When I’m feeling depleted and in need of rejuvenation my go-to place is The Blue Mountains. Recently I was feeling lack lustre and in desperate need of replenishment before the busy end of school and Christmas season, so I took a couple of days out from life, grabbed my Mum (everyone needs their Mum at these times) and headed for the hills……..well, the Mountains.
I love trying new experiences and for our stay we booked into The Mountain Heritage Hotel. I had driven past the property many times but it is discreetly perched to one side and not much can be seen from the road.
Walking in to the hotel there are two stand out features which struck me immediately. The views of the Jamison Valley that are framed by the huge windows in the guest lounges, bar and restaurant and the obvious history of the hotel. Historic black and white photos line the walls and tell a story of a time of great elegance. The hotel’s original features have been restored but despite being built in 1908 everything about the hotel is fresh.
ACCOMMODATION
Mum and I loved our suite which was spacious and had glorious views across to the valley. Being at the top of a stair case this would not suit anyone with mobility issues.
But, If you have been reading our travels for a while you will know that I take every opportunity to check out rooms which would be suitable for our email subscribers and facebook family so I did a bit of a tour of The Mountain Heritage Hotel.
The hotel does not currently have fully wheelchair accessible rooms available. Plans are underway for renovations to at least one of their rooms with the intention of providing a fully accessible room with roll-in shower. The rooms in the hotel are spacious so it is just a matter of making changes to the bathroom and then the ground floor rooms will be ideal for wheelchair users (see photo above of one of the large ground floor rooms).
I know we have families following along with a variety of needs so for those not needing a roll-in shower, like us, I thought I would share the accommodation which is available currently. The ground floor room in the main hotel is spacious but my personal favourite is the Valley View Suite 1 which is what our family would book if staying in the future. The photo at the start of this post was taken from the Valley View Suite and it hopefully shows the stunning view from its verandah.
The suite has parking at the door, a large kitchen, separate bedroom and bathroom and two fold out couches in the main lounge room. This is a fantastic option for families and the views from the verandah had me imagining myself sitting there with my first cup of tea in the morning and my glass of wine in the evening. It is an apartment style suite which is detached from the main hotel building.
JAMISON VIEWS RESTAURANT
If you are staying at the hotel, or just visiting the Blue Mountains for the day and you are looking for a restaurant for a special lunch or dinner then I can highly recommend Jamison Views Restaurant. The views had me mesmerised over breakfast and dinner (we were lucky enough to be visiting during daylight savings so had plenty of time when it was still light.) It was an all round experience because the food pleased us just as much as the views. I’m not a food blogger but I know what I like and I absolutely loved my meal of Char Grilled Marrakesh Spiced Lamb and the Mini Pavlova dessert was the perfect end to the evening. Both were delicious and beautifully presented. Mum chose the Oven Roasted Beef Eye Fillet and the Lemon Curd Cake for dessert. Both looked delicious but I felt sorely tempted to steal the mushroom ravioli which topped the beef because it looked fantastic and Mum reported it to be “to die for”.
A pianist plays in the bar and restaurant on a Saturday night providing an elegance to the atmosphere. Closing my eyes I could imagine people dressed in all their finery back in the days when a trip to the Blue Mountains was an expedition worthy of a week’s stay, when a freeway didn’t allow such easy access for a day trip or weekend and when people got dressed to the nines for dinner in their hotel restaurant.
I recommend making a reservation in the restaurant and be sure to advise staff that you will be using a walking frame or wheelchair and will require ramp access. The hotel has a ramp which can be put in place prior to your arrival and staff can also ensure that you have a reservation at an appropriate table (The restaurant has two levels, one with additional stairs. The views are just as good from the upper level as they are by the window on the lower level).
I am really excited that such a beautiful and historic hotel will have fully accessible rooms in the future and in the meantime for people, or families like our own who don’t need a roll-in shower, I can highly recommend the hotel for their friendliness, spacious accommodation and delicious food.
Tips
There is a disabled parking space near the main entrance to the hotel.
A disabled restroom is available to guests using the restaurant. It is a separate facility but you do need to go into the restroom marked as the male bathroom. The cubicle is before you enter the male restroom so it is entirely separate.
For more information on The Mountain Heritage Hotel and Spa head to their website.
Trivia
The Mountain Heritage Hotel is where the idea for Christmas in July and then Yulefest began.
The origins of Yulefest “all began with the Irish. A small group had come to The Blue Mountains in their search for the crisp, clear winter climate that they were accustomed to back in Ireland. The year was 1980. As they relaxed at The Mountain Heritage, warming themselves in front of the roaring log fires, they glanced out through the frosted window panes and saw snowflakes dancing on the wind. Their thoughts turned to home. “Celebrating Christmas in Australia during the heat of summer, just doesn’t feel quite the same,” one of the group explained to Garry Crockett, their host and owner of The Mountain Heritage.
Garry recalled his own childhood and the stories his Irish father Bill, used to tell him, of a white Christmas.
It was a defining moment at The Mountain Heritage on that cold and crisp wintry night.”
As our Sydney friends will know, Christmas in July and now Yulefest are very popular with families looking to experience a winter Christmas in the Blue Mountains. The Mountain Heritage Hotel definitely started a trend which other hotels keenly embraced.
We stayed as guests of The Mountain Heritage Hotel and would like to thank them for showing such an interest in how to provide accessible accommodation for future guests. As with all of my reviews the joy and pleasure expressed at the facilities are my own and in this case my Mums too!
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