Tudor Farmhouse

from $300
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“A picture perfect country house hotel set in the stunning landscape of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley. Charming chic rooms and suites, an acclaimed British restaurant, acres of emerald garden, and plenty of countryside pursuits to choose from. The perfect country escape. ”

Hotel review

Sometimes you just need to get away into the countryside for some good food and fresh air and Tudor Farmhouse, part of which dates from around 1300, is just the spot. It sits at the heart of the quiet village of Clearwell, the kind of place you find yourself wanting to return to before you've even left. It feels properly rural without being cut off; Bristol is under an hour, Cardiff barely more, and Tintern Abbey, that Turner-painted ruin is just fifteen minutes down the road.

Rooms are spread across the main house, two cottages and a small, converted barn. All luxurious with sumptuous interiors and spotlessly clean; the cottages particularly good, with freestanding bathtubs and spacious showers tucked into oak panelling, which features pleasingly throughout the property.

Dinner starts with drinks by a wood-burner in what is a seriously impressive ancient fireplace. The dining room is cosy, tables sensibly spaced. The menu is 2AA starred, locally sourced where possible and highlights include Herefordshire beef and Pan-fried Stone Bass cooked with precision and presented without ostentation on ceramic plates. The wine list is reasonable on price and offers carafes, which is rarer than it should be. Desserts are a real highlight with favourites such as Coffee and Hazelnut Mille Feuille and Tart Tatin with Calvados. Service strikes exactly the right note, friendly and informed without any of the usual theatre.

Breakfast does the job properly: full English, Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, continental, a proper choice. And the hotel has assembled a good collection of local walking maps, for those seeking fresh air, with routes starting from the door, plus seasonal activities like fungi foraging for those who want them. Thoroughly recommended.

Peter Lloyd-Jones

Recommended for

  • Views

    • Stunning woodland walks and views over bubbling brooks and meandering rivers.

  • Active Holiday

    • The countryside landscape offers plenty of activities.

  • Foodies

  • Country Escape

  • In/by a Nature Reserve

    • The Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley offer beautiful landscape, wildlife and many sporting pursuits.

  • Restaurant

    • An excellent restaurant serves imaginative British fare.

  • Charming

    • A charming 'home from home'.

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Country House

  • Intimate

  • Traditional

  • Kayaking

  • Child friendly

  • Chic

  • Cycling

  • Great walks

Facilities

  • Rooms

    20 rooms in this hotel

  • Restaurant

    An excellent restaurant serves imaginative British fare.

  • Garden

    14 acres of beautifully landscaped garden.

  • Private dining room

  • Fireplace

  • Bicycles available

  • Bar

  • Wifi

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Suites

  • Sitting Room

  • Child friendly

Activities

  • Kayaking

  • Cycling

  • Great walks

Map & Location

See what they say

Why do people love staying in your hotel?
Guests love the warmth of welcome at Tudor Farmhouse and the sense of laid-back luxury throughout. We have tried to create a rural retreat we would want to stay in ourselves: attentive and intuitive in service, authentic and stylish in design, and with a genuinely personal feel that makes guests feel at the heart of the hotel rather than simply passing through it. Much of what we offer reflects our beautiful surroundings and rural heritage, from the natural, earthy tones running through the décor to the elegant finishing touches that give the hotel its distinctive character. Tudor Farmhouse strikes a balance that is rare: the genuine feel of the country, combined with the comfort and sophistication of a thoughtfully modern boutique hotel.
What is there to do in the area?
The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley remain wonderfully off the beaten track, offering a fantastic range of activities alongside great places to eat and drink. From the hotel there are stunning walks through our own grounds and into 27,000 acres of ancient woodland, home to wild boar, fallow deer and an extraordinary abundance of native wildlife. The surrounding Wye Valley, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers spectacular gorges, Iron Age caves and some of the highest inland cliffs in Britain, including Eagles Nest, Devils Pulpit and Wintours Leap. Cycling tracks cater to all abilities, while canoeing on the River Wye, golf, clay pigeon shooting and off-road driving are all close by. The area is also rich in historical attractions, among them Clearwell Caves, Tintern Abbey and Puzzlewood, said to have inspired Tolkien's Middle Earth and used as a filming location for productions including Merlin and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The hotel also hosts its own experiences, including guided wildlife safaris with local naturalist Ed Drewitt, wild food foraging with Liz Knight, and stargazing evenings with astronomer Jim Bell.
What kind of breakfast do you offer?
All our breakfasts are cooked freshly to order, with the same attention to detail as our evening meals. We source produce locally wherever possible, supplemented by eggs from our own resident flock of ducks and chickens. The buffet includes a range of local produce, among them Wye Valley Granola and fruit juices from the orchards of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat locally?
The restaurant at Tudor Farmhouse holds 2 AA Rosettes and has been recognised by both Condé Nast Traveller and Tatler, the latter describing it as a "culinary oasis." Menus are built around locally sourced and foraged seasonal ingredients, with the kitchen drawing on produce from within the local area wherever possible. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and also offers afternoon tea and light bites throughout the day. We are happy to recommend other places to eat and drink locally — the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have a genuinely strong food and drink scene.
Which are your most popular room types, and why?
Tudor Farmhouse has 20 bedrooms, all designed to retain the character of the original building while offering comfortable, country-chic accommodation. Among the most sought-after are the rooms featuring roll-top baths and monsoon showers, finished with quality linens and bathrobes. 
What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers?
Venture off the beaten track to the heart of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, and discover one of Britain's best-kept secrets from a base where luxury and a genuine warmth of welcome go hand in hand. Tudor Farmhouse is a 20-room boutique hotel set within a 13th-century converted farmhouse, recognised by Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler and the Good Hotel Guide, which awarded us its highest accolade, the César Award. At the heart of the hotel is a 2 AA Rosette restaurant serving imaginative, seasonal menus rooted in the finest local ingredients. Set within 14 acres of grounds with views across the Gloucestershire countryside, a stay at Tudor Farmhouse is a genuinely memorable introduction to one of England's most beautiful and underexplored corners.

Other reviews

The Cool Hotel Guide

Originally published by The Times

Tudor Farmhouse

Originally published by Good Hotel Guide

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