Inspiration

Hop Aboard a Santa Train for Festive Family Fun this December
All aboard! Hop on one of these magical Santa trains for some festive family fun this December.

A festive night for free at large family holiday cottage
Yes! A free night!!! Book to stay at the stunning Hen-Felin over Christmas or New Year and you will receive one night for free!!

3g Christmas stay at three bedroom holiday home with sea views
3g Christmas stay at three bedroom holiday home with sea views

Hygge Holiday in Wales
Hygge Holiday in Wales….How do you hygge? Now is the time to focus on simple pleasures which cultivate cosiness, contentment, and calm.

Luxury Hamper and 25% discount over Christmas at Rhiwal
Christmas time…a roaring fire…family….and a luxury hamper to enjoy! Receive a luxury hamper and 25% discount over Christmas at Rhiwal, a beautiful four bedroom barn conversion on the Pen Llyn.

Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas!
Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas! As the 25th December draws close, we wanted to wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful festive season.

Festive Discount at Parc-Isaf and Wernfach
Not made any plans for Christmas or New Year yet? How about a stroll on the long sandy beach at Dyffryn Ardudwy to blow away those cobwebs before settling down in front of a real log fire…..it’s the little things in life

Festive Hamper at Stunning Welsh Farmhouse with Hot Tub
Stay at this stunning Welsh farmhouse with hot tub, from now until the end of 2021 and receive this gorgeous festive hamper! Rhiwgoch has mountain views, a steam train running through the garden and a hot tub, settle down in front of the fire and tuck into your festive hamper…

Merry Christmas! Nadolig Llawen!
We’d like to start by saying Merry Christmas or Nadolig Llawen from Dioni!

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.…

Top 5 | Holiday Cottages For Christmas
Christmas can be a stressful at the best of times, especially when you’re hosting the celebrations. However, taking a holiday cottage in Snowdonia over the Christmas season could be the answer to all those unwanted stresses… For a start, being away from home is a great way to switch off, add in the fact that you go to a pre-cleaned, pre Xmas-decorated cottage with a log fire, beds for everyone in a beautiful location with lots of great things to do nearby and I bet you’re already thinking it could be a good idea! So whether you are a veteran Christmas escapee or contemplating it for the first time, here are our top 5 | Holiday Cottages For Christmas: BEUDY BENNAR ISA| BWTHYN BENNAR ISA These two / three bedroom holiday cottages respectively are walking distance from the beach and the perfect base for a quiet getaway by the sea. With a private boardwalk leading…

Welsh Christmas And New Year Traditions
There are some great Welsh Christmas and New Year traditions. The ‘Mari Llwyd’ involves walking around the village with a horse’s skull on your head chanting rhymes. Another ancient custom, holming, ensured that the last one out of bed on Boxing Day was beaten with the prickles of a holly branch. A bit too ‘off the wall’ for our family if I’m honest. But here are some gentler traditions that you might want to adopt in your home this Christmas. NOSON GYFLAITH / TOFFE NIGHT In days gone by, Christmas Eve was known to many as Noson Gyflaith or toffee evening. Friends and family would gather for a celebratory meal, followed by singing, games and the making of the Christmas taffy (toffee). The base of all toffee follows a simple recipe of boiled sugar, water and butter but it’s the pulling of the toffee into long strands that makes taffy chewier and creamier than its English…

Buy Experiences, Not Things...
It’s loomimg. That time when we have to decide what to get our loved ones for Christmas. It gets harder and harder every year and I don’t know about you, but in our household we seem to have everything we need. Getting more ‘stuff’ means a) having to make room by discarding perfectly good other ‘stuff’ b) adding to a pile that after a couple of weeks will gather dust and c) also adding to the already fraught management of ‘screen time’! There is a lot of research to support that taking part in an ‘experience’ creates more long term well-being than new material possessions. They tend to be done with others so involves proper social engagement (as apposed to the virtual kind). Accomplishing challenges adds to your personal identity and growth and the memories from an experience create a strong sense of happiness. So taking all of this into consideration and throw in the fact…

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda | Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all of your support during 2014 – we hope you all enjoyed your holidays with us here in Snowdonia. With so many new and exciting things opening in the area for 2015, we are set for another great year here in the mountains, on the beach and by the rivers – we’ll keep you posted. But for now, get your Christmas jumper on and enjoy the festive season! From the Llwyd family.