Last year on a holiday in Wales, we stayed at a charming B&B, the Celyn Villa. At breakfast as we sat with open maps, our hostess, Pauline, offered a suggestion. She wondered if we’d be interested in tasting the best scones in Wales. Obviously we were!

She suggested a tiny teahouse on the banks of the Conwy River in Llanrwst. It was quite a drive but she assured us it would be worth it and more. We couldn’t have picked a better day to head to a tea house. The weather, which promised to be bright and sunny, had turned into a depressing drizzle. We piled into the car and went in search of some mouth-watering scones.

Tu Hwnt i’r Bont or Beyond the Bridge is one of the oldest teahouses in the country and a good one at that. It enjoys the perfect setting; it is situated along the water and is dressed in mint green foliage. The place screams teahouse.

Built as a residential quarter in 1480, it was converted to a tea room a little over 50 years ago. Its small wooden door open to low wooden beams and rustic tables and chairs. The walls hold traditional blue and white patterned porcelain and jars full of fresh, warm jams. The place smells delicious.

We lost ourselves in the menu for a while before belting out our orders. Tea and scones. Within minutes a tattooed waiter piled out table with tea pots, plates full of scones, sandwiches and cakes, each to be savoured. We spent hours polishing off every crumb on the plate.  And then we ordered half a dozen more to take home. Those were the best scones I’ve ever tasted. I still dream about them on damp, rainy days.