Snowdonia News

Life in rural Snowdonia. Bits of news and local gossip which guests to our self catering cottages might find interesting. Anything from new born animals here on our farm to wide ranging directives from the Welsh Assembly.

New ‘Glamping’ Domes on the LLyn Peninsula

May 18, 2012 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

As you know, most of our cottages are 5 star type accommodation and luxuries like hot and cold running water are taken for granted. So these new ‘glamping’ domes are a bit of a break from the norm for us. But I think it’s good to leap into the unknown sometimes.

While I’m confident you’ll have a lovely time in these domes, I hope you’ll feel little apprehensive when you book. After all, there’s no adventure without a little bit of fear. [Read more..]

5 Things To Do in and Around Dolgellau

May 14, 2012 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

A small and beautiful town, Dolgellau’s story is said to date back to the 11th or early 12th century when it was believed a settlement was created by Cadwgan ap Bleddyn for a town to be created to serve as a ‘serf village’. Later in mid 12th century, Dolgellau was more recognised for its importance when the area was the location of a council of chiefs led by Glyndwr. In the 18th century, the town was recognised for its wool industry, where its output was calculated to be worth 50,000-100,000 annually. More recently, in the 19th century the area experienced decline with the development of wool looms but later, experienced a gold rush with gold being commissioned for the royal family. Today though, Dolgellau’s economy relies on the tourism industry. With the towns stunning surroundings and being set in the southern part of Snowdonia National Park, it provides a brilliant base location for tourists looking to explore the Snowdonia Mountains and coastline. The area offers much to do in and around it town. Here are some of the great ways to spend your time in this historic little town.

Cader Idris http://en.wikipedia.org

Dolgellau is set at the foot of the mountain ‘Cader Idris’ translated as ‘Chair of Idris’ a giant warrior poet from Welsh legend. This mountain is the second most popular mountain in Wales after Snowdon. although it only comes in as the 19th highest mountain in Wales. The summit, named ‘Pen y Gadair, Top of the Chair’ offers amazing panoramic view, especially on a clear day. There are two main routes to reach the summit, the steepest of which is named Minffordd, it is 6 miles in length and takes approximately four to six hours to complete but does offer better views. More suitable for people looking for less of a challenge is the Pony Path. It is longer in length but offers a less dramatic approach to the summit either way, on a beautiful day you can expect to see breathtaking views.

Dolgellau Cycles http://www.dolgellaucycles.co.uk/

Right in the centre of Dolgellau is Dolgellau Cycles, cycle shop, repairs and hire centre. Catering mostly for the tourism trade, the store rents out bikes to those looking to complete the Mawddach Trail, a 9.5 mile long multi use path along the edge of the beautiful Mawddach estuary. The store can provide adult and childrens bikes with tagalongs and child seats so everyone can complete the Mawddach path running from Dolgellau to Barmouth. In taking this route, you can access one of the most recognised Railway Walks in Britain and witness some of the most spectacular views around.

Coed y Brenin Forest Park www.forestry.gov.uk

Coed Y Brenin Visitor Centre is well recognised as a gateway to Coed Y Brenin Forest Park or translated ‘Kings Forest Park’ which is located only 8 miles away from Dolgellau centre. This particular forest is well known for its mountain biking resort and its hiking trails that can range from 8 miles to 24 miles in length. Their trails offer a range of grading, from green (a more novice option) to black (the most severe and challenging option) so is therefore suitable for beginners to very experienced riders and with also a dual slalom course, there are no limits. With many facilities on site, including a cafe, you can be sure to put your feet up afterwards.

Sesiwn Fawr http://news.bbc.co.uk

In July of each year, ‘Sesiwn Fawr’ or ‘Big Session’ comes to Dolgellau bringing a weekend of live musical and dance performances on six stages in the more open fields of the town. The event spreads throughout the town when the performances end and people take to the square to enjoy a few cool beverages. This event is free for children under twelve and so all the family can join in during the day and in the evening comes the chance for the adults to relax in picturesque town at sunset.

Barmouth Beach http://visitsnowdonia.info

Only 10 miles away is Barmouth beach. The long and sandy beach is welcoming, even in busy seasons. The beach is set next to a pretty little harbour town that’s very inviting to newcomers. Even in summer time, the large beach offers enough space for everyone. There are numerous facilities located right next to the sands in front of Barmouth town itself, a beautiful town to wander around with more than enough gift stores for all tastes. It really is an area that’s suitable for the whole family; although the town also boasts a great nightlife if that may be more to some people’s tastes!

Things To Do in Harlech

April 7, 2012 by gwionllwyd · 1 Comment 

Harlech is one of my favorite towns in Snowdonia. I might be a little biased as I went to secondary school there and still play rugby for the local side when my knees are up to it. But with it’s sandy beaches, medieval castle and narrow windy streets, there’s no denying the town’s appeal. Here are my top tips of things to do in the town.

Harlech Beach
We’re spoilt for choice in this part of Snowdonia for beaches. But Harlech beach has to be one of the nicest. Towering dunes roll down to a wide expanse of clean flat sand and the clean waters of Cardigan Bay. Turn onto Beach Road opposite the train station. Plenty of parking at the far end.

Castle
Naturally, if you’re in Harlech, you have to visit the castle. It was built at the end of the 13th century by Edward I in a forlorn effort to keep the Welsh under control. Hopefully, the locals are a bit friendlier these days. Buy the slim Cadw information booklet (yellow spine) on the way in. There’s not much information inside the castle so it’s a handy guide. There’s a bit of a drop at the top so once you scale one of the towers, make sure you keep younger children under control.http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/harlechcastle/?lang=en

Ice Cream
As the sign says, probably the best Ice Cream in Harlech. On the crossroads just above the castle. I like the ‘cheese cake’ flavor. But Louise thinks the ‘belgian chocolate’ is best. And. to be fair, she’s eaten a lot more ice cream than me over the years.
http://www.hufenfa.co.uk/

Cafes
There’s a great selection of cafes in Harlech. Most of them on the high street in the upper part of the town. The Cemlyn is great for lunches, the Plas would be my choice for a cream tea with it’s balcony overlooking the bay and Fraya has breathed new life into the Llew Glas, a welcoming more modern deli type cafe.
http://www.cemlynrestaurant.co.uk/
http://www.theplas.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Llew-Glas-Delicatessen-Harlech/211149815646709

Golf
I’ll put my hands up here. I don’t know anything about golf. But the Royal St Davids links course is up there with the best apparently. Numerous national and international events are held here. I’ll refer you to their website for more information.
http://www.royalstdavids.co.uk/

Harlech Swimming Pool
The council had threatened to close the pool a couple of years ago. A travesty when you consider that our girls for example, would have had to travel an hour to the next already over subscribed pool to learn to swim. But thankfully a group of brave and dedicated local volunteers have taken over the running of the facility. With the help of a lottery grant, they have transformed the building into modern leisure centre complete with an amazing rock climbing room and a very reasonably priced café. They’ve ensured hundreds of local children continue to learn to swim.
http://www.harlechpool.com/

The Lion Pub
I’m guessing you might want to go to the pub at some stage. The Lion would be my choice. Like in a lot of other rural towns, Harlech’s pubs are finding the going tough at the moment. But the Lion remains one of the best, with a welcoming real fire and a friendly face behind the bar.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lion-Hotel-Harlech/109472305746407

Restauraunts
There are a couple of restaurants to choose from. The Branwen is a gastro pub type place down newr the golf club. Up town near the cross roads there’s a Caribbean restaurant which is also very nice. The Castle Cottage is just round the corner is a little more expensive but well worth it. There are also a couple of take aways to choose from.

Theatr Harlech
Theatr Harlech seats around 250 people and hosts a variety of events from acting and dancing workshops to professional shows and art house films. During the summer events and shows are also performed in the castle grounds. Last year we sat on the grass with a bottle of wine and some cheese watching Romeo and Juliet as the ravens circled overhead. A truly magical evening.
http://cytser.com/

Walk
The hills above Harlech offer some of the best views in Wales. I’d suggest buying an OS map before parking in Bron Y Graig car park. Head south along the old Llanfair road before turning inland. There are lots of footpaths up there, but depending on the time available and your fitness, choose a loop which brings you back round and down onto the road above the Lion Pub. I guess it would be rude not to pop in for a quick shandy before heading back to the car.

New Downhill Mountain Biking Trails Comeing to Snowdonia

March 8, 2012 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

I visited the people at Antur Stiniog today. It was the usual bad coffee and powerpoint type affair. But I’ll forgive them, as the project really is an exciting one. And they’ve got some proper money to spend, £1.5 million being one of the few bullet points I remember.

As part of the ‘Snowdonia, One Big Adventure’ initiative, work is well underway to develop a world class Downhill Mountain Biking centre at Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog. This is a specialist type of mountain biking where nutters, sorry, I mean ‘enthusiasts’, are ferried up to the top of a steep mountain so they can then throw them selves back down on the back of a bike.

A walk along one of the easier trails highlighted the fact that this was proper hard core stuff. Not for the light harted or uninitiated. The riders are skilled and the bikes are highly specialised machines. The five ridiculously steep and rocky trails should be ready by the end of July. A jump park, a new visitors centre and links to more conventional cross country trails should be ready later on in the summer.

WiFi | Our list of self catering cottages with WiFi is growing

February 27, 2012 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

Our list of cottages with WiFi is growing. Tan Y Wenallt, Llys Bennar, Ysgubor, Bwthyn and Stabal can now be included in that category. So no more Angry Bird withdrawal symptoms. Let me know if you have any handy links for our guests while on holiday.

You can find the full list of Internet enabled cottages here. http://dioni.co.uk/category/internet-wifi/

Farm Stay, Group Accommodation

January 4, 2012 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

I’ve added some more categories to the list to try and group similar cottages together. I’m hoping this will help our guests to browse through cottages that fit what their looking for.

‘Farm Stay‘ includes cottages based on working farms. ‘Group Accommodation‘ has been included to help people that are organising a break for a large group of people. Finally I’ve included a list of locations such as Tal Y Bont or Harlech which naturally group cottages in that area. The full list should be visable on the right hand side of this page.

Family Fun this Christmas

December 22, 2011 by gwionllwyd · 1 Comment 

Here are five suggestions for family-friendly activities and events taking place in Meirionnydd during the 2011 Christmas holidays.

1. See a pantomime

Pantomime is a lovely Christmas tradition that can be enjoyed by all members of the family, from tots to grandparents.

The pantomime at the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth this year, on 28th and 29th December, is Sleeping Beauty. The performance comes courtesy of the Ardudwy Youth and Community Theatre, and tickets – which are available at the door, though it’s advisable to call the theatre to check performance times if the weather is especially bad – cost just £5 for adults, £4 concessions and £15 for a family ticket, which covers two adults and two children.

2. Full steam ahead

It may not be quite the Polar Express – you won’t see waiters cartwheeling down the aisles, at any rate – but a trip aboard one of the Talyllyn Railway’s steam trains at Christmas is just as magical.

The Santa Special – a two-hour experience – leaves at 11am and 1pm on 23rd and 24th December from Tywyn Wharf. Children get to meet Santa, who will give an age-appropriate gift to each child, and there’s also an opportunity to have their photo taken with him at Plas Nadolig. When the train returns to Tywyn Wharf there’s complimentary mulled wine and mince pies for the adults.

There are also “Mince Pie Specials” running from 26th December to 1st January, where you can enjoy a round trip of the winter countryside from a comfortable heated carriage, festooned with Christmas decorations, and will be provided with seasonal light refreshments too.

3. Step back in time

Unfortunately, there are no time machines in Meirionnydd, so you won’t be able to do any actual time travelling. But there are plenty of historic buildings and monuments to visit, which is the next best thing.

Castles are always popular with family groups. The castle at Harlech is fantastic; it’s very well preserved and great for fighting imaginary battles with toy swords and seeing off make-believe evil foes. Less well preserved, but every bit as atmospheric – if not more so – is Castell y Bere, whose ruins are a great place to explore.

4. Music, Maestro, please!

Wales has long been known as the Land of Song; we’re naturally musical here in Wales, and so it should come as no real surprise that Meirionnydd has a whole building dedicated to the history of Welsh folk music.

Ty Siamas – the National Centre for Welsh Folk Music – awaits you, musically minded or not, at its home in Dolgellau. Take a tour of a recording studio, play some instruments, perhaps even catch a performance or two; and round off your visit with a trip to the on-site music shop and cafe. You’ll be singing its praises when you get home!

5. Air, air, everywhere

If you’re travelling to Meirionnydd from a large town or city, you’re bound to appreciate all the wide, open spaces and clean air that Meirionnydd have to offer.

Even in the middle of winter, you can’t beat a good walk in the Snowdonia countryside or along one of her many beaches. Take the eco-friendly option and travel by bus from one beauty spot to another, then breathe in our fresh, clean air while you walk off your Christmas dinner. The award winning beaches at Dyffryn Ardudwy, Harlech, Barmouthare especially worth a visit, but of course there’s enough open countryside and coastline to keep you going for months, so take advantage and get your walking boots on!

P.S. I’d like to add one more I’d forgotten about.

6. Portmeirion Winter Entry

Portmeirion, the famous Italian styled village, only charge a nominal fee for entry during the quiet winter months. Some of the shops and cafes are closed at this time but the architecture and the surrounding gardens means the village is still well worth a visit. (Don’t tell mum, but we had a great game of hide and seek there last week.)

Pet Friendly Cottages, Real Fire etc.

September 30, 2011 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

Now that we’re beginning to get a bit more choice of holiday cottages on the website I’ve tried to set up some categories to group similar cottages together. The categories I’ve come up with so far include:
Pet Friendly
Real Fire
Internet | WiFi
Clarke’s Pies (don’t ask)


I’ll be adding a couple more in the coming weeks. They’ll appear in the right hand column. In the meantime, if there’s anything specific that you’re searching for that I haven’t covered, just fill in our Enquiry Form and I’ll try and point you in the right direction.

Newborn Foal at Bwthyn-Bach

August 10, 2011 by gwionllwyd · 3 Comments 

To the delight of our recent guests a new foal was born born in the field near Bwthyn-Bach and Bwthyn-Clyd, two of our self catering cottages here in Dyffryn Ardudwy, Snowdonia.

Barmouth, a seaside destination

July 14, 2011 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment 

Barmouth comes in for a bit of a stick from time to time. The town has its fair share of kiss me quick hats and candy floss stalls. But to deny Barmouth’s obvious draw as a seaside holiday destination would be foolish. And anyway I quite like candy floss and I don’t get kissed nearly often enough so there’s no harm in those hats.

“With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running eight miles inland, and Cadair Idris within compass of a day’s walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival.” William Wordsworth

If you visit on a sunny July day like we did last week, you can’t help but fall in love with the place. The beach is of course fantastic and has retained is Blue Flag for cleanliness again this year. The fish and chips are still as tasty as ever and the ice cream is still cold.

Look closer and there’s more to enjoy. The Mawddach Trail along the estuary is one of the most beautiful cycle routes in the UK. The old town on the rock is a fascinating mix of ally ways and steep steps. The cliffs above were the first acquisition of the then fledgling National Trust and offer stunning views across Cardigan Bay.

The history of the town is also fascinating. Ty Gwyn, an old timber frame house built by Gruffudd Vaughan during the 15th century, was a meeting place for the allies of Henry VII during the War of the Roses.

At this time ship building was the lifeblood of the town but this changed during Victorian times however with the opening of the new Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway 1867. The ever impressive Barmouth Bridge carried the new industrial working class of the Midlands in their thousands to the town. A summer pilgrimage of simple old fashioned fun which is still enjoyed by many.

I enjoyed an article in the local paper where an old gentleman recalled his time at the officer training camp at Barmouth during the Second World War. He recalled how he and his fellow trainees would stand on Barmouth platform each Sunday, waiting the midlands train which would bring the female workers of the munitions factories for their annual break. “There was always a rush to carry the bags of the prettier girls as they got off the train.” Romance of course, would often follow. And genuine tears of sorrow would be wept one week later as the return train pulled back out of the station. The young officers wouldn’t stray too far from the station afterwards however. There was, of course, another train arriving in the afternoon.

Some of our cottages in the barmouth area include:

• Stabal (sleeps 3)
• Sisial-Y-Mor (sleeps 4)
• Bwthyn-Goronwy (sleeps 2)
• Laundry-Cottage (sleeps 4)