Craig Y Nos Castle

An introduction to Craig Y Nos Castle

Set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, Craig-y-Nos Castle is the perfect location for a break, with the wonderful Welsh countryside it really is a special place.

Craig Y Nos Castle main features

Accommodation details

Craig Y Nos Castle is situated between Swansea and Brecon, within the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Functions and Accommodation

Sleeps 1 to 100, 30 bedrooms – Rates from £108.00 - £155 midweek, £128.00 - £175.00 weekends.

The Atrium Block, which sleeps up to 42 people, adjoins the castle and has been refurbished to create 21 quality en-suite rooms.

The Nurses Block, can be booked as an exclusive self catering Apartment, with all mod cons and plenty of room, an area for you and family to rest and play.

A further 54 guests can be accommodated in our dormitory style accommodation, B&B. Ideal for parties, groups, schools and guests enjoying outdoor activities.

The castle has many diverse guest rooms, including the Music Room with huge Sky television, a huge billiard room, the quiet, peaceful Patti Bar with real log fire, and the 'Blue Bar' with pool table.

We are able to provide guests with a wide range of Accommodation to suit their budget, we offer Bed and Breakfast on Continental Style midweek and a Full English Breakfast at Weekends.

As a venue we are able to hold Conferences, Events and take Group Bookings when we will also be serving a Full English Breakfast.

Weddings are our speciality, with a wide range of Wedding Packages on offer, we are the only venue in Wales to allow you to get married in a Grade 1 Listed Theatre and hold your Ceremony in a "real" Castle.

All Wedding Guests staying in the Castle are also offered a Full English Breakfast.
 
Craig Y Nos Castle provides Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, set in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. The Castle, once the home of Adelina Pattio offers accommodation to suite all budgets and all types of traveller.
 
Spa & Retreat:
 
Craig Y Nos Castle, has its own on site Gym and Hot Tub, and we are able to offer in house Beauty and Holistic treatment in our partnerhsip with  "The Retreat", where you can be pampered to your hearts content.

So if you are here as part of a Conference or a part of a Wedding Booking  or maybe you are simply on a relaxing break why not pop along to the Gym (for free). See the slideshow below, and call 01639 730725 to ask about our membership rates.
 
As a dog friendly hotel, we must advise our guests that we do have well behaved and house trained dogs staying with us. The Castle overlooks Craig-y-Nos Country Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty, in which accompanied dogs are welcomed. For more energetic owners and their pets there are impressive hills with stunning views towering over the castle and numerous well defined paths by which to explore them.

Self Catering Accommodation:
Craig-y-Nos Farmhouse Exclusive Use - Self Catering
The 16th century farmhouse accommodation comprises of a Luxury 4 Poster Master Bedroom with additional first floor double and ground floor double/family room (sleeps up to 6 adults plus 2 cots/camp beds)


If you would like to book the farmhouse on a weekly exclusive self-catering holiday rental basis our rates are as follows:-

January to March (Low) - £350.00 per week (Saturday to Friday)
April and October to December (Mid) - £550 per week
May to September (High) - £750.00 (per week (Saturday to Friday)

Nurses Block Accommodation:
 
The "Nurses Block" is situated in the Castle grounds and has 11 non-ensuite bedrooms, two of the rooms have an adjoining door which is ideal for families. There are ample shared bathroom and shower facilities within the building. A large lounge with television and comfortable sofas offers a place to sit and relax and the adjoining kitchen facilities enables guests to become self-catered if they wish to do so.
 Ideal for large groups or families using the Nurses Block as Self Catering Holiday Accommodation. The nurses block can be booked exclusively for £275 per night (minimum of 5 people) plus £30 per extra person.

Weddings:
Set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, Craig-y-Nos Castle is the perfect location for your romantic and historic wedding. With the wonderful Welsh countryside it really is a special place to hold your special day.

In 1878 the castle and its setting captivated the leading opera star of the day, who felt she had found the home of her dreams amid the calm isolation of this beautiful valley. The castle's name alone strikes a romantic note and in rough translation means 'Rock of the Night'.

Craig-y-Nos Castle has excellent wedding and banqueting facilities catering for small parties and large parties. All the comforts of the castle are offered together with a friendly service that will realise your every expectation for a successful event. The castle houses a grade one listed opera house theatre as well as newly refurbished Conservatory, both venues are licensed for weddings, making Craig-y-Nos the perfect setting for taking your marriage vows. You are welcome to come and view the castle and its listed gardens. This gives you the chance to picture how your wedding will be, in such a beautiful setting surrounded by history and romance.

Conferences:
Make your events memorable with Incredible Ice Breaker Games and Ideas. For corporate meetings, parties, youth groups, reunions and all events.
Craig-y-Nos Castle is the perfect Conference venue in South Wales to hold your event. With its grade one listed theatre available for theatre style seminars, and many other styles of Conference room. Craig-y-Nos is set within the Brecon Beacons National Park and easily accessible from Swansea and Brecon. Where else could you have all your delegates stay overnight, and to relax after a full day’s work.


History:
Adelina Patti- Craig-y-Nos Castle and grounds were once the estate of the celebrated opera diva Adelina Patti who during her lifetime ( 1843-1919 ) became one of the worlds most famous and highly rewarded entertainers.
Madame Patti was a remarkably talented woman who gained singing fame as a child and built on it throughout her life to become a legend in her own time. She was an accomplished actress, a shrewd business woman, and a master of publicity and social graces. Her contacts were impeccable and she moved in the highest echelons of Victorian society, not only in Europe but on the World stage.

Her supreme talent however derived from the quality of her voice and the "vocal gymnastics" which she was able to perform, apparently without effort.

Before the time of microphones, amplifiers and recording equipment Adelina Patti was filling huge theatres with her rich voice and even the people in the poorest seats at the back of the hall were never disappointed. Not only would she maintain her performance for hours at a time, but she would often give two shows in one evening, with only an hour's rest between them. On her tours she would keep up an incredible work rate for a period of several months.

In between tours Craig-y-Nos Castle was where she would re-charge her energies and entertain her many friends.

Today Adelina Patti is something of an enigma. The second most celebrated woman in the world in the year 1900, after Queen Victoria, is today almost forgotten. Unless of course you are an opera lover.
 
The reason for this apparent anomaly is very simple. Her fame was in her voice, and only towards the end of her life could it be recorded for posterity. The quality of recording at that time, and her ageing years, could not however do her justice.

Unlike today's artists, Adelina Patti's fame was achieved and spread by personal appearances, not by radio, television, records or CDs, and all those who witnessed her undoubted talent are now long deceased. We can however read some of their accounts and testaments and we can experience something of her personality and lifestyle by visiting her lovely former home at Craig-y-Nos Castle in Wales.

From those beginnings the Castle was built, and a Theatre was added. The Castle went through the hands of being a Hospital to a where it is now a wonderful venue for Weddings, Conferences and Accommodation.
 
Local Pubs and Restaurants:
The Gwyn Arms (½ a mile), The Penycae Inn (1 mile), The Abercrave Inn (2 miles) and The Ancient Briton (1 ½ miles).
On Fridays and Saturdays the castle often has private functions on so the Patti Bar and function room are booked out and instead evening meals will be served in the Nicolini Bar or the Blue Bar.

Local Attractions:

Dan-Yr-Ogof - The National Showcaves for Wales.  
There are many miles of natural limestone caverns under the mountains on both sides of the valley at Craig-y-Nos. Half a mile to the North-West of Craig-y-Nos Castle lies the National Showcave Centre for Wales.

Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Sanctuary
Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Sanctuary takes in and cares for unwanted primates. These may come from zoos, research labs and other sources, which are no longer prepared, or are unable, to continue caring for them. Cefn-Yr-Erw is just 3 miles away.

Henrhyd falls
Henrhyd falls are a pleasant 3 mile walk from Craig-y-Nos Castle, on the stream known as Nant Llech at Coelbren in the Swansea Valley. They tumble 90 feet ( 28 metres ) into a steep sided valley which leads the stream to its confluence with the river Tawe at Abercrave.

Places to visit

Brecon
As the former county town, and an important regional centre, Brecon has a long history. It has a castle, a cathedral and an olde-world charm which visitors enjoy. The lovely river Usk flows through the town and there is a promenade with boating and playing fields along the river bank. The town of Brecon is synonymous with the Brecon Beacons, impressive mountains which dominate the local landscape. These give name to the Brecon Beacons National Park, an area specially designated for its outstanding natural beauty.
The town is also now famous for its annual Jazz Festival. Brecon Jazz is an annual event and every August people come from all over the World to enjoy three days of non-stop jazz. Just 18 miles from the castle.

Hay-on-Wye
The little town of Hay (from the Norman French Haie - hedge or enclosure) on the banks of the River Wye is worth a visit even if you are not looking for old books. This is one of the few places in Britain comparatively untouched by the 20th century. Motor traffic is low since most visitors park on the outskirts and enjoy walking the narrow streets and exploring the ancient architecture. You don't have to be looking for rare first edition books, there are plenty of shops where you can pick up reasonably priced modern ones. The slightly ruinous Hay Castle dominates the town and has a large old book department of its own. The town also boasts some interesting antique and print shops.