Harlech's pretty High Street is a protected conservation area and so has retained its character, being full of attractive stone buildings and housing a good number of interesting shops and restaurants. The castle lies just off this street and is within easy walking distance of Byrdir which, itself, is one of the most prominent buildings in the town.
Byrdir has been used as guesthouse for many years, possibly over one hundred, and this is no surprise given the size and location of the house. Not so long ago it was offering ten rooms for rent, though not all of these had bathrooms and, during its recent renovation, it was decided that five rooms would be opened up for letting, all freshly decorated and with new en suite shower rooms. The house has been completely rewired and a brand new fire alarm system has been installed (smoking is prohibited throughout the building). The bedrooms are a mixture of doubles, twins and triples, so there are plenty of options for anybody wishing to plan a visit. All of our rooms offer televisions, tea and coffee-making facilities, hairdryers, USB charging ports, wi-fi and toiletries (free from parabens and mineral oils and never tested on animals).
Harlech is a town built on the mountainside, so it is far from flat. Being built straight into the rockface Byrdir has numerous staircases. The entrance to the house requires you to climb some steps and all of our guest rooms are situated on the first and second floors, so you will be required to walk up stairs to reach them. This is an old house and does not lend itself to easy-access rooms for those less mobile.
As a licensed premises, Byrdir has a bar in the guest lounge where we offer up a fine selection of botted beers and ciders from a variety of small Welsh breweries. Unless you are a real connoisseur, it is unlikely you would have come across many of these before. We also stock the famous Welsh whisky, Penderyn, and a good selection of wines and spirits, including a variety of gins and bourbons. The lounge also has a collection of books and games for your use, always useful if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Breakfast is served in our bright dining room, as far as possible using locally-sourced ingredients. We cater for vegetarian, halal and gluten-free diets; please inform us in advance if you require these options or have any food allergies. We are happy for guests to use the dining room if they wish to partake of a take-away in the evening. We will provide plates and cutlery for you, with drinks available from the bar. There are plenty of eating-places in Harlech, including Welsh, Indian, Italian and Chinese restuarants, though it is always a good idea to book a table as they do fill up quickly in the height of the season. Most of these restaurants do serve take-aways if you miss out on a table.
Byrdir has its own car park and all guests are welcome to make use of it. As the house is situated on a bend in the road, please take care as you turn in to the drive, especially as the entrance is uphill and appears narrow, though in reality it is wide enough for transit vans and small lorries. The surface of the tarmac is not in pristine condition, though it is certainly not dangerous. When in the car park at busy times, please reverse into a parking spot as you would not want to try and reverse out the next day! Though the car park is used every day and there have never been any unfortunate incidents, we must stress that guests use this facility at their own risk, either on foot or in their vehicle. There are two car parks adjacent to the house if you wish to make use of those instead.
Harlech is a beautiful place with plenty of things to do for people of all ages and we hope to add to your holiday experience by providing a friendly and comfortable environment. We are happy to assist you in any way we can during your break, whether through booking tickets for attractions, activities or in searching out tee-times at the many fine golf courses in the area. Just ask if you require any assistance in planning your holiday.
