The Roast Ox Inn B&B Accommodation

A characterful dining inn with rooms at Painscastle

The Roast Ox Inn is a welcoming country inn with rooms in the little village of Painscastle, tucked into the quiet hills of Radnorshire between Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye. Known for its good food and its eight comfortable en-suite rooms, it makes a relaxed, characterful base for exploring this peaceful, unspoilt corner of Mid Wales — walking the hills, browsing the bookshops of Hay, or visiting the Royal Welsh at Builth.

Comfortable en-suite rooms

The inn offers eight en-suite rooms, each with a zip-and-link super-king bed (which can be made up as a large double or as twins), so they suit couples and friends alike. Set above a traditional bar and dining room, they make a comfortable, sociable base — exactly the sort of welcoming country inn you hope to find in the Welsh hills.

Good food and a proper welcome

Food is at the heart of the Roast Ox. Light lunches are served from Wednesday to Saturday, dinner in the evening, and a traditional Sunday lunch at the weekend — all freshly prepared, with booking recommended as it’s a popular spot. With a bar to relax in and good food on hand, there’s no need to head out after a day in the hills; it’s a friendly place to eat, drink and stay.

Painscastle, Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye

Painscastle sits in the green, rolling country of the Radnorshire hills, roughly midway between two very different towns: Builth Wells, on the River Wye and home to the Royal Welsh Showground, and Hay-on-Wye, the world-famous “town of books” with its castle and literary festival. The Black Mountains, the Elan Valley and miles of quiet walking and red-kite country are all within easy reach. For more places to stay and ideas, see our guide to holiday accommodation in Mid Wales and Powys.

A peaceful rural base

For walkers, book-lovers and anyone after genuine peace and good country cooking, the Roast Ox is a lovely find. Days can be spent walking the hills, exploring Hay’s bookshops, or visiting Builth and the Wye valley, before returning to a hearty dinner and a comfortable room in a friendly village inn. It’s an authentic, characterful base in one of the quietest parts of Wales.

Walking and exploring around Painscastle

Painscastle is steeped in quiet history — once a busy cattle-droving stop, with the grassy mound of its old Norman castle still above the village. The surrounding Radnorshire hills offer wonderful, uncrowded walking, including the National Trust’s Begwns with their panoramic views. A little further afield are the dramatic Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass, the red-kite feeding station at Gigrin Farm, the River Wye at Erwood, and of course the bookshops and festival at Hay-on-Wye and the Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells. It is a genuinely peaceful, get-away-from-it-all base.

At a glance

• Country inn with rooms at Painscastle, in the Radnorshire hills
• Eight en-suite rooms with zip-and-link super-king beds
• Bar and dining room serving freshly prepared food (booking recommended)
• Midway between Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye
• Surrounded by quiet walking and red-kite country

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is it? In the village of Painscastle, in the hills between Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye.

How many rooms are there? Eight en-suite rooms, each with a flexible zip-and-link super-king bed.

Is there food? Yes — lunches, dinners and a Sunday lunch, freshly prepared; booking is recommended.

What is nearby? Hay-on-Wye, Builth Wells and the Royal Welsh Showground, the Black Mountains and the Wye valley.

For a characterful, good-value country inn in the peaceful hills of Mid Wales, the Roast Ox Inn is a lovely choice. Check availability and book your stay using the booking options on this page.