A Ceredigion hotel and language school has been crowned the ‘Welshest place in the world.'

At the Most Welsh in the World Awards, Garth Newydd in Lampeter won the prize for the Most Welsh Space in the World.

The hotel is owned by Nia Roberts with her husband Aled, who have been running courses and Welsh language boot camps for the past three years.

Nia has been described as a 'Welsh force of human nature.'Nia has been described as a 'Welsh force of human nature.' (Image: Ceidiog Hughes) Nia said: “Our stays can be from a night to a week and it’s an opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the Welsh language.

“There are seven bedrooms with room for a total of 10 people and during their stay they prepare food and eat together, go out together and visit shops with Welsh speaking staff.

“What our guests prefer is the opportunity to meet, speak to and get to know native Welsh speakers. What we are doing is helping people on the journey to becoming confident Welsh speakers.”

Nia was described as a ‘Welsh force of human nature’ in a person’s online review of their stay at Garth Newydd.

According to Nia, people from all over the world visit her hotel to learn Welsh.

She continued: “Last week we had a lady from Texas, people from Canada and Australia and last month someone from Sweden who had never spoken to anyone in Welsh face-to-face and he coped brilliantly.

“We get all kinds of people. We’ve had a lady from Malta who spoke nine languages and wanted to learn Welsh.”

The awards ceremony took place at Tan y Graig near Aberystwyth and was organised by consultancy firm Lafan as part of the Bwrlwm ARFOR project.

Geraint Hughes from Lafan said: “The awards only represented a tiny part of the campaign and what was really significant was the huge commitment of so many businesses in the way they embrace the language.

“Hopefully as an event it will evolve over time but what is really important is for people to recognise the value of Cymraeg in business.”

The Bwrlwm ARFOR project aims to promote the economic benefit of the Welsh language in business in county strongholds such as Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

Bwrlwm ARFOR manager Zoe Pritchard added: “The awards ceremony was a joyous occasion to celebrate everything Welsh and that the fact that it is a living and vibrant language.

“We want to create a buzz around the use of Welsh in a business or commercial environment and how it can help businesses thrive and provide careers for our young people, so they don’t feel they have to move away.

“Its aim is to celebrate the Welsh language and show that it is not a museum piece but can have real benefits and relevance to businesses here across the four counties.”