North Wales holiday cottages are forever enticing
North Wales rolls down from the crag-topped summit of Snowdon mountain to the waves of the Irish Sea. It’s a region that’s long drawn adventurers and history buffs with its castles and peaks. Families also come, to build sandcastles on Anglesey beaches and taste Welsh rarebit in the cafes of Caernarfon. If you’re taken by the charms of the area, be sure to read this guide to booking North Wales holiday cottages.
Different types of North Wales holiday cottage
There’s no hard and fast rule about what the holiday cottages of North Wales must look like, feel like or offer. There are all sorts with different features, just as these 3 hints reveal.
Pick a dog-friendly North Wales holiday cottage
The popular Llanberis Path that winds to the top of Snowdon is doable with the most active and careful of hounds, but there are also countless valley walks and woodland trails in the lower reaches of the national park for less intrepid pooches. To explore all those with your 4-legged friend, it’s important to get a rental that allows dogs. Look out for pet policies, each of which are different and may come with small extra cleaning fees.
The charming, classic style of North Wales holiday cottages
Many of the traditional home rentals of North Wales will have stone-faced or whitewashed exteriors and cosy interiors with traditional features. Roofs topped with local Snowdon slate are common aspects to the outside, while lounges often have antique log-burning stoves that might have warmed the bolthole for decades.
A North Wales holiday cottage with a hot tub
Once you’ve pulled off the walking boots and peeled away the waterproofs, there’s often nothing better than a soak in a steaming bath. But what if that bath was perched outside of your cottage rental, with sweeping views of the Welsh mountains and bubbling technology to soothe post-hike muscles? The most luxurious North Wales holiday cottages now regularly come with their own spa tub, so home in on those if you like the sound of the above.
Bagging a cheap North Wales cottage
If you’re longing to wander the lonely ridges of Glyder Fawr and rattle up to high summits on the Snowdon Mountain Railway but don’t have too much of a travel budget, these 3 tips on how to save on North Wales cottages might just help.
Book your stay early to get the most deals
The search for a low-cost cottage in North Wales should start as early as possible. Doing that will give you the full cross-section of rentals in the region. It’s not only great for ferreting out the best bargains, but also for stoking the wanderlust, as plenty of availability means homes will entice you to surf-washed Rhosneigr, boat-bobbing Porthmadog, mountain-topped Ffestiniog – the list goes on.
Don’t give up on last-minute North Wales cottages
If you haven’t managed to beat the crowd and secure your escape to Snowdonia long in advance, there’s still a chance you’ll be able to bag a bargain on a last-minute deal. These are much more likely during seasons like autumn and winter, when fewer people are frequenting the hiking paths. They will also mean being a tad flexible when it comes to destination choice – you might be pining for Beddgelert’s woods and rivers, but the only cottages still on offer could be down in little Betws-y-Coed.
Travel outside of the national park
The boundaries of the Snowdonia National Park extend over a huge cut-out of North Wales, but they don’t encompass the whole region. Towns like Conwy and Bangor in the north, or Machynlleth and Talybont in the south, are still well-placed for walkers heading for the woods and mountains, but, being outside the reserve, often have cottages for a fraction of the cost.
Favourite destinations for North Wales cottages
If you can’t quite put a pin in the map of North Wales exactly where you want to go, perhaps you’ll find a little inspiration in the 3 following destination suggestions.
Enjoy the delights of Llandudno
Llandudno reigns supreme as North Wales’s largest and most bustling retreat. It draws countless visitors from the nearby cities of Liverpool and Manchester during the summer months. They usually come to laze on the wide North Shore Beach, but often break up their days with rides on the cable car to the Great Orme – a high headland with artificial ski slopes and historic mining exhibits.
A taste of the sea on the Isle of Anglesey
A holiday rental on the Isle of Anglesey is an alluring prospect for lovers of slow-paced, handsome coastline. The liveliest town going is probably little Rhosneigr, which spills out to meet the blustery bays and dunes of Traeth Crigyll. Head there for surf lessons and sailing trips.
Be enthralled by Porthmadog
As an all-round gateway to the wonders of the region, it’s hard to do better than Porthmadog. An old estuary port town that clings to the coast and the Snowdonia National Park, it’s got something for cliff walkers and mountain climbers alike. It’s also a step away from the art gallery of a village that is Portmeirion. The brainchild of architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, that displays glorious examples of the Italianate, the Gothic, the Baroque and others.