North Wales - places to go

20 January 2008

We spent a week at Easter staying in a cottage a few miles from Porthmadog, North Wales. Set within a breathtaking valley and a short drive from one of the most fantastic beaches I’ve visited, it was a holiday that we all enjoyed.
We booked our cottage through . Having only stayed in a cottage many years ago I truthfully didn’t expect anything particularly homely. How wrong I was. We stayed at Plas-Y-Pennant in Cwm Pennant, which translates to Coombe Valley. Our cottage was a two bedroomed cottage, which was the middle of 3 cottages, the owners living in one the other a larger cottage was able to accomodate 8 people.
We arrived at 4pm and were immediately welcomed by the owners and shown around our cottage. We were all more than pleasantly surprised. All rooms were clean and tastefully decorated. The kitchen especially had every pot, pan and utensil you’d expect to find at home. However, what was lovely was that the tea and coffee were on the dining table ready to go along with the most delicious chocolate cake. Not to be left out, the dog had some doggy biscuits for him! There was also a welcome hamper with butter, bread, cereal, orange etc. It was this sort of touch that made the cottage all the more special.

Outside we were treated to fabulous views of the valley. The children had access, shared with the other holiday cottage of a large garden, meadow and paddock where there were a climbing frame, swing and plenty of room to kick a football.

Inside the cottage there was plenty of information on local walks and places of interest. There was also a television with Sky , DVD and CD player. We were all so exhausted each evening that we were only able to relax on the sofas before heading off to bed.

About 7 miles away was Porthmadog where we could buy some food for our stay. The cottage had all of the basics such as washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets. The outside laundry room had both a washer and a drier, but there was a washing line in the garden too. Washing powder was available. Nothing seems to have been forgotten here and meant we didn’t have to go waste precious time shopping for these items.

Black Rock Sands
A short drive out of Porthmadog leads to Black Rock sands. Miles and miles of golden sand with the mountains in the backdrop. You can park your car, which doesn’t need to be a 4×4 by the way, and spend hours walking, flying your kite, playing football or just relaxing. Our dog particularly loved the freedom to run and search along the sand. The two boys played football on a near perfect pitch, with the bonus that there was nothing they could accidentally hit with the ball.
If you’re wanting gift shops and fast food bars on the beach, then you’ll be disappointed. There is nothing here, but the sea and the sand. Just off the beach you will find toilets though.
We spent a couple of mornings or afternoons here, but you could as easily spend the day taking your own picnic with you.

Beddgelert
A particular favourite of mine.
Beddgelert is lovely spot with a few pubs, a small restaurant and ice cream parlour and a handful of small shops. The ice cream is delicious incidentally! There’s a small car park as well as several lay-bys where you can park.
A short walk from the village leads you to ‘Gelerts Grave’, which according to history marks the resting place of Gelert, the faithful hound of Prince Llewelyn. The tombstone tells the story of how the Prince went hunting one day and on his return finds the dog smeared with blood. The prince is alarmed and goes to search for his son, but finds the cot empty and the floor and bedclothes covered in blood. Thinking that the dog has killed his son, the prince kills the the dog with his sword. However his dogs dying yell was answered by his ons cry. He found his son safe, but nearby lay the body of a wolf, which Gelert had killed. The prince was so full of remorse that he is said never to have smiled again.
On a brighter note you can walk along the river along the Aberglasyn Pass. The scenery is beautiful to say the least. The river is crystal clear and lovely to sit by on a sunny day. Our children and the dog enjoyed the walk along the pass, which although not ideal for very little children was a great adventure for our older ones.

This part of Wales is generally unspoilt. It’s an ideal spot for a relaxing break. There are no motorways, so there’s little chance of rushing about. Another bonus for me, but perhaps a slight annoyance for others (my 13 year old son included) was that there’s no reception for mobile phones in places. Certainly there was no chance in our cottage. However, I’d challenge anyone not to find the surroundings a joy to wake up to each day.

If you’re interested in visiting this part of Wales, has many cottages available in this and other areas of Wales. Look on their website for availability. Many cottages allow you to take your dog as we did, which meant he could enjoy the holiday with us.

Written by jane · Filed Under Where To Go