Cysgod Y Garn

Get close to nature when you stay at this delightful shepherd’s hut in picturesque North Wales. Situated 2 miles from Bala, within the Eryri National Park which is also known as Snowdonia, the one-bedroom hideaway sleeps two people and has a private hot tub. It is in an excellent location for following footpaths and trails in the surroundings, as well as canoeing, sailing and windsurfing on the Llyn Tegid lake, 3 miles away. Follow four steps up to enter the shepherd’s hut, which is set on a farm but enjoys exceptional privacy. The creatively designed accommodation encompasses a delightful lounge/kitchen/bedroom, which has been beautifully arranged to ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay. Enjoy the warmth of the underfloor heating and light the wood burner to bring a cosy glow to the space on winter evenings. Prepare light meals on those occasions you choose not to dine out and listen to the radio or play your music through the Bluetooth speaker. At the end of each superb day in North Wales, lay your head on your pillow in the inviting double bed. Indulge in a steaming shower when you awake before having coffee out in the garden on sunny mornings. Cook lunch out on the BBQ on summer days and unwind in the hot tub as the sun goes down at night. Lace up your walking boots or hop on the saddle then strike out on long walks or cycle rides from the hut. Plan excursions to beauty spots and attractions, such as the slate caverns at Blaenau Ffestiniog, 17 miles away. Follow the Tryweryn Trail along the banks of the river Tryweryn and through woodland. This route can be picked up 4.5 miles away, close to the National White Water Centre, where those who are daring can also go rafting.

This former railway station is just the ticket for a fun-filled family holiday. Quirky, pet friendly and with a wealth of original features, it sleeps six and has all the must-haves of home, plus a pretty garden, a hot tub and a signal box repurposed as a games room. Enjoy outdoor adventures around Bala and Snowdonia National Park, then unwind with rural views and river sounds – this single-storey former station is located in idyllic Fron Gogh, nestling between the Llyn Tegid and Capel Celyn lakes, and surrounded by the Arenig mountains. You’ll spot interesting features and thoughtful extras to enhance your stay as soon as you arrive. Step into the hall and there’s space to store coats, then walk through to the stylish kitchen/diner which has all the essentials for a fuss-free stay as well as a Smart TV to keep the chef entertained. When dinner is served, gather at the dining table and enjoy lovely views from the glass door and windows close by. When you’re ready to relax, the welcoming lounge has sofas and Smart TV, plus a wood burner to keep toes and paws extra warm. At bedtime, choose from three fabulous rooms: one double with an en-suite shower room, one twin and a full-size bunk room – all have lovely views to wake up to. A stylish bathroom adds convenience for all. Outside, the enclosed garden has furniture and a charcoal BBQ plus plenty of space for ball games. Enjoy watching for wildlife and listening to the river as it passes nearby, or lay back in the hot tub beneath starry skies. Alternatively, keep the fun going by stepping into the former signal box, which has found a new lease of life as a games room complete with a pool table. Your holiday home sits alongside the former Great Western Railway’s Bala Ffestiniog Line. Stroll along the River Tryweryn towards the National White Water Centre, which is within a mile or visit Bala, just under 3 miles away, home to the largest natural lake in Wales where you can enjoy a ride on a narrow-gauge railway or discover independent shops, eateries and a historic town walk.

Gwynfa is a beautifully-renovated house situated in Rhyduchaf, on the outskirts of the charming town of Bala, Gwynedd. Pet-friendly. Hot tub and barbecue. Corwen 13.6 miles; Dolgellau 20.2 miles; Betws-y-Coed 22.5 miles; Llangollen 23.4 miles.

Set on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, just 2 miles from Bala with its large natural lake and endless adventure opportunities, this fantastic holiday home offers an exceptional place to stay for up to six guests. Laid out with families or friends in mind, this home-from-home property is packed full of home comforts and little luxuries, including the private hot tub in the garden. Surrounded by rolling hills with resident cattle and dark skies up above, you’ll come away feeling rested and recharged after a long or short stint in this southern Snowdonia holiday home. With wooden stable doors, exposed brickwork and an extremely appealing wood burner in the lounge, there’s a real sense of provincial charm in this converted farmhouse cottage. Leave shoes and coats in the utility area before venturing inside to find plenty of space to relax. The lounge is kept cosy with the wood burner in use and the sofas ready to curl up on, whilst the dining room offers a great place to sit around at mealtimes or with a board game laid out. If guests prefer to relax on their own, each of the three bedrooms on the first floor is furnished with a TV allowing for snuggled-up movie nights. To complete the property, find a bathroom on each floor. Find endless walks or opportunities for bike riding on your doorstep, including a scenic route around Llyn Celyn or a hike around the Aberhirnant forest (both 5 miles). For guided adventures or more thrill-seeking days out, Bala offers an activity centre for water sports on the lake (2.5 miles) and the National White Water Centre is also nearby (4 miles). If zip lining is more your thing, take a drive to Blaenau Ffestiniog (21.5 miles) to whizz through the air at Zip World Llechwedd (22.5 miles).

Lose yourselves in the views out across North Wales as you relax in the hot tub at this enticing retreat. Sleeping just two guests, the one-bedroom hideaway nestles in a secluded setting, 5 miles from Bala. Ideal for spending time at scenic Llyn Tegid, as well as in the wider area of Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, the semi-detached cottage is perfect for those seeking quality time together in beautiful surroundings. Enter via the bright sun room, where you can peel off your outerwear, and also ponder a while to take in the splendid outlook. Make your way on through into the lovely lounge, with its friendly ambience. Lay a fire in the wood burner in here during the autumn and winter months, then recline on one of the soft sofas with your books or in front of the TV. When mealtimes beckon, amble through to the kitchen/diner to prepare a fabulous feast for two then sit down at the table to enjoy it. As the sun sets over the fields, climb the cottage-style stairs up to your double bedroom to treat yourselves to a superb night’s sleep. There is also a family bathroom up here where you can soak in a hot bubble bath. Laundry facilities can be found in an external utility room. Have breakfast out on the deck on summer days. Cook on the BBQ, open a bottle of wine under the stars and bubble in the hot tub as night falls. Hop on your bikes or lace up your walking boots and head out across the countryside. Make your way down to the shores of the lake, 3.5 miles away, to follow trails, take a ride on the heritage railway and swim. Head into Bala to shop, dine out or try your hand at water sports.

A characterful, stone-built cottage in Capel Celyn near Bala, Gwynedd. Dog-friendly. Woodburning stoves. Hot tub. Lake views. In a national park. Corwen 18.9 miles; Betws-y-Coed 19 miles; Dolgellau 22.6 miles; Llangollen 28.7 miles.

Sink into the bubbling hot tub beneath the stars and admire views of the lake, which sits at the bottom of the garden during your stay in this four-bed property with wooden beamed ceilings. Spend your days exploring Snowdonia National Park and enjoy scenic dog walks in the countryside. Enter the detached country house through the porch into the homely kitchen with dark granite worktops and wooden cabinets. After rustling up a meal for your loved ones, gather in the lounge/diner while soaking up the lake views. You can also snuggle up on the sofa in front of the TV after a day of exploring. Additional seating can be found in the main lounge on the lower ground floor, which boasts wooden beamed ceilings, a warming wood burner and three plump sofas to snuggle up on in front of the TV. Set across the two floors are two family bathrooms and four bedrooms – a super-king-size with an en-suite, two twin rooms and one king-size. There is also a convenient utility room with a washing machine and tumble dryer. Outside, you’ll find expansive grounds, shared with neighbouring properties, a private hot tub and a lake. While away your time in the Welsh countryside during your stay near the town of Bala (3 miles). Here, you’ll find cosy cafes and pubs, independent shops and Wales’s largest natural lake. Visit the hidden Pstyll Rhaeadr waterfall (19 miles) and challenge yourself with a hike to the top of Aran Fawddwy mountain peak (16 miles). Take your four-legged friends for a stroll around Coed y Brenin Forest Park (26 miles) and stop at historical landmarks like Ffynnon Eidda and Ysbyty Ifan (19 miles) and Cwm Prysor Viaduct (15 miles).

Perfect for special celebrations and big family gatherings, this historic country house sits within 75 acres with a lake, river and woodland to explore. Walk the grounds, fish the River Dee or try a watersport, then while away your evenings in the hot tub, cinema or games room. With 12 versatile bedrooms to sleep up to 27 guests, a holiday here is like having your own private resort. Make lasting memories with a multi-generational break at this impressive country home. Occupying an unrivalled position in the Upper Dee Valley, the Hall’s 19th century proportions and period charm are complemented by all the contemporary luxuries that will make every stay a true delight. Enter the reception hall and there’s a snug area with Sky TV, sofas, a feature fireplace and wood burner. To the right is a single bedroom with en-suite shower room. Head through the hall to the lounge where an open fire, selection of sofas and feature seating in the picture windows all set the scene for companionable catch-ups. Beyond, the fabulous panelled games room has a snooker table, air hockey, table tennis, pool table, TV and a sofa – fun for everyone! A lakeside snug with garden access is adjacent. A stunning dining room off the lounge has an open fire and huge dining table to seat up to 28, while a second dining room overlooks the lake, has a table for 10 and houses the Hall’s library. To take the hard work out of large-scale catering, the kitchen has three range-style electric ovens and hobs, a double fridge, double freezer, fridge and two dishwashers. Head into the utility room and you’ll find a further electric oven and hob, laundry equipment and access to a handy boot room with the grounds beyond. For after-dinner entertainment, settle down with drinks and snacks in the lower ground floor’s 14-seat cinema. Once the movie’s over, back on the ground floor there’s a lovely bedroom with twin zip-and-link beds which can be made up as a super-king-size on request and its own en-suite wet room. Along the corridor there are two separate WCs and a super-king-size zip-and-link bed room that can be made up as a twin on request and has an en suite shower room. Upstairs, the first floor has a high ceiling, picture windows and access to the balcony. Here you’ll find a spacious super-king-size zip-and-link bedroom (which can be made up as a twin on request) with two additional single beds, corner sofa and en-suite bathroom with both a bath and separate shower. On the right is a king-size bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and another large flexible room has two super-king-size zip-and-link beds (that can be made up as four singles on request) with an en-suite bathroom with bath and separate shower. Moving along, you’ll find a further twin zip-and-link (which can be made up as a super-king-size on request) with en-suite bathroom and the master bedroom, which has an exquisite super-king bed, seating area, TV, dressing area and stunning en-suite bathroom with freestanding bath, separate shower and two sinks. For ultimate luxury, a private balcony is accessed from the seating area. Finally, on the second floor there are four further bedrooms – two super-king-size zip-and-link rooms (which can be made up as twins on request plus a double bedroom and a super-king-size zip-and-link bedroom which share an en-suite Jack and Jill shower room. Another stylish bathroom ensures comfort and convenience for all, and every bedroom has its own TV. Whether you want to chill out or let off steam, the grounds here have something to suit everyone. Unwind with a soak in the hot tub, explore the shared grounds, or arrange a fishing or watersports session. There’s a lawned area that’s perfect for family games, plus a play area for younger guests, and up to three dogs are welcome to join in all the fun. The Hall is just 1.5 miles from Bala where you’ll find cafes, pubs, shops and Wales’ largest natural lake – a great location for canoeing, swimming, cycling and walking; if you’d like something less active, take a ride on the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Railway. Drive 21 miles to Dolgellau and you can join the 10-mile Mawddach Trail to Barmouth and beautiful Cardigan Bay.

1 Minafon is a charming cottage surrounded by woodland and walking trails, with a hot tub and toasty woodburning stove, perched in Aberhirnant in Gwynedd. Corwen 12.4 miles; Dolgellau 20.8 miles; Llangollen 22.2 miles; Betws-y-Coed 26.2 miles.

This fantastic property is the perfect escape for families or groups of friends looking for a relaxing base to return to after a long day out exploring. Sleeping six across three cosy bedrooms, it won’t be long before you’re all ready to get out and explore beautiful Bala Lake (5 miles) or Eryri National Park/Snowdonia (23.5 miles). Make the most of every moment by returning home and enjoying a soak in your private hot tub with a glass of your favourite tipple after a tasty BBQ on the patio. The property, which is situated on a working farm, welcomes you up some steps and into a porch to take off muddy walking boots. The spacious kitchen, with wooden units and exposed beams, has everything you need to cook up a storm including a range-style electric oven; sit on the sofa and chat to the chef while they cook before moving through to the dining room. This bright and airy room has French doors out to the patio – why not dine alfresco when the weather’s fine? After dinner, retire to the lounge where an inglenook fireplace and wood burner beckon you to sink into the sofas and watch TV. Get away from the busy house and read a book in the snug or play some games with your fellow guests. Upstairs, a stylish shower room is filled with light through the sun tunnel, while neutral decor in the two double bedrooms and one twin helps you drift off to sleep. If you’re an adventurous lot, head to the National White Water Centre (10 miles) for fun water activities. For groups looking for something more relaxing, hop aboard the Llangollen Railway (28 miles), or hire a bike and explore Llangollen along the peaceful route to the World Heritage Site Froncysyllte. Coed y Brenin Forest Park (21 miles) is well worth a visit with mountain bike trails, waymarked walks and picnic sites among stunning scenery.