Discovering cheap cottages in Wales

Discovering cheap cottages in Wales

Whoever said the wonders of Wales had to come at a cost? Whether you’re keen on glimpses of half-ruined Edwardian castles, long treks around Snowdonia, or seaside jaunts to Pembroke, this guide to booking cheap cottages in Wales can help you venture over the River Severn and beyond for less.

Types of cheap cottages in Wales available

Welsh sheep stand in a field

Before jumping into the world of booking cheap cottages in Wales, it’s worth thinking about the different sorts of homes away from home there are to pick from. Whether you’re keen to get a place for you, the pooch and the family, a dash of high-class, hot-tub living, or something rustic, the pointers below might just come in handy.

Cheap cottages in Wales that are dog friendly

Pooch-tempting trails and wave-splashed beaches with plenty of sticks for throwing make the land over the Severn a perfect place to take the 4-legged friend. Thankfully, loads of cheap cottages in Wales have pet-friendly policies that mean the barking buddy can come along, too. There might be a flat fee for the extra guest, usually calculated per animal, per stay.

Cheap cottages in Wales with hot tubs

Just because you’re sticking to a tighter budget, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a touch of luxury on that Welsh escape. Choosing a home that’s got its very own hot tub is a sure way to do that. The bubbling spa pool might crank up the cost a little, but it’s guaranteed to help you relax after long hikes up Snowdon or Pen-y-fan.

Traditional cheap cottages in Wales

Wales is famed for its age-old culture. That means finding a cheap cottage here that oozes character should be a cinch. There are stone-built miner’s terraces in the southern valley towns and old sheep farmer’s boltholes studding the grassy hills of the north. Inside, features like wood-crackling fireplaces and beamed ceilings only help to get the cosy vibes really flowing.

Booking cheap cottages in North Wales

A castle and the mountains of Snowdonia

North Wales has inspired Romantic poets, allured boundary-breaking climbers and been the home of Celtic princes and kings. It’s mainly famed for its mountains, but also has the mystical island of Anglesey – the onetime place of the Druids – and Victorian-era beach resorts with all sorts of fun in the sun to get stuck into…

Cheap Welsh cottages in Snowdonia National Park

The mightiest peaks in all of Wales, and some of the highest in the whole United Kingdom, tower to the clouds in Snowdonia National Park. This is where to go to lace up the walking boots and conquer cloud-gathering summits. There are loads of little boltholes nestled into the deep valleys, often tucked into age-old sheep farming towns with hearty pubs and medieval churches to see.

Family enjoyments in Colwyn Bay

The cheap Welsh cottages of Colwyn Bay have been magnetising family travellers for decades. You might find somewhere that’s close to the 3-mile stretch of sand and promenade right by the Irish Sea – sessions of cycling and ice cream-munching await there. On other days, the Welsh Mountain Zoo is a must. It brings Sumatran tigers and red pandas to the Snowdonia ridges.

Anglesey and surrounds for something historical

As the north coast of Wales runs westwards from Llandudno, it reveals a series of UNESCO-tagged castle complexes that are regularly hailed as the most dramatic in Britain. The mighty turrets and 13th-century portcullises of Caernarfon Castle stand out from the crowd, while Beaumaris Castle is the must-see jewel on the isle of Anglesey.

Lovely Llandudno beckons, too

A bargain Welsh cottage in Llandudno is a chance to strut your stuff up regal promenades where Queen Victoria herself once trod. A highlight of the Welsh coast, the town is known for its lacing of elegant 1800s architecture and buzzing pier. The Great Orme looms to the north-west, where you can ride an old mountain railway and wonder at ancient Bronze Age copper mines.

Other top regions to look for cheap cottages in Wales

A sunrise over Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Of course, North Wales is just part of the story. From Mid Wales’s windswept hills to the stunning beaches of the south coast, there’s plenty of scope for a bargain escape in other corners of the country. Just 2 stand-out suggestions to get the Welsh wanderlust flowing are below…

Cheap cottages in Pembrokeshire

If it’s sand and sea you’re after, the protected national park of Pembrokeshire can oblige. The 186 miles of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path connect the various towns, beaches and cliffs of the region. Tramping its length, you’ll encounter legendary surf beaches like Whitesands Bay, spy out dolphins and porpoises in the water and get to explore the cobbled streets of pretty resorts like Tenby.

Cheap cottages in South Wales

South Wales is a vast region. It’s much less remote than its counterpart up north, hosting the bulk of the towns and cities. However, there’s still room to find enticing country cottages. Look to the Gower Peninsula, for example, where wild beaches are backed by walls of cliffs. Or, head to Brecon, for a centuries-old market centre that’s ringed by the walking mecca of the Brecon Beacons National Park.