This year's Ryder Cup has put the spotlight firmly on Celtic Manor — Wales' premiere five-star resort. Set in 1,400 acres of the rolling countryside in the Usk Valley, this mammoth hotel boasts 330 rooms, five award-winning restaurants, two spas and a rather intriguing past.
The original manor, Coldra House, dates from the early 1860s when it was the home of Thomas Powell Jr, the son of a leading figure in the coal and iron trade. But tragically, Thomas, his wife and young son were murdered while on safari in Abyssinia and lurid accounts in the newspapers of the day suggest that they were eaten by a pack of angry cannibals.
Thankfully, there was an upside. After his death, the house was taken over by the local authority as a maternity hospital, where more than 60,000 babies were born. One of those babies, Terry Matthews, returned from his home in Canada in 1980 to buy the manor where he was born. The millionaire entrepreneur then invested 100 million to transform the house into a hotel.
Today, the hotel makes the perfect retreat and its five award-wining restaurants serves an array of fresh local meat and fish. However, it is perhaps best known as a golfers paradise, there are three championship courses here including the Twenty Ten, a favourite with international celebrities from Elton John to Bill Clinton.
But if golf's not your thing, there is still plenty to enjoy. Book in for the Sunday afternoon tea — the hotel's speciality or hit one of the two spas which offer a range of Elemis treatments including their signature Rasul Mud Ritual — an Oriental skin exfoliation using Dead Sea mineral muds. The treatment involves sitting on heated mosaic seats under 800 'stars' in the ceiling of a ceramic heated chamber. Shots of steam pass through a bed of dried herbs, gradually increasing the humidity and temperature of the chamber. The mud is finally removed by a tropical 'rain shower'. It's surprisingly invigorating and energising rather than the type of treatment that sends you off to sleep.
Don't forget to pack your hiking boots as the grounds and surrounding countryside are perfect for walking and the hotel also has top quality mountain bikes for hire. The local villages have a great selection of real-ale pubs that make welcome stops for walkers and serve you with such delights as mulled wine and hot apple cider. Or stick on site and enjoy endless facilties including tennis and shooting.
And, when you've had your fill of all that's on offer, retire to your luxuriously appointed bedroom, they all feature the crispest Egyption cotton sheets and memory-foam mattresses that seem to hug you back.
The Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley, Newport, South Wales NP18 1HQ (+44 (0)1633 413 000; celtic-manor.co.uk). Room rates from £135, per room, per night, including breakfast. The Presidential Suite starts at £1010 per night.
