Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 01686-622024; 5-7 Commercial St; adult/child £1/50p; 2-5pm Mon, Tue & Thu-Sat Jul & Aug)
In former
weavers' cottages and workshops, just north of the river, the Textile Museum has impress-
ively re-created rooms to show what living conditions were like in the 1820s. Above the
cottages are the workshops with depictions of the workers, both adults and children.
WH Smith Museum
( 01686-626280; 24 High St; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat)
Newtown's WH Smith bookshop has been
lovingly restored to its original 1929 look, complete with wooden furniture, mirrors, sig-
nage and skylights. Upstairs is a free little company museum telling the history of one of
Britain's biggest household names.
MUSEUM
Sleeping & Eating
Old Vicarage Dolfor
( 01686-629051;
www.theoldvicaragedolfor.co.uk
; Dolfor; s/d from £65/95; )
A handsome Victorian
house set in a quiet rural location, the Old Vicarage offers extremely pretty rooms with
muted colour schemes, subtle floral wallpapers, claw-foot bathtubs and an incredibly
warm welcome. You can also dine here and the accomplished two-course dinner menu
(£25) features plenty of local produce. Advance booking for dinner is essential. The Old
Vicarage is 4 miles south of Newtown by the busy A483.
B&B
££
Highgate
( 01686-623763;
www.highgatebandb.co.uk
; Bettws Cedewain; s/d from £45/75; )
Fields still sur-
round this heritage-listed half-timbered farmhouse (1651), making it a particularly bucolic
retreat. The decor is understated, keeping the focus on the original oak beams and other
period features. From Newtown, cross the bridge at the northern end of the main street,
turn right, veer left at All Saints Church and continue for 2.5 miles.
B&B
££
Mirrens
( 01686-621120;
www.mirrenssteakandtapasbar.co.uk
;
17 Parkers La; mains £8-37; Mon-Sat)
The hot rock
steaks here are sourced from local farmers who feed their Japanese Wagu cattle with beer
and treat them to the odd massage, so it's no surprise the meat is top quality. The menu in-
cludes a bit of everything from Welsh lamb to kangaroo, wildebeest, springbok and zebra.
Tapas are another specialty and the £10 set tapas lunch is good value.
STEAKHOUSE
££
