Bwthyn Escape

Bwthyn Escape is a rural idyll on the edge of the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes. A long private drive leads to this serene wonder. It offers a great base to discover this culturally rich landscape of West Wales sprinkled with mountains, waterfalls, hidden valleys and gorgeous beaches. You can walk to the village pub and shop from the cottage. The Cardigan Bay coastline which is accessed from Aberystwyth offers long sandy beaches of which eleven allow dogs all year round and a further twenty four that allow them at certain times of the year.

Devil’s Bridge, a medieval masterpiece, is five miles down the road with its famous bridge that spans the River Conwy, considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval bridge architecture in the country. It was built in the 13th century and has been restored several times. It is a Grade I listed building. Devil’s Bridge Falls is a sessile oak woodland in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains with a circular path that leads to the falls from one end of the gorge with a stair called Jacob’s Ladder ascending from the other end. You can reach the falls from the Vale of Rheidol steam railway. With its unique waterfalls, many thousands have visited since the 18th century including William Wordsworth who wrote about the ‘Torrent at Devil’s Bridge’.

The lively seaside town of Aberystwyth is fifteen miles away with its university, fine dining restaurants, unique shops, pretty promenade and the National Library of Wales.  Aberystwyth is located on the Cardigan Bay, midway between the cathedral city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire and the surfers haven of Aberdaron at the western tip of the Llyn Peninsula. It is one of the biggest and busiest towns in mid Wales with lots of lovely independent shops. Aberystwyth’s mile long Victorian promenade is gorgeous, lined with pastel painted houses. The seafront boasts the oldest pier in Wales, built in 1864. The best vantage point is at the end of north beach’s promenade, at the top of the 430 feet Constitution Hill. You can see for more than one thousand square miles, in a 360 degree sweep around the town. You can take a walk up Pen Dinas Hill, an Iron Age hillfort, to take a closer look at the 1850’s monument, erected as a memorial to the first Duke of Wellington. You should also take a look at Aberystwyth Castle, the Abersywyth Arts Centre and its neighbour the National Library of Wales. The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is a treat for all ages, offering superb views of the town. The BBC and Netflix television series Hinterland was filmed in and around Aberystwyth.

Bwthyn Escape sits in fantastic walking country with the scenic four and a half circular Maenarthur Trail enjoying industrial heritage, a hill fort, forest, countrside and a stunning gorge. The Ystwyth Trail is great for walking or cycling from Aberystwyth to Tregaron. You can join mid-way near Llanafan. The Mynach offers six and a half miles of scenic walk following the river to Devil’s Bridge and the waterfalls. The Nan yr Arian Visitor Centre offers three pretty walks and brilliant cycle tracks. Horse lovers can head to the Rheidol Riding Centre with its full-size floodlit indoor and outdoor arenas, showjumping and cross-country course and wonderful trekking around the Rheidol Valley. There is excellent wild trout fishing in many local rivers. Day tickets can be obtained from the George Burrow Hotel in Ponterwyd.

For a blissful beach day, you can head to the sand and shingle Aberystwyth North Beach where you will find donkeys, a bouncy castle and rides along the promenade in the summer. Llanrhystud South Beach is lovely and the nearest all year round dog-friendly beach with sand and pebbles.

Further north, you can head to Tywyn which enjoys a long promenade that stretches alongside the beautiful beach with its soft sand. In low tide, peat squares are exposed, capturing the sea water as the tide recedes and turning it into your own natural hot tub. Foodies love Tywyn with its wonderful selection of bars, cafes and restaurants. It also boasts the ancient Church of St Cadfan, lots of unique shops selling local crafts and books and the fabulous Magic Lantern Cinema. Though it has been refurbished the cinema has retained its old charm with murals on the wall and a quirky bar. From Tywyn, you can head over the Dysynni River towards the ruins of the old army camp in Tonfannau or take a short drive along the winding Dysynni Valley to the majestic Craig yr Aderyn and the Castell y Bere Castle. It is a must visit Welsh fortress which is strung along a jagged rocky outcrop in the valley, at the foot of Cader Idris. Construction of the castle begain in 1221 and the castle remained in use until 1294.

The Talyllyn Railway has been steaming from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn in Southern Snowdonia since 1865. It is a narrow gauge preserved railway running for just over seven miles, first opening to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn. If you take the train, you will enjoy sensational scenery and nostalgic feelings of time gone by.

The chocolate box village of Aberdovey is famous for it sandy beaches, sailing and its championship 18-hole links golf course which is ranked in the UK’s top one hundred courses. The village enjoys beautiful pastel-painted cottages, charming little shops, pubs, restaurants specialising in seafood and a warm relaxed ambience. It boasts four miles of golden sand dunes and beach popular with swimmers, sunbathers, surfers and fishermen. It is so pretty and popular that Aberdovey can get crowded in the summer.

The beautiful market town of Dolgellau is located between the imposing Cader Idris mountain range and the sea with its fantastic selection of shops, pubs, cafes, bakeries, wine bars and restaurants. Dolgellau is home to over two hundred listed building and the town is designated a ‘cycle break centre’ boasting a wonderful range of dedicated cycle routes. The flat Mawddach Trail follows the old railway bed to the lovely seaside town of Barmouth. Dolgellau is the nearest town to the Coed y Brenin Mountain Bike Centre. The town is steeped in history with its main bridge over the Afon Wnion dating back to 1638. The remains of historic Cymer Abbey, founded in 1198, can be seen in the nearby village of Llanelltyd within walking distance. The Dolgellau Golf Course enjoys 9-holes and a tearoom.

The pretty village of Portmeirion was designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, an ardent environmentalist in the early 20th century. Its riviera inspired houses, ornamental garden and campanile stand out against the trees and hills. Portmeirion opened as an attractive private village in 1926. You can stretch your legs in its ten hectare woodland, an Edwardian wild garden designed by Caton Haigh who was a world authority on Himalayan flowering trees and exotic plants. The gardens are brimming with camelias, rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolia and maidenhair trees bringing blazes of colour. Sir Williams-Ellis’s daughter Susan was already selling her ceramics in the village when, in 1960, she took over a Stoke-on-Trent pottery and named it after the village. Traditional and contemporary pottery is a favourite from the village gift shops.

Read more about Snowdonia

Welcome to Snowdonia, the wild, beautiful wonderland tucked away in northwest Wales! This place is a total jackpot for nature lovers, adventure junkies and anyone in desperate need of a serene escape. Covering a whopping 823 square miles, Snowdonia National Park is like a giant, nature-themed quilt with stunning landscapes stitched together and dotted with soaring mountain peaks, zen-inducing lakes and ancient forests. Oliver’s Travels properties sprinkled across this captivating landscape include charming cottages and characterful farmhouses that will make your heart sing and turn your weary body into a puddle of relaxation.

The pièce de résistance of Snowdonia is none other than Mount Snowdon itself, the heavyweight champ of Wales and England. Standing tall at 3,560 feet, this mountain boasts panoramic views that will make your jaw drop. Nature enthusiasts enjoy hikes from the leisurely Llanberis Path to the hardcore Crib Goch Ridge while thrill-seekers can zipwire until their hearts are content. If you are not feeling the leg workout, you can hop on the Snowdon Mountain Railway for a scenic ride that will have you reaching the summit in style. Bala Lake is a water sports haven with sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and leisurely boat trips on offer.

Betws-y-Coed, the "Gateway to Snowdonia," is a village straight out of a fairy tale surrounded by lush woodlands and waterfalls. It is the perfect launchpad for your Snowdonia adventures, complete with charming shops and pubs that practically beg you to pop in for a pint. For a touch of magic, Betws-y-Coed’s Fairy Glen is a secret fairy hideout with mystical gorges, bubbling cascades and rocks covered in fairy-approved moss. You can take a stroll, have a picnic and let the enchantment wash over you. History buffs should get ready to geek out in Conwy, a medieval town dominated by the epic Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site that makes you think of a Game of Thrones set. You will wander through cobbled streets, explore castle nooks and soak in marvellous views. Portmeirion, a village straight out of an Italian daydream, courtesy of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis offers quirky buildings, subtropical gardens and spectacular views of the Dwyryd Estuary.

Snowdonia is a jackpot of nature wonders, historical stunners and villages straight out of fairy tales. Whether you are chasing mountain highs, lakeside tranquility or village enchantment, Snowdonia is amazing!

Wales
While the image of lush valleys and a laid-back lifestyle are right at the heart of a holiday in Wales, don’t think stunning landscapes and a bit of relaxation are the only thing on offer in this beautiful country. Don’t believe us?

Check out our Wales travel guide – it’s full of handy hints, travel ideas and great stuff for families and groups of friends to do.

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