Cymraeg

Reviews

An article (with pictures) on John Rowlands' study appeared in the
September 8th, 2011 issue of GOLWG, under the title 'Y Gweithdy'.

An article on Y Goeden Eirin (with pictures) appeared in the Welsh-
language magazine, Y WAWR, issue 172, Autumn 2011.

Ian Belcher published an article in The Guardian on the 30th of July 2011, in which he discussed Britain's search and rescue dog teams, specifically in the Snowdonia area. He stayed at Y Goeden Eirin, and had this to say of it:

'...if you prefer soft sheets and top-notch cooking to hostel bunks and hearty stews, try Y Goeden Eirin, a homely, book-lined B&B near Caernarfon. Its slow-roasted lamb shank could revive many a body.'

Sophie Campbell wrote an article entitled 'British and Irish Accommjodation: Ten top British and Irish b&bs' (21 April 2011). Here are some excerpts:

'We arrived at Y Goeden Eirin, tired and wet - ready to pick a fight given the right circumstances. But from the moment John Rowlands ran out to open the gate in the driving rain, the world righted itself. Supper was on
the way, cooked by him, he said, as his wife - an experienced chef - was away.'

'Our room was cosy and warmly lit. "Look at the books!" we cried.'

'This b&b in Snowdonia, run by two former university lecturers who like cooking and people goes above and beyond the call of duty, which is probably why it has been busy since it opened in 2006...'

'Ten of the Best'

Y Goeden Eirin is the first on a list of the ten best in Britain:'Its name means "The Plum Tree" ... and this
converted cowshed and outbuildings has views of three lovely [Eifl] mountains. John and Eluned Rowlands have three rooms, including a twin, and breakfasts are traditional or light - all delicious.'

The whole article can be read by typing 'The Daily Telegraph Sophie Campbell Y Goeden Eirin' in Google.

Waitrose Weekend

Y Goeden Eirin was featured as 'B&B of the week' in Waitrose's weekly magazine on the 7th of April 2011. There is a picture of one bedroom, and a description of the place.

An article (with photographs) on Y Goeden Eirin appeared on Saturday, the 26th of March 2011, written by James Maccarthy. Here are the opening paragraphs:
‘The accepted route for retired academics is to hole up in their studies and write respectable tomes about their field.
‘But Welsh language professor John Rowlands and wife Eluned decided that wasn’t for them.
‘Instead the couple bought back a converted cowshed they had once owned, opened a bed and breakfast and decorated the walls with art by some of Britain’s most prestigious artists.’

The weekly magazine, The Week, decided to feature Y Goeden Eirin as their ‘B&B of the week’ in the issue published on the 2nd of April 2011. Here is a short excerpt:

‘The interiors seem ‘curated’, with ‘1970s retro’ and ‘polished Welsh oak’ set alongside ‘serious art’ (Paula Rego etchings, Henry Moore drawings). Rooms are full of ‘thoughtful touches’, from mini Meglite torches to fresh coffee, and the food – including dinner, to be booked in advance – is excellent.’

Sally Shalam and her friend stayed and had dinner at Y Goeden Eirin recently, and she published an article about her experience in The Guardian, Saturday, 19 March 2011 (the Travel section). Here are a few quotations from the article:

‘It's not every day one is served dinner by an emeritus professor of the University of Wales - and what a dinner it turns out to be. ... 'This place is extraordinary,' says A. 'They haven't just done the interior, they've curated it. And that wine is exquisite.' We tell our hosts what a fantastic evening we're having but they think we're exaggerating. We try and convince them again at breakfast over shiitake mushrooms cooked with garlic, lamb's kidney and black pudding, but we know they don't believe us. So while all the royal hoo-ha happens over on Anglesey this year, I'd recommend you slip away to this little place. It's a plum find, it really is.’

The whole article can be read by clicking here.

A press release for the American market

Y Goeden Eirin is one of two places in Wales which are featured in a press release by Katie Webster Raeder, under the title: ‘The Ultimate British Experience: ten hotels guaranteed to give the essential flavour of British life.’ The article has had prominence on the home page of The Good Hotel Guide’s website. The release has been distributed amongst over a hundred newspapers and magazines in North America and Canada.

1001 Escapes to make before you die

There is an entry on Y Goeden Eirin in this recently published book. Here are a few snippets: ‘A weekend at this homey bed-and-breakfast in a tranquil North Wales village offers much more than just a rural escape … It is less a guesthouse and more of a centre of learning about Welsh culture and arts – with rooms …. The house is lined with bookcases groaning under the weight of literary tomes. Original art … adorn the walls, attracting a steady flow of literary societies, for dinners and academics for research trips …’ (The volume has a global range, and only a handful of Welsh places is featured. It was edited by Helen Arnold, a journalist who contibutes regularly to such publications as The Observer, Woman and Home, Scotland on Sunday, etc. The publishers are Cassell Illustrated.)

An article by Lowri Jones appeared in Welsh on the golwg360 website on the 13th of November 2009. Click here to view the article.

Just so Welsh!

Everything is so Welsh in Wales. Including this B&B where Martha the dog might ‘Gorwedd!’ for you but she might not understand ‘Sit!’

A blog by Paul Chibeba appeared on Visit Wales US on the 22nd of December 2009. To read the whole article (with pictures) click here

‘Y Goeden Eirin is a small but charming guesthouse that’s perfect for a weekend escape. However, it’s also a place to expand your horizons, being a centre of learning about Welsh history and arts. Run by two former academics, it’s popular with those interested in soaking up some Welsh culture, although the owners stress that taking part in discussions is not mandatory. It has the most cultural toilets in Wales – complete with Welsh political slogans. The guesthouse is five miles south of Caernarfon.’

(Y Goeden Eirin is one of two places through the whole of Great Britain which has been chosen for the section ‘Great Escapes’ in the article ‘Our Favourite Places to Stay (for under £99!)’ – which includes 99 places from around the globe, in the November 2009 issue of Lonely Planet Magazine.)

'Y Goeden Eirin, près de Caernarfon, a rècemment fait son entrée dans la liste des 20 “secrets de voyage les mieux gardés” d’un journal national. John et Eluned Rowlands combinent à merveille la chaleur de l’acceuil gallois et la plaisir de partager la culture et la patrimoine qui font l’authenticité de leur petit coin de terre…’ Pays de Galles, an article with pictures on the web

‘This summer, the usually tranquil Snowdonia National Park in North Wales will be a hive of activity with major openings and affordable attractions. Hafod Eryri … the visitor centre and café atop Mount Snowdon, is staking its claim as the new highest building in England and Wales.
‘Back on terra firma, the slew of smart places to stay and eat is testament to the way Wales is reinventing itself as a chic but good value alternative to the eurozone this summer. Y Goeden Eirin … is a converted-farm guest house near Caernarfon, where Welsh literature and art accompany the coffee after a hearty dinner …’ High Life, August 2009. (Two acquaintances who had travelled on BA this summer alerted us to this article, otherwise we would be quite unaware of it.)

‘It must have been the most cultural little boys’ room in Britain. Aung San Suu Kyi greeted me. Nelson Mandela grinned. Václav Havel looked pensive, and I turned to see shards of the Berlin Wall. Finally, as I washed my hands, I found myself eyeballing a grey-slate canvas daubed with blood–red nationalist slogans by the artist Ogwyn Davies. Spending a penny at Y Goeden Eirin is worth taking your time over.
‘The guesthouse is typical of the new wave of homely havens in Wales: welcoming, unpretentious and value for money. It’s also close to Caernarfon, where the newly extended Welsh Highland Railway is putting Snowdonia on the map this summer.
‘With its pristine mountain landscape, Snowdonia National Park is one of Britain’s best weekending destinations. Think great walks, cosy country pubs, hearty local food and, now, a steam train ride that harks back to the golden age of rail travel. But it also feels like a proper trip. The county of Gwynedd is 80% Welsh speaking, the menu intriguing and the landscape strikingly alien.
‘”People soon realise they’re in a foreign country when they read the local place names,” said John Rowlands, a retired professor of Welsh literature, who opened Y Goeden Eirin as a cultural immersion guesthouse for people interested in Welsh language and literature. His wife, Eluned, is the art enthusiast; her private collection brings splashes of colour to the converted farm buildings.
‘After dinner of Anglesey pork followed by roast rhubarb and apple, John took me through his groaning bookshelves in search of bedtime reading. The Welsh literary tradition, he explained, dates back to the sixth century. “Welsh is the oldest surviving Celtic language. It’s not just romantic bards and druids but a language full of humour and angst.” We settled on the uncompromising prose of Twm Morys, son of the travel writer Jan Morris.
‘The next morning a cooked brekafast sent me on my way to catch the 10 am to Beddgelert…’ Where to stay: Y Goeden Eirin, Caernarfon (01286 830942 www.ygoedeneirin.co.uk) has doubles from £80 B&B; a four-course dinner costs £28.
David Atkinson, ‘A train-lovers’ weekend in WALES’, Wanderlust, August/September 2009, Issue 105.

‘We stayed at Y Goeden Eirin and this made the weekend in Wales very special. The guest house is situated at the edge of Snowdon National Park; about a 20-minute drive from Llanberis, it makes a great base for climbing Snowdon. It’s the home of academics John and Eluned Rowlands, whose Welsh hospitality gives guests the feeling that you’re staying with friends rather than proprietors.
The environmentally responsible couple are passionate about the Welsh language and culture and gave us an education in both. The house has an excellent library and an interesting art collection that Eluned is only too happy to tell you the stories behind. Other homely touches are the Aga-warmed kitchen and John playing the piano. To top it all they cook delicious food using many ingredients from their garden. It’s no wonder that Y Goeden Eirin has won numerous awards including The Observer Magazine’s ‘The 20 Best Kept Travel Secrets 2007’ and a César Award from The Good Hotel Guide as ‘Green Guest House of the Year’.’
Deirdre Mullins, ‘Snowdon’, RTĒ Travel, Dublin .

An education in all things Welsh – culture, food, environment – in a stylish spot from which to explore … Wonderful locally sourced food is served alongside the (locally renovated) Bechstein in the beamed dining room, eco-friendly soaps are bought in Caernarfon, recycled tissues from Penygroes. Even the electricity is powered by Welsh sunshine thanks to twelve photovoltaic panels (installed with the help of Dyfi Eco park). John and Eluned take care to emphasise an often neglected element of social responsibility, in keeping their heritage, culture and language alive: hear stories from the Mabinogion, learn the history of Welsh place names. The excellent Centre for Alternative Technology is under two hours by bus from Dolydd. Superb all round.

Y Goeden Eirin … is a small but charming guesthouse in comfortable surroundings for a weekend escape. More importantly, however, it differs from the traditional B&B as it is a centre of learning about Welsh culture and arts. Run by two former academics, it’s popular with culture vultures keen to soak up some Welsh art, literature or linguistics, although the owners stress that taking part in readings or discussions is not mandatory. And, if you need a moment of quiet inspiration, head for the most cultured little boys’ room in Wales – complete with Welsh political slogans. …

I stayed in Y Goeden Eirin, a book-lined B&B run by Eluned and John Rowlands, who has written and translated Welsh literature and poetry. Their dinner cooked with local produce was lovely and the lamb’s kidney for breakfast was, er, an adventure.

Patrick Barkham, ‘Do the locomotion’ (an article on the steam train from Caernarfon to Beddgelert), The Guardian, Saturday, 30 May, 2009.

‘Stylish and environmentally friendly comfortable rooms with great food, in a lovely location’.

The rooms, which are in a converted stable or similar building in the garden of the main house, have been furnished and decorated using Welsh materials, in a comfortable and stylish way. There are luxury touches, like fresh fruit, ground coffee and good quality tea and biscuits, plus a wee dram of a Welsh liqueur to welcome you to your room.
Fabulous bathroom, slate lined shower cubicle, environmentally friendly products, soft and fluffy towels.
Marvellous breakfast…
Beautiful garden, with a seating area for use by guests right outside the rooms.
Only 3 miles from Caernarfon, it is difficult to find any signs of civilisation from this rural idyll, which is less than half a mile from the A487.
(This reporter awarded Y Goeden Eirin a rating of 5 for value, rooms, location, cleanliness and service.)

There’s no doubting the eco credentials of this classy B&B, as everything is turned off at the wall when not in use. But there’s nothing austere about effortlessly tasteful décor either in the spacious loft or rooms converted from outbuildings. Dinner is a relaxed affair served on oak tables overlooked by Kyffin Williams’ art. There’s also a self-catering beach cottage sleeping five a few miles away.

QUALITY WALES

Altogether Y Goeden Eirin is a very cultured sort of place, which goes some way to explain why the three-bedroom B&B gets such a good press. As well as earning a Good Hotel Guide César Award, the property was named as one of The Observer’s 20 best-kept-travel secrets and was chosen by The Times as one of its 10 chic places to stay. Reviewers like the Aga-warmed kitchen, the Bechstein piano and the shelves packed with books in both Welsh and English … From the pictures on the walls to the local state under foot, Y Goeden Eirin is very much of its place … What [Eluned and John] have created amounts to a masterclass in applied sense of place … (Issue 2, Autumn 2008)

My partner and I had the pleasure of staying one night at this beautiful little gem whilst attending a wedding in the area. Set amidst green meadows with views of the surrounding mountains and the sea, we were equally delighted with the facilities that the accommodation offered. Clean, comfortable, and suprisingly classy for such a small establishment. We were also impressed with the eco-friendly bathroom products that were on offer. Indeed Y Goeden Eirin has been awarded an environmental award for 2008 – an achievment in itself! The owners extended a very warm welcome to their lovely home, and were the epitome of Welsh hospitality. (This was an anonymous review written by Windaloo, who also rated us a top 5 stars in all categories. August 23, 2008).

Eluned and John have taken great care in making their home environmentally friendly by using solar panels, eco-friendly cleaning products, home grown or local organic foods, and by doing plenty of recycling. They can accommodate six in luxurious bedrooms. Not only is there an Aga, but also some Fired Earth wall and floor tiles. (Issue 1, 2008)

Y Goeden Eirin has three bedrooms, one in the main building and two in a renovated outbuilding. Breakfast is served outside in good weather, and includes homemade preserves, and the dining room serves meals to residents as well as the public. Meat comes from a Caernarfon butcher, fish from a Llandudno fishmonger and vegetables and herbs can come from their own garden. The B&B has solar panels and is cleaned with eco-friendly products. The National Cycle Network runs at the edge of the grounds. (Bed &Breakfast Directory, May 2008).

‘The 20 Best Kept Travel Secrets’: For the full Welsh experience try Y Goeden Eirin, a green guest house. John Rowlands, who runs it with his wife Eluned, is emeritus professor of Welsh at the University of Wales. Natural hosts, they are passionate about Welsh culture and the natural and social environment. (14/10/07)

‘10 Chic Places to Stay in Wales’, by David Atkinson, author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Wales:  This small but charming guesthouse offers comfortable surroundings for a North Wales escape. More importantly, however, it differs from the traditional B&B as it is a centre of learning about Welsh culture and arts. Run by two former academics, it’s popular with culture vultures keen to soak up some Welsh art., literature or linguistics, although the owners stress that taking part in readings or discussions is not mandatory. And, if you need a moment of quiet inspiration, head for the most cultured little boys’ room in Wales – complete with Welsh political slogans. (06/12007)

‘When in Wales; Try the Y Goeden Eirin’: We like green, and that’s one of the reasons we like the Y Goeden Eirin, in the village of Dolydd, Wales. The building now used for this bed-and-breakfast style luxury eco-accommodation (that’s a lot of hats to wear!) was originally a cowshed, but things have come a long way. The getaway consists of just three rooms (two doubles and one twin), full of antiques collected over the centuries. Food, often local and organic, is served in the dining room. And the name? Well, in case your Welsh is rusty, we can tell you Y Goeden Eirin is all about a plum tree and a book of poetry. Got it? (11/09/2007)

‘Good value.’ ‘A fine welcome. It is hard to think how things could be improved.’ ‘Wonderfully situated.’ In a hamlet on the edge of the Snowdonia national park, John and Eluned Rowlands run their small guest house on very personal lines. ‘No sign of fashionable interior design,’ they promise. It is very Welsh (bilingual menus and wine list)  and very green (solar panels, recycling and composting policies, organic food; fair trade tea and coffee). Guests who arrive by train can be collected from Bangor, and are encouraged to use the ‘excellent local transport’. The renovated farm buildings (local granite, slate, beams, décor a mixture of traditional and modern) stand amid rough pasture with views of mountains and sea. There is under-floor heating, Wi-Fi, books, modern Welsh art, and a grand piano in the dining room, which is open to the public. Aga-cooked dishes, ‘wholesome, with the occasional exotic touch’, eg, lamb steak in wine and citrus sauce, use local and home-grown ingredients. No choice, but prior consultation. ‘Excellent’ breakfasts include local sausages, home-baked bread, home-made preserves. The ‘large and bright’ bedroom in the main house was liked (‘glorious views, beautiful objects, large TV, good-sized bathroom’); so was a room in the purpose-built annexe (‘Arts and Crafts feel’).

An education in Welsh culture, and a stylish spot from which to explore the country. Against the backdrop of wild Snowdonia, surrounded by 20 acres of rough grazing, house and setting have an open seaside feel. Inside presents a cosy picture: Welsh-language and English books share the shelves, paintings by contemporary Welsh artists enliven the walls, an arty 70s décor mingles with sturdy Welsh oak in the bedrooms and bathrooms are chic. Wonderful food is served alongside the Bechstein in the beamed dining room – the welcoming, thoughtful Eluned and John have created an unusually delightful space.

‘Britain’s top 10’: Walter F Stowy
This is [The Good Hotel Guide’s] latest list of 10 properties to have earned a coveted César award, plucked from the 2008 edition … Over the past couple of months, I’ve been to stay in every one, to check that the GHG-ers are doing their job, and I have to say I’m impressed. Y Goeden Eirin … Eluned and John Rowlands, the retired couple who run YGE, make an effort to be environmentally responsible – they’ve coated one roof with solar panels, and will pick you up at Bangor or Porthmadog station if you’re not bringing a car. But their small, three-room property – set between Snowdonia and the sea – is memorable chiefly for its sense of syle and its Welshness. John used to teach the Welsh language at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, and even his atlas is in Welsh. The room: our room was set in a spacious, purpose-built annexe at the back of the main house. Usually I’m not a fan of annexes, but this was lovely – laid with a beautiful black-slate floor, and furnished with an Arts and Crafts feel. The bed was the best bit – I slept for 10 hours. 8/10 The food: home-cooked on the Aga, and served in the main house. Good value at £25pp for four courses. 7/10 The service: friendly, but not intrusive. They should keep the dog on a tighter leash though. 8/10 Value for money: 10/10 Does it deserve its César?: Yes – it’s a classic of the GHG genre. (30/09/07)

'20 GREAT HOTEL DISCOVERIES'
Every year the Good Hotel Guide scours the country for worthy new entries – places with the personal touch and bags of character. Here, editor Desmond Balmer picks his favourite additions to this year’s guide. Y Goeden Eirin: John and Eluned Rowlands have found a ‘winning formula’ at this small guest house: very Welsh … and very green …In the dining room, open to the public, ‘wholesome, innovative’ Aga-cooked food with local and home-grown ingredients is served. (7/10/07)

Desmond Balmer, the [Good Hotel Guide’s] joint editor, said they had noticed a rise in standards among Welsh hotels in recent years. … ‘John and Eluned Rowlands have a winning formula at Y Goeden Eirin, a small guest house which is very Welsh and very green.’ … Mr Rowlands said he was shocked but delighted to have won the award. ‘Having been fans of the Good Hotel Guide for years, it was a privilege to be featured in it at all, let alone to be given this coveted award. It is something we will have to strive hard to live up to.’ … The Good Hotel Guide nominates 10 hotels every year for the awards, named after the famous hotelier César Ritz. (1/10/07)

John and Eluned Rowlands’ business is at their own home in Y Goeden Eirin near Caernarfon – the two former lecturers have utilised their love of food and drink to create a small, luxurious guest house. (2/08/07)

It was after they retired that they had the itch to embark on this venture, not to prove that they could run a business, but to show that it was possible to do something in Welsh. (9/08/07)

There is no doubting the Welsh credentials of this restaurant and hotel business near Caernarfon – in terms of language, culture or ambience. It also offers high standards of service and taste with the emphasis on books, artworks and local history reflecting the interest of the owners, John and Eluned Rowlands. Although the business is small-scale and recent, they hope to inspire young people to venture in a similar way. Menter Awards, August 2007

The accommodation appeals to a niche market and currently offers room for six visitors and the owners are looking forward to continuing to promote the area. They say that they feel it’s important to give visitors the cultural experience of the Welsh language and Welsh arts and music. (20/09/07)

National Tourism Awards 2007 – Comments made by the judge, David Atkinson (editor of Lonely Planet: Wales)
The Plum Tree, named after a collection of short stories in Welsh by John Gwilym Jones, offers an alternative take on a B&B: a centre of learning about Welsh culture and arts. Co-owners John and Eluned Rowlands are both former academics and the house is lined with bookcases groaning under the weight of literary tomes, while original works by Welsh artists adorn the walls, attracting a steady flow of literary societies for dinners and academics for research trips. ‘Welsh is our first language, but we don’t ram it down people’s throats,’ says John. But most of all the little boy’s room makes the boldest statement in the whole house. Framed photos behind the throne include Aung San Suu Kyi, Brian Redhead and Václav Havel, while pieces of the Berlin Wall stand in a glass case and Welsh slate engrained with political slogans stand guard over the washbasin. ‘It feels like an extension of my life’s work to spread knowledge of Welsh culture,’ says John. (4/10/07)