Inspiration


 
Snowdonia Mountains
 

Snowdonia Giving... Giving Back To Snowdonia

With over 6 million visitors to Snowdonia National Park every year, it naturally takes its toll on the Snowdonia landscape, especially the foot paths, rivers and mountains. 350,000 people climb Snowdon every year alone. Snowdonia Giving is a new scheme set up to work with the local communities, organisations, businesses and individuals to protect the Snowdonia National Park both now and in the future – it is a way to easily donate a small amount of money to help save Snowdonia; every penny counts and used towards the following: Practical conservation which involves the clearing of litter, maintaining foot paths and improving habitats for wildlife. Campaigning to protect the cultural heritage and inappropriate development. Support for the young people of the area, promoting traditional skills. Here at Dioni, we are very supportive of Snowdonia Giving and have set up a facility for you to voluntarily donate £1 to Snowdonia Giving when you book a holiday cottage…

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Walking witht he kids
 

What To Do with a Moody Teenager This Summer In Snowdonia

Anyone with teenage children will know the gruelling performance one has to go through when entertaining a ‘teenager’ on holiday. Even though the days of your child enjoying or even wanting to do what you planned are a far distant memory, all is not lost… I am not suggesting the daily fight of getting them up and out will go, but from personal experience, this list of what to do with a moody teenager this summer in Snowdonia has been a life saver…   CLIMB A MOUNTAIN This will be met with untold amount of complaining. However, just choose one of the bigger peaks so it’s a challenge and something they will remember with pride. After the first mile of moaning, they soon get into it and when you reach the more challenging aspects of the summits, they will come into their own. Here is a really A Really Simple Walking Guide Up Snowdon.   ZIPLINING…

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SIOE TUDWEILIOG | TUDWEILIOG SHOW | 13TH AUG 2016

On Saturday August 13th, a village show is being held at Tudweiliog on the Llyn Peninsula. Its set to be a great day; a traditional village show with all the usual goings on along with competitions and stands selling their wears. In the evening the annual Taran Tudweilig (local mini music festival) will be held with lots of well known Welsh bands performing including Candelas, Patrobas and Yws Gwynedd. Tudweiliog is on the main road between Nefyn and Aberdaron …8 miles from Aberdare and 10 from Abersoch. [mappress mapid=”161″]

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SNOWDONIA STYLE ADVENTURE | MOUNTAIN BIKING

Snowdonia is mountain biking mecca, so when you are here, unless you have a severe aversion to bikes, you should make the effort to give it a go. There are trails for all abilities from beginner to advanced and makes for an amazing day out. Here are the best places to go for that Snowdonia style adventure | mountain biking…   COED Y BRENIN | DOLGELLAU Set in the most beautiful forest just outside Dolgellau, there are 8 trails in total ranging from a simple forest road, a blue trail perfect for children and families and a series of 6 red and black trails to keep even the most experienced of riders going. Alongside the mountain biking trails, they have great walking and running trails too. The on site cafe and shop provide great home cooked food and cakes. There is a bike hire shop at the centre.   ANTUR STINIOG | BLAENAU FFESTINIOG Set in…

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What Happens To The Wool When The Sheep Are Sheared?!

I went to see a friend at the weekend and whilst having a cup of tea was entertained by the sheep being sheared in the ‘back garden’. It it did make me chuckle seeing a ‘mobile hairdressers’ set up in the field for the sheep and made me think about “what happens to the wool when the sheep are sheared?”…   STAGE 1 | SHEARING   Sheep shearing is an important and social time in the farming calendar. Here in Snowdonia, the farms still join forces to help one another to shear the flocks. When it comes to the art of shearing, it is preferable to get the fleece off all off in one piece. It makes for a much easier job when sorting at the mills as different parts of the fleece are used for different products e.g. clothing, carpets, blankets etc.   STAGE 2 | SCOURING   Scouring is the the technical term for…

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Wine and Beer Tours Snowdonia Style
 

Wine and Beer Tours Snowdonia Style

There are a number of really good home grown beers, wines and spirits here in Snowdonia. Many of the breweries, vineyards and distilleries do tour and tasting sessions. The tours are a great way to sample and enjoy these local drinks aswell as getting to see where and how they are made. So why not try the wine and beer tours Snowdonia Style…..   BRAGDY BREWERY CONWY Launched 13 years ago, they are the first ever brewery in Conwy. Specialising in cask & bottle conditioned ales, they have a wide variety of beer including seasonal varieties like Beachcomber Blonde and Hoppy Christmas along with a new range which has take inspiration from the USA. You can be a brewer for the day by shadowing one of the team and see how its done or you can design your own beer; great for a group of people up to 8 – you get 6 cases of your…

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Snowdonia Style Adventure | Sailing

Sailing in the North Wales doesn’t get as much of the lime light as other adventure activities, but with all of our beautiful coastline and the abundance of lakes it’s a pretty good place to learn and a great activity for the whole family to get involved in. Here are our top 5 places you can learn to sail.   PLAS MENAI | CAERNARFON Located in-between Bangor and Caernarfon, Plas Menai is the National Outdoor Centre for Wales. They offer both beginner and intermediate sailing courses on the sheltered coastal waters of the Menai Strait. Under the guidance of their highly qualified instructors, all the courses are run to the guidelines of the RYA.   BALA SAILING CLUB | BALA Situated at the Bala sailing club on Llyn Tegid and surrounded by the Snowdonia mountains, this is a stunning place to learn to sail. They offer both level 1 and 2 RYA courses which take place…

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Harlech Cinema Is Now Open
 

Harlech Cinema Is Now Open

The Harlech cinema is now open and back in town! You’ll find it at Theatre Ardudwy and it’s a film experience with a difference. Due to local funding, the local theatre is now able to show digital screenings of up to date cinema releases and we couldn’t be more excited. For a start it saves a 1.5 hour drive to the local cinema chain, but more than that, it is another great addition to the local town where the castle, swimming pool, climbing wall, golf club, shops and fantastic restaurants and cafes offer offer both local residents and holiday makers plenty do when in Harlech. The cinema is based in the theatre and the tiered seating means no heads in the way when watching the films! Popcorn, sweets and drinks are available from the bar and the quality of the films is great. New releases will be showing throughout the summer including A Regular Little Houdini,…

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North Wales Mini Festivals
 

North Wales Mini Festivals

Though out the summer, North Wales plays host to a number of big music festivals. There are however, some smaller, lesser known ones that are just as much fun and definitely worth a visit. Here are some North Wales Mini Festivals that you might not have heard about taking place over the summer:   ROCK ARDUDWY: 10 – 11th June This is the second year that Rock Ardudwy is happening and this time is taking place over 2 days. Starting on the Friday, the entertainment takes place in Harlech Castle itself with a folk inspired evening along with a couple of key local talents. Saturday sees the event move to downtown Harlech by the leisure centre and from 2pm-12pm, there will be local bands, food and drink stalls as well as entertainment for the children.   CRICCIETH FESTIVAL: 18 – 25th June This week long festival is set throughout the beautiful seaside town of Criccieth; home…

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Top 5 Best North Wales Holiday Cottages By The Beach

Having waited all year for your summer break, you want to make sure it’s good. Being a stones throw from the beach is always a good way to unwind; the sound of sea alone can destress you in a nanosecond. Take into account the morning and evening walks on your door stop and the days spent chilling on the beach and in the sea, you cannot fall but to have a wonderfully relaxing time. So whether your looking just for a romantic getaway for 2, for a small or big family, or for a whole load of friends for a get together, we have something for everyone. Here are our top 5 best North Wales holiday cottages by the beach.   STABAL SOCH Stabal-Soch is a one story converted stable block, so no stairs to worry about – perfect of course if you can persuade Grandma and Grandpa to come along too. Facing south over Abersoch Bay and the…

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TOP 5 SNOWDONIA SEAFOOD DINING EXPERIENCES
 

Top 5 Snowdonia Seafood Dining Experiences

Being so close to the coast, we do seafood very well in Snowdonia and I’m not talking fish and chips. I’m talking about hidden gems of restaurants that offer incredible seafood in fantastic locations… here are our top 5 Snowdonia seafood dining experiences:   TWNTI SEAFOOD, PWLLHELI Based in-between Pwllheli and Abersoch, this converted barn, off the beaten track really does have a reputation for excellent seafood. It has been running for over 26 years and is a real favourite with those who know of it.   DYLANS, CRICCIETH Following on from its success in Menai Bridge, Dylans opened up their second location in the Maes-Y Mor on the beach fronton Criccieth. A fabulous environment with an extensive fish menu alongside pizza, burgers and pasta. They have a separate bar there too if you just fancy a drink overlooking the sea.   MARRAM GRASS, ANGLESEY Having received great reviews in the national press and Julia Bradbury…

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Snowdonia Adventure Activities 10% Discount
 

Snowdonia Style Adventure | Canyoning

As its not a run of the mill activity, the sport of canyoning is a mystery to some. For those not in the know, it is when you work your way down natural gorges / canyons (areas of water erosion between 2 mountains) using walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling (rappelling) and swimming. The Snowdonia landscape is perfect for this sport due to the number of canyons that have been created over the years. Don’t worry, you won’t be tackling anything in the relms of The Grand Canyon, but you will be challenged, have a lot of fun and introduced to some of the most beautiful areas of Snowdonia that can’t be accessed just by foot. So what to expect? Once you are suited and booted it’s really a case of finding an entry point and making your way down the river using a combination of the skills mentioned above. There will be jumps ranging from 5ft…

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Best Beach Bar
 

Best Beach Bar in the World | Ty - Coch Inn

Some of the best places to visit are those off the beaten track and The Ty-Coch Inn in the tiny fishing village of Porthdinllaen on the Llyn Peninsula is no exception. To get there you either have to arrive by water on boat or jet ski or walk for 20 minutes down from the golf course or across from Nefyn beach….is it the best beach bar in the world? When you get to Porthdinllaen you know you are somewhere special; the village is set in a hidden cove on the beach and the Ty Coch Inn is at the heart of it all. The pub is uber relaxed and you almost feel overdressed by even wearing shoes. It’s a popular place during the summer and they cater for that; lots of outside table space and pergolas and of course the famous wall on which you can sit and enjoy the view. The food is good pub…

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Top 5
 

Top 5 | Best Pet Friendly Holiday Cottages In North Wales

With all the mountains, rivers and beaches, your four legged friends enjoy the Snowdonia countryside just as much as you do…. some would say more so! Having them with you to enjoy the family holiday is also important and so to help you find the right place in which to accommodate your pets, here are our top 5 best pet friendly holiday cottages in North Wales…   Unique Self Catering Cottage In North Wales The Gatehouse of Cors Y Gedol Hall is a truly unique self catering cottage in North Wales. Built by the Vaughan family in the 14th century this imposing building now provides self catering accommodation for up to 7 people in one of the nicest parts of the Snowdonia national park. Having driven up the mile long drive from the coast road you cant help but be impressed by the gothic symmetry of the building. It stands of course as the welcome entrance…

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Top 5 Unique Snowdonia Shopping Experiences

Mooching around the shops of small towns and villages is very much part of a holiday. For one, you have the time to enjoy a bit of leisurely retail therapy and secondly, it is a rare chance to see a high street of independent shops. In Snowdonia of course, we like to do things a little differently and that goes for our shopping experiences too; some are off the beaten track, some are treasure troves you didn’t know existed and some are, well in the cattle market….. here are our top 5 unique Snowdonia shopping experiences….   CAE DU DESIGNS | HARLECH This is one of the best treasure troves you will ever find and once you’ve been introduced, you will be back time and time again. People come here year on year to stock up on material for home furnishings. There is a lovely cafe next door to deposit your ‘other half’ giving you plenty…

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Swimming Snowdonia
 

Swimming Snowdonia | Wild Swimming At Its Best

There has been a lot of coverage about wild swimming in the Snowdonia mountains of late, and the film Blue Hue produced by Natasha Brooks has certainly helped. The film was winner of the Women in Mountain Adventure film competition 2015, the Spirit Of Adventure film award 2015 and gained international recognition when selected for the Banff Mountain Film Festival tour 2016. We are very lucky here with so many beautiful swimming spots to choose from. Accomplishing a wild swim is invigorating, satisfying as well as peaceful and calming; I have never met a person yet who wishes they hadn’t done one! If entering into the realms of wild swimming peaks your interest, here are 5 top spots that will certainly give you a taster of wild swimming at its best:   WATKINS PATH WATERFALL An extended series of pools and falls starting close to the Snowdon Watkins path. It’s used a lot by walkers coming…

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Curious Spring Lamb
 

Top 5 Farm Stay Holiday Cottages In North Wales

Spring has finally broken through after what can only be described as a very wet and cold Winter. In this neck of the woods, the arrival of Spring sees lots of daffodils and bluebells scattered everywhere and of course the gorgeous little lambs skipping across the fields. Personally, I think this is the best part of the farming year and getting involved with the lambing season is a lot of fun; especially for kids who love the chance to feed those lambs that are in need of a little extra helping hand. We have a number of cottages that are located on farms where the farmers are more than happy for you or your little ones to get involved. So if you are looking to get away this Easter with the family but haven’t book anywhere, you might be interested in one of our Top 5 farm stay holiday cottages in North Wales:   Pet Friendly…

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Top 5 North Wales Holiday Cottages with a Hot Tub
 

Top 5 North Wales Holiday Cottages with a Hot Tub

With our stunning views, it’s not hard to see why hot tubs are popular in this part of the world. Not just exclusive to the summer months; a winter dip when it’s freezing cold outside is just as great experience as when the sun is beaming down. The incredible landscape allows you to just lie back and relax …. and if you decide to make use of the tub at night, even better; having been recently granted dark skies status, Snowdonia at night is incredible, a sky littered with stars which will have you gazing for hours. If it’s not something you’ve experienced before, you might want to give it a go, and if you’re a veteran at hot tubs, then you might just want to know what we have on offer. Here are our top 5:   Pet Friendly Self Catering Cottage near Barmouth Bwthyn Bach is a lovely little pet friendly self catering cottage…

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Niki Pilkington | An Artists Profile

Niki Pilkington is an Welsh born illustrator currently living in New York. Her work is described as highly charged, trend inspired fashion portraits which has gained her a client list which includes TOPSHOP, Ted Baker, Sir Paul McCartney & MTV. Using her mother tongue, Welsh in her work, she is well known for combining her love of phrases, idioms and beautiful quotes into her pieces – it’s great to see the welsh language incorporated into a high fashion, modern environment – and even more so on an international stage. Her original works tend to be found on the walls of private collectors homes, but the good new is that prints are also sold through galleries and on line including the gallery at Plas Glyn y Weddw . Being a local girl to the area from Morfa Nefyn, we asked her where was her favourite place to visit and favorite place to eat in Snowdonia. Beddgelert was…

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Holiday Cottage in Wild Snowdonia
 

Top 5 Cottages for Walking Holidays

Walking in Snowdonia during the winter months is breathtaking; the snow capped mountains, the tumultuous seas, the windy beaches and the cold icy lakes are a very different experience to their Summer counterparts and in all honestly, I prefer it. Make sure you’re wrapped up warm, it’s cold up on the mountains and the wind can be quite unforgiving on the beach, but as long as you’re warm and dry, its just glorious. Here are top 5 cottages for walking holidays:   Spectacular Views Over The Mawddach Estuary Formerly the home of a sea captain sailing from Barmouth, this 3 bedroom stone cottage commands truly spectacular views over the Mawddach estuary and Cader Idris beyond. The cottage itself is a traditional build of stonewalls under a welsh slate roof. I was sold on the place before I stepped over the threshold. But I can happily report that the cottage is perfect on the inside too.  …

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