Inspiration
TOP 5 | SNOWDONIA LAKES TO SWIM IN
Snowdonia is one of the most beautiful places in the world to open water / wild swim. Gwion is due to take part in the Slateman Triathlon in 2 weeks and whilst he has been super dedicated to the running and cycling aspects of the training, the open water swimming wasn’t up there on the top of his check list… so to give him a bit of push to get out there before the big day, here are the Top 5 | Snowdonia Lakes To Swim In: LLYN GWYNANT My personal favourite. Easy to get to and simply beautiful. You can park by the side of the lake and get straight in. If you are up for it, swim to the otherside of the lake onto the rocks (known as Elephant Rock) and do the jumps. LLYN CAU This is a beautiful dark blue lake in the crater of Cadr Idris. A 350m ascent…
Castell-Y-Bere | Wales’ Forgotten Castle
Castell Y Bere is Wales’ forgotten castle. Built by Llywelyn ap Iorweth (Llywelyn the Great) in the 13th century in the beautiful Dysyni valley. Found in the foot hills of Cadr Idris, Castell Bere was the first castle Llywelyn built in the 1220’s. With an increasing Princedom, he needed to protect his newly aquired Meirionnydd from English threat. In 1282 however, Edward I sieged and overtook the Castle and for the next 20 years expanded the original infrastructure and created a village alongside; Llanfihangel-Pennant. During the uprising of the Welsh against the English in 1294, a revolt, led by Welsh leader Madog ap Llewelyn saw the castle under threat again. They stormed the castle and burned it down. Edward I never repaired the structure and it was left to ruin. https://youtu.be/RuSoHHRvH6c
Top 5 Farm Shops & Delis | North Wales
It is hard not to enjoy a visit to a farm shop or deli. Just being in the presence of homegrown local produce, organic meat and pesticide free everything can make us feel very virtuous. Packed full with things like charcol salt along with delicious cheeses, salamis crackers and condiments galore, they are a great foodie shopping experience… here are our top 5 Farm Shops & Delis | North Wales. RHUG ESTATE Rhug Estate has is all. Alongside the farmshop, they have a cafe and restaurant and all sell the organic produce they rear and grow on the farm. Their organic meat is well known the world over. The shop come deli offers a great range of cheeses, olives and pies along with a wonderful selection of locally sourced condiments. The Bison Grill is an all day dining area while ‘On The Hoof’ Takeaway offer incredible burgers etc. BODNANT WELSH FOOD CENTRE With a…
The New Adventure At Zip World
The 10th of May sees the opening of the new adventure at Zip World; The Fforest Coaster… It’s another first of its kind in the UK and again, Snowdonia is the launch pad. Just another feather in the Snowdonia cap when it comes to offering unique and new to market adventure experiences…. Based on the traditional toboggan, the Fforest Coaster runs on rails making it a much faster experience. The ride is over 1000m long (over 1/2 a mile), through the stunning Betws-Y-Coed woodland where you can reach speeds of upto 40km per hour. A 500m uplift takes you to the top and then you decend from there, flying through the forest at exhilarting speeds. Unlike traditional rollercoasters, you can control your speed so for those who want the full thrill, they can go brake free whilst those who are not feeling so brave have the choice to slow things down! Open to all ages,…
A Day In Betws Y Coed By Bike
The gateway to Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed is a wonderful town surrounded by woodland, mountains and cascading waterfalls. It is ideal for outdoor activity holidays including walking, cycling and water sports with a great selection of shops, restaurants and cafes and home to the famous Swallow Waterfalls… A friend and I decided to spend a day in Betws Y Coed by bike; with Swallow falls a 45 minute walk west of the town centre and Fairy Glen a 45 minute walk south, a bike was required! We parked out of town on Ffordd Craigian off the A470 and cycled along the back road into the town centre; this is a lovely bike ride down through a quiet road flanked by trees. Making a beeline for the Swallowfalls, we followed the road round once we got to the town centre and carried on up the A5 (it’s a little steep) straight to the falls. They are beautiful, mesmerising and…
TOP 10 TRIATHLONS & MARATHONS NORTH WALES 2017
If you’ve embraced the New Year on a high of getting fit, one of the best ways to keep you motivated is to focus on a goal and you cant beat the challenge of a half/full marathon or triathon to get you on that path. There are so many great races to take part in over North Wales and the incredible landscape lends itself to cater for all abilities. So without further ado, here are the Top 10 Triathlons & Marathons North Wales 2017: ANGLESY HALF MARATHON Sunday 5th March 2017 The route is undulating yet quick but most of all it is incredibly stunning. Starting on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge and running in front of the gorgeous Snowdonia backdrop, this race is truly one of a kind. The race provides the perfect pre-London and Manchester marathon preparation. WAVES, MUD AND MOUNTAINS Sunday 26th March 2017 Surf Snowdonia are launching this competition for…
THE YEAR OF LEGEND 2017
Vist Wales have chosen 2017 to be the Year of Legend. Wales is steeped in legends, both past and present and none show this more than the tales on the Mabinogion… The tales of the Mabinogion are over 1000 years old, they are the first reference to King Arthur and the earliest recorded British prose. It wasn’t until the 14th century that they were penned to paper; the origins being based upon story telling. They not only told tales of love, betrayal, mythology, politics and magical fantasies, but they promoted friendship and a code of moral conduct passed down from generation to generation. The 11 original tales have been compiled into 4 sections known as branches named: Pwyll, Branwen, Manawydan and Math. Whilst the stories are bizzare, psychedelic and complicated, the key parts for each branch go something like this… PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYFED Pwyll, whilst sitting on a mound which he has been told…
10 REASONS YOU SHOULD HOLIDAY IN SNOWDONIA | NORTH WALES
If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing Snowdonia, then you are missing out as it’s a little bit of heaven on Earth. For those of you who haven’t been and as a little reminder for those who have, here are our 10 reasons you should holiday in Snowdonia, North Wales in 2017… 1 | LONELY PLANET GUIDE It was listed in the Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Best In Travel for 2017. North Wales is the only place in the UK included in Best in Travel 2017, and according to Lonely Planet ‘earned its place as a must-see destination for 2017 thanks to the region’s reinvention‘ 2 | LAKES For swimming in, walking around or having a picnic by, the lakes in Snowdonia are simply stunning with back drops of mountains and beautiful views. Nothing beats a bit of wild swimming or waterfall jumping which is all on the doorstep. 3 | BEACHES…
CREATING HAPPINESS SNOWDONIA STYLE
Uncharacteristically, I have moved away from a goal setting, focus driven, ‘deprivation’ in some capacity approach to the New Year and looked at what makes us happy. They say that all those things you ‘strive’ to achieve tend to fall into place when you are happier and so rather than beat myself up for missing a training day or failing at juicing on a freezing cold January day (these things do not make me happy), I looked at the alternatives at creating happiness Snowdonia Style… SLEEP: Most of us are sleep deprived. 2-3 nights of good sleep can totally transform you, so imagine what a regular routine of good sleep will do. One thing you’ll notice as soon as you land in Snowdonia is the quietness and, less obviously, the darkness at night…. not many street lights in the fields! Throw in fresh air and homemade food readily availible in the area and you can…
NADOLIG LLAWEN A BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA | MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
We can’t believe the end of 2016 is drawing to a close. We have had another fantastic year here at Dioni and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone we work with…. our wonderful guests that come to the area, the cottage owners who provide us with such fabulous cottages and the local businesses that make Snowdonia what it is. Thank you. If you are with us over the Chritmas week, we hope Snowdonia gives you a magical Christmas (We’ve heard it’s going to be a white one this year – fingers crossed!) and if not, we hope wherever you are in the world, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we hope to see you during 2017. Best Wishes, Gwion, Louise and the ‘Dioni Girls’ (Sarah, Clare, Linda and Emma)
WINTER LAKE WALKS IN SNOWDONIA
The lakes in Snowdonia are an incredibly beautiful part of the area’s landscape and at this time of year, they come into their own. Walking around the lakes all wrapped up with the crisp cold air and if you’re lucky, the sun shining is incredible. Here are our best winter lake walks… LLYN TEGID | BALA To make your way around Llyn Tegid will take in the region of 8 hours. However, there are lots of different routes ranging from 1-8 hours; some part walking, part steam train or certain sections that are known for their beauty. For a breakdown of the walks, this is a great information source: Bala Lake Walking Trails. LLYN PADARN | LLANBERIS A couple of hours allows for a great walk which will include a bit of forest, a bit of industrial archeology an old quarry hospital, not to mention the incredible views of the lake and the…
HOT CHRISTMAS DRINKS SNOWDONIA STYLE
You know the festive season has begun when the mulled wine starts putting in an appearance! If you like your winter warmer drinks, there are some great alternatives you might want to try using Snowdonia’s great drinks brands. If you want some inspiration for the forthcoming party season, here are my favourite hot Christmas drinks Snowdoina Style (a mulled wine included of course!)… HOT SPICED RUM CIDER PANT DU CIDER INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons mulling spices 250ml Pant Du apple cider 750ml water 180ml dark rum 4 cinnamon sticks Serves 4 METHOD: Put the mulling spices in a spice ball. In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine the apple cider and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, add the spice ball and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Pour 45 ml rum into each of 4 warmed mugs. Top each with 250 ml spiced cider and add a cinnamon stick.…
SHOP LOCAL CHRISTMAS 2016 | SNOWDONIA
A recent study showed that if every adult living in the Snowdonia area spent £5 a week in a local shop as opposed to the big chain stores, the local economy would benefit by approx £26 million every year. What better way to support the community than to buy local this Christmas. To give you some inspiration as to what’s on offer, here’s our guide to SHOP LOCAL CHRISTMAS 2016 | SNOWDONIA… HAMPERS There are so many lovely local food and drinks brands and they make for really great presents, especially those who are difficult to buy for. BODNANT WELSH FOOD | CONWY – have a good selection of wine, cheese and condiment hampers using all locally sourced produce. RHUG ESTATE | CORWEN – offer incredible meat hampers; everything you could want for Christmas. KERFOOTS | PORTHMADOG – they have a good selection of ready made hampers or you can create your own if you…
Christmas Markets In North Wales | 2016
It’s hard to believe that we are only 6 weekends away from Christmas making it time to start putting things in the diary. In my experience, there is nothing better than a Christmas Market to get you into the spirit of things – with all that great food, mulled wine, local crafts and music, you cannot fail to get into the festive swing. Here are my Top Christmas Markets in North Wales | 2016: LLANDUDNO CHRISTMAS FAYRE 17TH – 20TH NOVEMBER With 165 stalls, this is one of the bigger markets . A Dickensian theme runs throughout the 4-day event held in this quintessential Victorian seaside town. Lots of local crafts, food and drink. ABERSOCH CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 25th – 26th NOVEMBER This fair takes place throughout the village of Abersoch and has become quite a big event in the calendar. A very family orientated weekend makes this a really great event. PORTMEIRION FOOD…
ART GALLERIES IN NORTH WALES
There are some great art galleries in the area and so if art is your ‘thing’, you won’t be disappointed, but likewise, as the winter months settle in, you might just want some inspiration to do something that doesn’t involve the great outdoors. Here are our favorite art galleries in North Wales… PLAS GYLN Y WEDDW | LLANBEDROG This impressive grade II Gothic Victorian Mansion is the perfect place to view some of Wales’ best art. The gallery was originally established in 1896 to showcase the art collection of the Jones-Parry family of the Mandryn estate. There are now over 80 artists exhibited at the gallery. MOSTYN | LLANDUDNO Wales’ leading gallery of contemporary art. The turn of the century galleries at MOSTYN are integrated alongside recently expanded new spaces, in a stunning design by architect Dominic Williams. Six galleries showcase the best of contemporary art, displaying a wide range of…
Top 10 | Things To Do This Half Term In Snowdonia
With the choice of things to do in the area, sometimes is hard to know what to do. To help you make the most of your half term, here are our Top 10 | Things To Do This Half Term In Snowdonia: 1. VISIT A SPOOKY CASTLE As Halloween falls over this half term, you can rest assured that the Castles will be putting on lots of spooky entertainment. For a guide as to what’s happening at those closest; Harlech, Criccieth, Caernarfon, and Conwy, check out the CADW website for more details. 2. COED Y BRENIN If you want to get te kids out in the fresh air, COED Y BRENIN is perfect. Mountain biking trails catering for all ages and abilities makes this, in my opinion, one of the best activities the area has to offer. If you don’t have your bikes with you, you can hire on site. There is a…
Top 5 | Holiday Cottages for Half Term
Half term is nearly upon us and if you haven’t made plans yet, you just might want to consider coming to Snowdonia. There is so much to do here from adventure activities like canyoning, gorge walking, surfing, zip lines and climbing to visiting the castles, panning for gold, and learning about King Arthur and Merlin. Last but not least, our beautiful beaches, lakes, and mountains offer days out that will provide you with memories for life. To tempt you a little more, here are our Top 5 | Holiday Cottages for Half Term… NANT SLEEPS 3 | FARM STAY | WIFI | NEAR BEACH | NEAR PUB | REAL FIRE Nant, which means brook or spring in welsh and refers to the small brook that runs past this cottage, is a two bedroom self-catering barn conversion in Dyffryn Ardudwy. Perfect if you are a small group and ideally located to make of the most of…
Historic Houses of Snowdonia
Snowdonia is home to some beautiful houses. Ambling around, taking in the incredible interiors, stunning gardens and histories are always a great way to while away an afternoon and the tales of romance, bribery and smuggling of contraband are just an added bonus! If you are looking for something different to do while you are here or the weather is getting in the way of your outdoor activities, why not take a day out and visit some of these beautiful homes. Here are four of our favourite historic houses of Snowdonia… PENRYN CASTLE | BANGOR Home to Dawkins – Pennant’s, this mock castle in Norman style is so impressive with its abundance of intricate plaster and stone carving; especially the stone staircase which is breathtaking. Queen Victoria is one of the more notable guests and the slate bed which was commissioned for her stay in 1859 is still in situ. A walled garden, extensive formal…
Barmouth Walking Festival 2016
From 17th – 26th September, The Barmouth Walking Festival 2016 is back in town. Always very popular with nearly 40 walks to choose from and a good selection of evening entertainment, this year looks set to be as good as ever… Set on the coast of Snowdonia, Barmouth is perfectly placed to experience the Mawddach Estuary, Rhinog Mountains and the Cadr Idris range. The festival was set up to help those wanting to explore the area in the company of experienced and knowledgable guides. Walks are graded depending on their difficulty, varying between A++ for experienced walkers, A-Hard, B-Moderate and C easier, ensuring there is something for everyone. There are varying options available; 1 walk costs £8.50, but if you want to fully immerse yourself into the week, there are various packages available. A number of evening events put on are a great way to meet other walkers and locals who are always keen to tell…
Top 10 Landscape Photography Locations in Eryri (Snowdonia)
If you want to get to grips with landscape photography, there is no better place than Eryri (Snowdonia). Top 10 Landscape Photography Locations In Eryri…
