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.

Traditional Farmhouse Holiday Cottage with Panoramic Views

One of the best things about this traditional farmhouse holiday cottage is arriving. You climb up from the harbor town of Porthmadog into the beautiful Cwm Ystrad Llyn valley. As you turn onto a private road and cross the brow of a small hill, a wonderfuelsh valleys, l panoramic view opens out in front of you. Cwm-Mawr, the only cottage in sight, is tucked away in the bottom right hand corner of this beautiful vista.

Views over Snowdon and the Welsh Highland Railway

Quintessential Snowdonia cottage at the foot of Snowdon, sharing the valley with the Welsh Highland Steam Railway which pushes its way up to Rhyd Ddu station.

Self Catering Barn Conversion on a Working Snowdonia Farm

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. Its difficult for me to be objective when describing Nant as its the larger of the two self catering cottages that we let out ourselves here on the farm. But I hope you’ll agree when I say they’re nicely furnished and decorated.

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 to the great hall behind. Carved granite finials flank the central arch where lords and ladies in horse drawn carriages would pass through. And the arched windows with their sandstone mullions and a central cusp create a real fairytale look.