North of England
Scotland
Cader Cottage is a welcoming, detached, three-storey house resting near Dolgellau, Gwynedd. This stone-built, pet-friendly property boasts a games room, and private hot tub; with designated, off-road parking for five cars available, Cader Cottage is well-suited to a family or group of friends on a retreat in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Deep wooden features and slate floors welcome you inside this intimate haven. Cosy up in the living/dining room with a film entertains on the Smart TV.
Whip up a delicious dinner in the kitchen/diner with help from an electric oven and hob, microwave, and fridge/freezer, then dig in at a dining table for eight. The dishwasher is on clean-up duty, so you’re free to challenge your loved ones to a game of darts, then hop in the private hot tub for a warm, bubbling front-row seat to the evening’s sunset.
Rinse off in a bathroom or second-floor shower room, before diving into a super-king-size (zip/link) or twin bed to rest, before awaking to window-framed, mountain views. For a serene, scenic escape in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, book a stay at Cader Cottage.
Note: This property can be booked with Refs. 1167959, 1166104, and 1167958, together sleeping up to 30 guests.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of Cader Cottage, with real driving times.
Sat nav: LL46 2YH
A World Heritage Site castle built by Edward I on a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea.
Harlech Castle is a medieval fortification in Gwynedd, built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea. Edward I had it built during his invasion of Wales, and it is one of the castles UNESCO includes in its World Heritage listing for the finest late 13th and early 14th century military architecture in Europe.
Sat nav: LL25 0JD
A thirteenth-century Welsh prince's castle on a small knoll, with a restored keep and a ruined west tower.
Dolwyddelan Castle is a thirteenth-century castle in Conwy County Borough, probably begun by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, to guard an east-west route through his lands. It stands on a small knoll, with a keep on the east side and a tower on the west, joined by walls to form a roughly circular enclosure.
Sat nav: LL20 8AW
The Gothic-styled Llangollen home of the Ladies of Llangollen, with carved timber outside and gardens to explore.
Plas Newydd in Llangollen was the home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two Irish ladies who eloped and set up house together in the late 18th century. It began as a five-roomed stone cottage and was enlarged with many Gothic features. It is now a museum.
Tip: Look closely at the outside of the house as well as the rooms, since the patchwork of reclaimed oak carvings is its most unusual feature.
Sat nav: LL24 0AL
A railway museum at Betws-y-Coed with a miniature steam railway and a rare electric tramway.
The Conwy Valley Railway Museum sits beside Betws-y-Coed railway station, on the site of the old goods yard. The museum building holds a collection of railway artefacts, and the attraction began with a former standard gauge railway carriage, which is a licensed buffet and restaurant car.
Sat nav: SY23 1DZ
Edward I's seaside castle ruins, with waves breaking close to the walls and plenty of Welsh history.
Aberystwyth Castle is a Grade I listed fortress on the Ceredigion coast, begun by Edward I in 1277 during the first Welsh war. It was built as a diamond-shaped concentric castle, with a twin-towered gatehouse and towers at each corner, and was finished in 1289.
Tip: Bring a windproof layer, as the castle sits right by the sea and the Welsh coast can be breezy and wet.
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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