The Celtic Manor Resort has officially opened the first three of its spectacular new Hunter Lodges to guests.
The luxury lodges provide the best of both worlds – a private home-from-home in the peace and tranquility of the South Wales countryside, yet with Celtic Manor’s five-star amenities and activities on their very doorstep.
The Hunter Lodges command a stunning location within the resort’s 2,000-acre estate, enjoying glorious views of the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup golf course and the beautiful Usk Valley beyond.
Sleeping up to eight people, the large, Scandinavian-style, log lodges all have four double or twin bedrooms, spacious dining and living areas, and fitted kitchens. For that extra touch of luxury, they also boast outdoor hot tubs and indoor saunas.
With the first three lodges already hosting three, four or seven-night stays from paying guests, four more will become available for the Easter holidays and all 10 of the first phase will be open by mid-May.
Aimed primarily at the family and leisure market which is filling Celtic Manor’s 400-bedroom hotel on weekends and during school holidays, the lodges are also designed to appeal to golf groups playing Celtic Manor’s three championship courses, friends on spa breaks, and corporate incentive trips.
Celtic Manor Resort Chief Operating Officer Ian Edwards said: “The Hunter Lodges are the first phase in a potential development of 60 luxury lodges here at Celtic Manor.
“Throughout the planning and building process, we always knew they were going to be of spectacular quality, and in a stunning location, but to stand in the completed lodges now, they just exceed our own expectations and those of our first guests.
“The feel and the finish and the sheer space inside the lodges just make you want to spend time in them, and the views over the Twenty Ten Course and the UskValley are even better than we envisaged.
“These lodges give our guests a special place to enjoy a different type of break than we have been able to offer before. With so many facilities at the resort, they can do as much, or as little, as they like during their stay.”
The £4.3m build entailed importing more than 10,000 pine log sections from Finland with the building frames all constructed from 100 per cent timber with no concrete or steel supports in the walls. The lodges were constructed on site by local contractors under the supervision of UK distributor Lodgico.
The lodge exteriors have been finished in a matt green colour and landscaped to minimise the impact on the surrounding UskValley.
All lodges are fully furnished including fluffy towels and crisp bed linen, and guests receive a complimentary welcome pack on arrival which includes tea bags, coffee, sugar, semi-skimmed milk and bottled water.
They are also be fully equipped for self-catering but guests will be able to use the restaurants at the Celtic Manor Resort or order a gourmet-to-go hamper or takeaway favourite, delivered direct to their Hunter Lodge door. Prices start from as little as £48 per person, per night.
Hunter Lodges www.celtic-manor.com/hunterlodges