THE first phase of a £30 million investment to create a luxury 27-acre resort in the Upper Severn Valley near Newtown has won a national award.

Maesmawr Farm Resort at Caersws was crowned Best Small Relax and Explore destination in Wales at Hoseasons’ 13th annual Gala Awards evening – a celebration of lodge and holiday parks across the UK that have achieved the highest scores in independent customer satisfaction surveys.

The resort, part of the exclusive Bouja Luxury Boutique Breaks Collection,

currently has seven studio lodges, 12 premium lodges and two safari glamping units.

When a five-year phased development is complete, the resort will represent a £30 million investment with 124 lodges, a restaurant and spa, tennis courts, a fishing and boating lake, two ornamental ponds and a nature reserve, creating around 80 permanent jobs.

Offering options to own, rent and invest in holiday homes, the resort is already proving popular with a wide cross section of people who are attracted to Mid Wales for escapism and adventure.

Mark Whitehouse, managing director of Boutique Resorts, that also includes two further resorts in Pembrokeshire, said: “This award is really humbling because it’s genuinely customer-related and is testament to the fantastic job the entire team are doing at Maesmawr Farm Resort. It shows that we are on the right track.

“We are supporting the local economy by attracting people from across the UK who say they feel rejuvenated after staying there. We can offer a range of accommodation options and the area appeals to all age groups.”

Simon Altham, revenue managing director at Hoseasons, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to hand over this award to the team at Maesmawr Farm Resort.

“We all know the importance that positive reviews can have on bookings and it’s clear from the feedback they’ve been receiving that they’re doing a fantastic job of looking after our customers. They deserve all the plaudits that come their way and I wish them every success for the year ahead.”

Maesmawr Farm Resort is a member of MWT Cymru, a social enterprise company that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales.

Surrounded by wild meadows, farmland and rolling hills, the resort is within walking distance of the village of Caersws, which was once the Roman capital of Wales

Striking a mix of tranquil location with superb accommodation, each holiday home offers all the home comforts of modern living, complemented by bespoke design and unique touches. Hot tubs offer the ultimate way to soak up the wonderful ambience whilst marvelling at the starry sky.

Guests can choose from mountain biking, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, walking and rambling or just sit back and enjoy the tranquillity of the peaceful resort whilst watching the red kites soar overhead and the 360-degree views.