My experience right from the start was fabulous.
It is not easy to find a quiet two-bedroom self-catering apartment within easy walking distance of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society's Royal Welsh Show (held annually during the third week of July) in either lovely Llanelwedd or Builth Wells, and for many years I've looked longingly at The Arches, a 5-Star in-town accommodation which is normally booked at least a year or two in advance for a 7-day stay during spectacular Royal Welsh Show week.
But a year-and-a-half prior to this year's Show (2022) I couldn't believe my good fortune when I contacted Mark at The Arches inquiring about availability during Show Week 2022 and found, much to my amazement, that he did indeed have an opening available for a week's stay in their self-catering two-bedroom apartment.
Arrangements were made immediately to secure our stay, and suddenly all things seemed possible. And with that week now as our centerpiece for our entire trip, we were able to arrange both the front end and back end of our travels accordingly.
The Arches looks perfectly gorgeous from the photographs on their own well-designed website, but I can tell you from our own experience having now enjoyed a week's stay that the photos only hint at just how quiet and beautiful and comfortable and incredibly peaceful The Arches accommodation is in "real life." And what perfectly fabulous hosts Louise and Mark and their young son are for their most fortunate guests!
Mark and Louise offered to retrieve us at Builth Station upon our arrival, and as if that wasn't kind enough, they then offered to take us to neighboring Newtown where there was a larger grocery and with that generous gesture, we were now all set for an entire week's stay at The Arches.
The apartment is absolutely gorgeous and is surrounded by a lovely lawn with tall evergreens and a mixed evergreen and deciduous hedge, which makes for an elegant setting that is both graceful and calm, with a picnic table and benches from which to enjoy the birdsong.
Fresh milk, orange juice, coffee, tea, sugar, a fresh loaf of bread and tasty package of Welsh cakes awaited our arrival. Both bedrooms have beautiful linens and luxurious towels and a perfectly wonderful view of the gardens. The next morning was Sunday and I was delighted to hear church bells ringing for a lovely long time as I listened through my open bedroom window overlooking the lawn and tall trees. Five stars plus!