Exploring North Wales

Posted on May 8, 2012 by annabel

Beautiful Welsh restaurant with rooms - Plas Bodegroes, North WalesWe spent the bank holiday weekend exploring Wales. We visited a pretty house, set in a stunning valley in North Powys called Bryngwyn Hall, which belongs to Lady Linlithgow and is available for private house parties and weddings.  We then drove on through Snowdonia to Plas Bodegroes on the Lyn Peninsula, which is at the westernmost tip of North Wales. They describe the property as a restaurant with rooms and certainly the emphasis was very much on the food. However the rooms were very clean and comfortable and we had a lovely one overlooking the garden. Our only criticisms were a tiny bathroom and the wait between courses at dinner was agonizingly long. The staff were all delightful, the food excellent but 3 hours for dinner was a bit long for us. However a great base for the weekend and the best one in the area.

From here we ventured further west to Abersoch and did a wonderful coastal walk around the peninsula which took in some wonderful little Welsh sheep farms and rugged terrain. The next day we were more adventuresome and went into the heart of Snowdonia. Setting off from Beddgelert we hiked for 5 hours up into the mountains and along glens very similar to the highlands of Scotland. We found charming little cottages, some breathtaking views and wonderful trees along the river. We were so impressed by the beauty of Snowdonia. We then drove further north into Anglesey and popped briefly into Beaumaris which was a real tourist hot spot, so we headed south again and visited the amazing Bodnant garden. Wow, what colours and such an amazing variety of plants & trees, including some very old redwoods www.bodnant-garden.co.uk.  We then headed back to the hotel, with a brief stop off at Harlech, which sits up high and has a very commanding view over the sea and the surrounding countryside. We entered Wales very ignorant about the country, loved what we saw and look forward to returning soon.

To find out more about country houses and mansions to hire in Wales for family holidays, houseparties or corporate entertainment, please contact Andrew Loyd, andrew@ltr.co.uk or + 44 (0) 1835 824642.

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The Bespoke Travel Club at the Capital

Posted on May 3, 2012 by annabel

Dining room at The Capital Hotel, Basil Street, LondonThe BTC had a great meeting last Thursday at the Capital Hotel in Basil Street.  I had forgotten what a charming small hotel this is and still wonderfully English, which is a rarity sadly now in London.  Most hotels have been refurbished so often that all the old charm has long since gone and been replaced with a rather sterile ‘same old’ look that practially every hotel seems to have opted for.  So a nice surprise to find a small privately owned hotel with a lot of old school charm, right behind Harrods.

For forty years the Levin family, have owned and run this rather discreet establishment, with just 50 bedrooms and 8 apartments, where a discerning clientele has long enjoyed their wonderful location, comfortable rooms, delicious food in their restaurant and a few cocktails in their well known bar.  I remember in the eighties hearing about the Capital and then it slightly dropped off the radar as endless new hotels emerged.  Well it’s still there and looking in great shape, with delightful and caring staff and a very friendly atmosphere.  LTR heartily recommends their guests consider this fine hotel when visiting London.

For more information about the bespoke tours that LTR can organise for you in and around London, please contact Andrew Loyd on andrew@ltr.co.uk or 01835 824 642.

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Conde Nast Traveler Villa Rental Specialist for Scotland 2012

Posted on May 1, 2012 by annabel

Andrew Loyd is Conde Nast Traveler Villa Rental Specialist for 2012Andrew Loyd has again in 2012 been appointed the Conde Nast Traveler Villa Rental Specialist for Scotland, which recognises the unique place LTR enjoys in the luxury rental market.  No other Scottish company has been awarded this recognition and it has been a hard won award after thirteen years of learning our craft and taking so much trouble over our guests.  We have grown much more slowly than many of our competitors but no one offers a higher level of service than Andrew and his colleagues at LTR.  This recognition is shared by the whole team and is hugely appreciated.

For more information on the service provided by the team at LTR please call us on + 44 (0) 1835 824642 or email info@ltr.co.uk.

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The New York Times – For the Well Healed, Maids and Castles

Posted on April 26, 2012 by annabel

Monica Drake writes for The New York Times, published April 25, 2012 …

Olympics 2012 accommodation - Ladbroke RoadFor travelers more accustomed to stratospheric thread counts than high fill-power sleeping bags, upscale options are still available.  The travel service Loyd and Townsend Rose rents high-end homes and, well, castles throughout Britain at rates starting at roughtly £25,000 (about $39,500) a week.

The price not only covers an estate that would work as the setting for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in the next ‘Pride and Prejudice’ remake – if you edit out the modern conveniences and renovations – but also includes a fully catered experience, according to Andrew Loyd, the firm’s director.  That means a staff that may include housekeepers, chefs, waiters, groundskeepers and anybody else essential to making sure that as a guest you don’t lift a finger, not even to whip out your credit card.

“It’s completely different from a hotel – you don’t have to pay as you go,” Mr Loyd said.  He added that the company also organizes your activities based on your interests, so that people who want to look at Georgian architecture come away as content as those who want to “just flop and watch the telly for a week.”

For many visitors, the Olympic Games are the activity of interest this summer, and Loyd and Townsend Rose has a portfolio of properties just for them.  Its “London Olympics Accommodation” promises properties within an hour of where the Games take place, in Stratford, or in London.

One, on Ladbroke Road, could be considered a bargain.  This four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Notting Hill includes a live-in maid and two parking spaces at a price of £20,000 a week.  Don’t expect to see anybody camping in this garden.

For more information please contact Andrew Loyd andrew@ltr.co.uk or + 44 (0) 1835 824642.

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Enjoy being guided with military precision

Posted on April 18, 2012 by annabel

Exceptional guide for southern England with many years experienceLTR is always wary of guides, as many seem slightly humourless, inflexible and keen to visit the same ‘old chestnuts’ as everyone else.  However, we can recommend without hesitation, the services of David Hutchison, who is a Cambridge graduate and retired army Colonel who served for many years in the Grenadier guards.  David has an in depth understanding of ceremonial and state occasions, has organised a number of Royal visits and even one for Margaret Thatcher to Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles.  So LTR guests can be assured of a well organized programme delivered to the highest standards by this premier Blue Badge guide.

It should be pointed out that David may be an ex-Colonel but he is far from stuffy and guests will much enjoy his humour and light hearted manner.  He knows all the best places to stay, eat, park and visit along with what local events are happening i.e. open air concerts, opera and Shakespeare plays, fireworks, jousting, Roman re-enactments and antiques fairs.  Guests will discover hidden gems and experience the best of English culture, without being surrounded by millions of other visitors.  Please contact Andrew Loyd (andrew@ltr.co.uk) or (+ 44 (0) 1835 824 642) for further information and for guests staying at one of our homes in the south of England, why not consider the services of David Hutchison and explore the surrounding area in the best of company.

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The 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield

Posted on April 4, 2012 by annabel

Bedroom in a Scottish castle available to hire for the 2013 British Open Golf ChampionshipJuly 18th -21st 2013 – We have some fabulous private castles and country houses from which to base your stay for the 2013 Open Championship.  Perfect for entertaining guests and enjoying the privacy and seclusion of your surroundings.  We can organise every detail of your stay to ensure that you can sit back and enjoy the golf on the World famous links course at Muirfield.

Please contact jonathan@ltr.co.uk (+ 44 (0) 1835 824 642) for more information and to help with your requirements.

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Spring skiing in Verbier

Posted on March 21, 2012 by annabel

Spring skiing in VerbierWhat better time to leave Britain’s dark and rainy shores than when Winter is slowly leaking into Spring and what better sanctuary to seek than the bright and sparkling slopes of the Alps and in particular Verbier. Certainly the exchange rate does not help and you don’t get many CHF to the GBP but my goodness it is worth it!

Easyjet from Edinburgh to Geneva, train to Le Chable and then by Land Rover for the  last 15 minute drive up the mountain into the heart of Verbier. It has been much developed over the last 27 years since I was here but the charm of the village is still very much retained and most of the chic shops, restaurants and clubs are still very much alive and kicking. It is a very International resort.

A massive dump of snow in January has lasted well and only small amounts since have added to that base, but the pistes have been very well managed and we enjoyed superb skiing conditions all week. Verbier is well renowned for its mountain restaurants and eateries and they did not disappoint. We enjoyed a pint or two in the tent at 1936 before coming down when all was quiet and occasionally we stopped at the Carlsberg to get the last of the evening sun. Lunches at the Mont Fort cabanne were also a highlight  – in particular their pot au feu, washed down by a bottle or two of gamay. Elevenses were delicious chocolate brownies or their wonderful raspberry cake.

We stayed with friends and family in Chalet Troika opposite the ‘new’ RC church on the road to Savolyere and enjoyed wonderful sunshine all week. A trip to Brusson was another highlight of our holiday where we had this north facing part of the mountain, with virgin pistes, empty chairlifts and the best lunchtime restaurant entirely to ourselves!

We ate out most nights and were not disappointed. La Grange just above Migros with its Michelin star was superb with immaculate service and extensive wine list including some fabulous local Swiss wines and El Toro Negro which is under the Millenium was a magic ‘find’ and we dined like kings on home grown beef, lamb and veal. Everyone crowded into Le Fer a Cheval (known as the Furry Shovel) which as always was a hive of activity and a fail safe place to have a very jolly dinner. On the last night we took our hosts next door to Al Capone where Christian looked after us superbly and his food as always was imaginitive, splendidly cooked and we slipped out of there after several bottles of Dole at well after midnight, just in time for a nightcap, a rather blurry rubber of bridge and a chaotic packing up before an early departure the next day. Haste ye back!

Skiing in Verbier, view from the chalet.

 Jonathan Townsend-Rose, + 44 (0) 1835 824 642 or JONATHAN@LTR.CO.UK

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The Savoy – luxury and elegance in Central London

Posted on March 15, 2012 by annabel

The front entrance of the newly refurbished Savoy Hotel, LondonBack in 1983 I worked as a nineteen year old management trainee at the Connaught and in those days the Savoy Group was the pinnacle of London hotels.  The Savoy itself of course looked after the most amazing guests from all over the world and every famous name you had ever heard of stayed there – Coward, Chaplin, Callas, Monroe, Fonda, Hepburn, Sinatra to name but a few.  Sadly, towards the end of the century, the Savoy had become shabby and had been eclipsed by a new breed of hotels.

After a massive 3 year refurbishment, the hotel reopened on 10th October 2010 and it really has been restored to its former glory.  All 268 rooms and 62 suites have been magnificently refurbished, along with the 12 meeting rooms, including the Lancaster ballroom.  The two highly popular bars the American and the Beaufort are looking more chic than ever and the Thames foyer is still a great place for afternoon tea.  Lunch and dinner in the famous Savoy Grill or the River Restaurant is also the same elegant experience as it was in days of old.

Indeed across the board it is wonderful to see the much beloved Savoy Hotel, which was opened by Richard D’Oyly Carte in 1889, back on form.

For some invaluable travel advice please call Andrew Loyd on + 44 1835 824 642 or email:  ANDREW@LTR.CO.UK

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Be the Queen of the Castle – Weekly Wrinkle

Posted on March 8, 2012 by annabel

Lismore Castle, Irish castle to rentIf you ever wanted a taster of castle life without the worry of crumbling ramparts, or you’re planning a major extravaganza, then check out LTR . 

A lovely article by our friends at Weekly Wrinkle, to read more please click here >>

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Abbotsford House, Scottish Borders

Posted on March 5, 2012 by annabel

A wedding taking place at Abbotsford House following a massive renovation project.After many years of decline it is exciting to see the historic home of Sir Walter Scott being totally restored and given a new lease of life.  A massive fundraising campaign has raised sufficient funds to build an exciting new visitor centre (due for completion in June 2012) which will be followed by the opening of the Hope Scott Wing in July 2013.  This will provide 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms for luxury rentals along with dining room, sitting room, library, billiard room and access to Sir Walter Scott’s dining room.

The main rooms of the house will remain open to the public and some will be available for private events and weddings, along with the gardens and extensive lawns overlooking the Tweed.  Abbotsford is a very important home for the people of the Borders and it is a much needed boost to Border tourism.  Scott has been largely overlooked by his own kinsmen but is still hugely admired in the US and widely read by students in Russia.  LTR has contributed both financially and with advice to the project and we continue to keep an eye on developments.  Roll on next summer!

For more information on this exciting project please call Andrew Loyd on + 44 1835 824 s642 or email ANDREW@LTR.CO.UK

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