bridge gorge. The rooms are simple but nicely designed with fireplace feature and soft lighting. Great shower but the sinks are minute, placed too high and not fit for purpose. It's literally impossible to wash your face without the tap getting in the way or water splashing onto the floor. The beds, pillows and duvets are snugly!
Breakfast is superb with a good choice of cooked options. Dinner was rather more challenging! Sunday roast and the more conventional options were good, but there were also some rather strange meals. One example was the local delicious and delicate tasting trout served up on a veritable mountain of acidic capers. I love capers but the equivalent of two jars on the plate - really?
The car park is away from the hotel about 100 yards or more up a hill. There appears to be no security, cameras etc and the entrance is so broken up and pitted that it's a hazard for low profile tyres or any car that sits low to the ground.
Finally, the service is rather inconsistent and ranges from attentive to negligent. It may be down to a lack of training, but the 'young' staff could be more alert to the needs of their customers and not go around with blinkers on. Nicole is a real asset to the hotel, as she is attentive, friendly and professional. More could be made of reception, not only design wise but it should have a buzzer or bell to alert staff that someone requires attention. It shouldn't be necessary to have to roam around looking for a member of staff - it's a hotel, not a pub with rooms !
Would I stay there again - yes, but the hotel would certainly benefit from some changes to make it somewhere special.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â Make sure you have a room facing front.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Throughout the time we stayed (3 nights) we found all of the staff friendly and welcoming. Nothing was too much for them. Our room was spotless and the facilities were good; tea / coffee etc and Welsh cakes of course were topped up daily. Evening and lunchtime food was served in the bistro that had a roaring fire each evening. The variety of food was excellent and of a high standard; the staff serving were always attentive.
This is a good location to see the beautiful waterfalls at Devils Bridge and to admire the autumnal scenery. We were lucky as the weather was fine and we did not see any rain! However, the steam railway was not running as we were visiting out of season.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Devil’s Bridge is an essential walk but take your walking boots in the wet/winter as the steps...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The Hafod is set in an unbelievably beautiful place, and the rooms at the front have an incredible view of the steep, unspoilt hills covered in deciduous woods that look like no human being has ever intruded on them. We had a three day break, the rates are really good, and the food is nicely presented and very tasty. The drinks menu is extensive and we indulged in a few cocktails! The best thing though, is the staff. They are really friendly and nothing is too much trouble. We felt so welcome. In fact have never stayed anywhere with such friendly and engaging staff, including the chef and the people cleaning the rooms. Special mention for Iolo, who really set the tone.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Attended a family wedding, the wedding meal was very good, with options available for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. The rooms were very nice, might suggest firmer pillows and a smaller kettle to fit more easily under the tap, but the style of the room was great and they provided welshcakes! I found the staff very friendly and went out of their way to be helpful. The breakfast was very nice, a good choice of hot food. Had to ask for butter for my toast. Thank you for a nice stay.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Greg Greg, General Manager at The Hafod Hotel
Responded Oct 2, 2024
Dear Barabrith2015, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your kind feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. It’s always a pleasure to know that our efforts to provide excellent service and a memorable experience are appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another wonderful visit!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Didn't know what to expect when we booked here but we were really impressed. Hotel is literally across the road from Devils Bridge. The rooms are contemporary but still retain some of the original features. Our room Bryn Copa was comfy,warm and a good size. Bathroom was very contemporary and the complimentary toiletries were really good quality. Housekeeping was excellent, thanks to Christine,nothing was too much for her. We arrived on Sunday and the bar was extremely busy with loads of people there for Sunday dinner,which we had later that evening,very tasty. Lovely friendly guy booked us in ,really chatty and helpful,didn't get his name but ,like all the staff he was excellent. Breakfast had loads of choice, hubby had full Welsh with thick tasty bacon and proper butchers sausage. I had eggs benedict, just perfect. For anyone visiting Devils Bridge for a few days, the Hafod Hotel is the perfect place to stay.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked to stay overnight at The Hafod following a motorcycle trip to Devils Bridge. The manager was most helpful allowing us to park our bikes in the gated beer garden overnight. The room was lovely. Well appointed with a very comfortable bed and great quality linen/pillows which led to an ok nights sleep. (Could be improved) The bathroom Modern and a spacious walk in shower for two! We booked on a dinner bed and breakfast basis. Food at dinner was ok, sirloin streak was a poor cut that was full of gristle, the Hotel kindly waved the £10 steak supplement when this was pointed out. Breakfast was good quality and well presented. Now on to the improvements needed. Rooms don’t have air con. They are incredibly warm. Luckily it wasn’t too hot outside, however still needed to sleep with no bedclothes. Opening window isn’t on option as situated right on main road. All of the staff although lovely, are very young. 15/16 year old young. They were polite and pleasant, but lack the intuition to pick up signals that customers need something. Service is painfully slow.. We waited 30 mins for drinks to be brought outside when we ordered at the bar. Nearly all the tables needed clearing, when the member of staff brought out drinks, they didn’t think to clear tables on their way back. This theme continues throughout the evening, with cluttered tables everywhere. They all look a little lost and lack direction. Maybe a more experienced supervisor is needed to point them all in the right direction? All in all, a pleasant stay, with that service element improved, it would definitely be a 5!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
For around £140 per night I expected much better and at the prices advertised now I would say do not book if you expect value for money. The hotel itself is in a lovely location with great views. It is also well appointed. However its pointless having a nice place when the people running it are as bad as what we experienced. We stayed for 3 nights. The car park is located a short walk away up a hill and due to parked cars around the corner we had to avoid oncoming traffic so slightly precarious. There is no reception to check in, we had an empty office. We dragged our bags to the bar and asked the bar staff who told us to go back to the empty office. Eventually a lady turned up with our key to inform me that my mother was in an airbnb due to a confusion with the rooms, not the best start. Our room was on the second floor. There is no lift and certainly no one to help you get your luggage up to your room. The room seemed well appointed but flawed, the bathroom was so small and its impossible to wash your face in the sink as its tiny and has a huge tap that when turned on too fast spirts water all over you. One of the shower knobs kept falling off, the bed is so soft that lying on it you feel your lying on a slope and the window sound proofing is bad so you can hear people outside and traffic very clearly at the front of the hotel.
There is no room service at all available and no do not disturb signs so when housekeeping call and you're in your room they make you answer the door to tell them you're there despite us calling that we were not ready for the room to be cleaned. We had drinks from the bar the friday we arrived and took them to our room, those glasses were not tidied away after the room had been cleaned on the saturday which was odd but you are expected to fend for yourself here. At breakfast we were seated and left so we had to get ourselves coffee and fill up the empty milk jug we were given. Never had that before even at less pricy hotels! Why would you not pour your guests a coffee and give them milk in a jug on the table??
We had sunday lunch and our drinks didnt arrive we had to go to the bar and get them ourselves, we witnessed a senior member of staff shout at the waitress about accepting our order as we hadnt booked - note to management communicate with your staff better, train them perhaps and if you have an issue take it up with them in private and not in front of guests. No one wants to see a waitress be told off when she is clearly out of her depth and if we are hotel guests and we should book lunch maybe tell us in advance?
We were pleased to check out and would not recommend but at least they didnt try to overcharge us like they did my mother. She was on a group table having dinner one night when they had found a room for her and they tried to charge the whole meal just to her. Their reasoning? she was sat at the table so they allocated the whole bill to her. Honestly, customer service is much more important than a pretty setting and we certainly wont be back and will not recommend either
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Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed for two nights. Room was lovely and comfortable. Shower was fabulous. Breakfasts has gluten free options (gluten free toast, eggs, beans, mushroom, tomato). Enjoyed one evening meal, wonderful gluten free options. Had the beef burger with gluten free bun and chips. Great location for sight seeing. Friendly and helpful staff.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Kitchen closes around 8pm so make sure to get there before then for evening meals. It's easy to...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 2 nights here while attending a funeral . The rooms were beautiful , great facilities and very clean. We had the bed, dinner and breakfast option as we knew we would not be travelling far and were really glad we had. The food was amazing and breakfast was also tasty and very relaxed , the chap who took our breakfast order was real helpful and friendly. The location is perfect if you fancy visiting the Elam valley and the local area. The only issue is that the big car park is up the hill and so you have time to walk down / up the hill behind on the road, it’s only a couple of minutes though and we just offloaded the car opposite then parked up the hill after. Will definitely be back when we next visit the area really cosy bar/ restaurant area and the kids meals were a hit too. In dry weather plenty of seating outside with a spectacular view across the valley.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Offload luggage outside front of hotel if there is space,then go up to car park and leave...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brilliant stay, fantastic staff and the food was better than i expected. We've had a few holidays post COVID and been disappointed, the The Hafod has boosted our confidence in the industry again. Fantastic location, excellent rooms, just need to consider extra hanging space especially for wet clothes ( it is Wales ☔). Attended to my gluten free diet exceptionally well. Food quality excellent both choice and value.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Hotel car park a short walk away, secure, very large. Caution on entrance as it has potholes
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Greg Greg, General Manager at The Hafod Hotel
Responded Oct 2, 2024
Dear Mdslife, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your kind feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. It’s always a pleasure to know that our efforts to provide excellent service and a memorable experience are appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another wonderful visit!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Welshpool, United Kingdom424 contributions115 helpful votes
from what I could see all of the bedrooms were upstairs and there was no lift. I did not see a disabled toilet in the pub/ restaurant area. the ladies was up a flight of stairs.
Bracknell, United Kingdom37 contributions8 helpful votes
That’s wrong your your only aloud your dog in the none refused rooms but they are such a pit I wouldn’t even let me dog sleep in it let alone a human
Clitheroe, United Kingdom3 contributions4 helpful votes
oh my God. please do not have your wedding meal here. We had food there last week and it was very poor. If they can't manage fresh food at tea time when we were one of three tables sitting down to eat. Food for 50 would be a disaster. beautiful setting for a wedding though.
There are more places to choose from in the Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach) area.
PRICE RANGE
C$323 - C$445 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomWalesCeredigionDevil's Bridge (Pontarfynach)
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
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