North of England
Scotland
A beautifully appointed, stone farmhouse based in a courtyard situation and surrounded by open countryside, close to Caernarfon. Perfectly located, Plas Mawr provides an ideal base for couples, friends and families wishing to spend quality time together whilst being centrally situated for all that Snowdonia and the North Wales coast has to offer.
Sympathetically and imaginatively refurbished to a high standard, the original part of the farmhouse exudes charm and character with the spacious sitting room boasting exposed ceiling beams and a wonderful inglenook fireplace housing a warming woodburning stove. The character is also apparent in the extended part of the farmhouse, which blends beautifully with the spacious and stylish kitchen/diner which also boasts integrated appliances and a range cooker.
There is also a ground floor cloakroom for convenience. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, each individually furnished and styled to suit all, one benefits from an en-suite shower room.
Completing the accommodation is a classy family bathroom charmed by rustic wooden floorboards. To the front is a courtyard and seating area, the frontage is all open to the adjacent cottage, Nyth Wennol, with a private garden at the rear, ideal for enjoying a cup of tea whilst planning the day ahead.
There are lots of walks to enjoy from the cottage, each taking in some wonderful scenery along the way, and within a couple of miles you can enjoy a day on the beautiful Blue Flag beach at Dinas Dinlle. A short drive away is Ty’n Llan, a recently renovated community pub and restaurant that is well worth a visit.
The historic harbour town of Caernarfon boasts a wide selection of independent and high street shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. The town is dominated by the majestic medieval castle which overlooks the harbour, and is also home to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway which runs through some stunning countryside.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of Plas Mawr, with real driving times.
Sat nav: LL55 2AU
A medieval fortress begun by Edward I, part of a World Heritage Site in north-west Wales.
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. Edward I began replacing an earlier motte-and-bailey castle with the current stone structure in 1283, and it was built on a grand scale as the administrative centre of north Wales.
Sat nav: LL61 6TQ
An independent aquarium on the Menai Strait showing British marine life, with seahorses, octopus and lobsters.
Anglesey Sea Zoo is an independent aquarium and marine conservation centre on the south coast of Anglesey, near Brynsiencyn. Over 40 tanks show native British sea life, including octopus, lobsters, seahorses, conger eels and jellyfish. Highlights include the No Bone Zone for invertebrates, a wolf fish lair, a real crashing wave, a shipwreck and a kelp forest full of big fish.
Tip: No need to book ahead, as tickets are bought on the door. Standard and family tickets stay valid for 6 days after the day of purchase, so you can return for free in that time.
Sat nav: LL61 6DZ
A National Trust mansion and Grade I listed gardens on the Menai Strait, with red squirrels and views to Snowdonia.
Plas Newydd is a country house on the north bank of the Menai Strait, with views across the water to Snowdonia. The house has origins in 1470 and was long the seat of the Marquesses of Anglesey.
Tip: Dogs on short leads are welcome in the gardens, but not on the Terraces. Autumn is a busy season for the red squirrels, so stay quiet in the woods.
Sat nav: LL58 8BY
Edward I's unfinished, near-perfectly symmetrical moated castle on Anglesey, part of a World Heritage Site.
Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey was the last of Edward I's royal strongholds in Wales, designed by James of St George beside the Menai Strait. Four concentric rings of defences, a water-filled moat with its own dock and a near-perfect symmetrical plan make it a striking sight.
Tip: Use the main town car park opposite for the most direct route in, and watch for two-way traffic there.
Sat nav: LL28 5UY
A 37-acre zoo near Colwyn Bay with chimpanzees, red pandas, otters, lemurs and a children's farm.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo is a zoological garden near Colwyn Bay in Conwy County Borough. It covers 37 acres and has been open since 1963, so it has built up a good range of animal areas over the years.
Tip: Check the zoo's website before you go, as the sources note that animal exhibits such as the sea lions have changed over time.
Sat nav: LL57 4HW
A Grade I listed Neo-Norman castle near Bangor with an internationally important art collection.
Penrhyn Castle is a country house at Llandygai, near Bangor in Gwynedd, built in the style of a Norman castle. Thomas Hopper rebuilt it in this Romanesque Revival form between 1822 and 1837, and it is Grade I listed. It is regarded as Hopper's finest work and as one of the most important country houses in Wales.
Sat nav: LL55 4UB
A Welsh prince's round-towered fortress guarding the foot of the Llanberis Pass above Llyn Padarn.
Dolbadarn Castle (Castell Dolbadarn) was built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great in the early 13th century. It stands at the foot of the Llanberis Pass, overlooking the lake of Llyn Padarn, and once controlled an important mountain pass. Today it is a grade I listed building, owned by Cadw and run as a tourist attraction.
Sat nav: LL32 8BD
A well-preserved Edward I fortress with battlement walks and views to Eryri and over Conwy's harbour.
Conwy Castle was built by Edward I between 1283 and 1287 and is part of a World Heritage Site. Eight large towers and a high curtain wall still stand, and it has the best preserved set of medieval royal apartments in Wales. The ruins are split into an inner and an outer ward, with a Great Hall undercroft and chapels to explore.
Tip: Climb the spiral staircases and walk the full battlement circuit if you can. Cadw highly recommends it.
Drive times are typical times by car with no traffic. Check opening times and book tickets on each attraction's own website before you go.
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