Latest news with #PlasWeunyddHotel
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'I stayed in 'enchanting' UK glamping spot by beautiful hikes and thrilling zipwire'
Brits looking for glamping holidays in the UK may want to check out this enchanting spot in North Wales that's tucked away in some of that beautiful Welsh countryside If glamping in North Wales isn't your idea of a luxury getaway, there's one staycation spot that could change your mind. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Snowdonia National Park, Llechwedd Glamping offers unparalleled views and hotel-style comfort while maintaining an outdoorsy, adventurous feel. The safari-style lodges, perched on top of a cliff overlooking a working quarry, provide an idyllic bolthole whether you want to hike, wild swim or explore the area's UNESCO-listed slate landscape. They're part of the newly renovated 4* Plas Weunydd Hotel nestled amongst beautiful Welsh mountains and moorland. I visited in June with my sister Romilly, 23, mum Emma, 62 and our crazy English Pointer, Daphne. From the moment we arrived, it was an adventure. The slope to the cabins is too steep for cars, so the friendly hotel staff ferry you and your luggage to the top in a pickup truck. The dog-friendly glamping lodges felt like a luxury hotel suite, and come complete with a kitchen, plush double bunk beds (sleeps five), an en-suite with hot shower and every conceivable mod-con from super-speed WIFI to rechargeable table lamps. The walls are adorned with old black and white snaps of the slate miners hard at work in the quarry below. The wood-burning stove, basket of logs, firelighters and matches were a much-appreciated touch. As were the hot water bottles in cosy knitted covers, two plug-in heaters, board games (we enjoyed many rounds of the Logo Game!) and tin of dog treats (Daphne couldn't get enough). There's a private deck too but we didn't make use of it much as the British weather wasn't on our side. As for the food and drink, the hotel had a great selection of locally sourced dishes, but we opted for the pizza-making kit and cooked our creations in the lodge's very own al fresco pizza oven. Freshly made dough, Mutti tomato sauce, mozzarella and chorizo are beautifully presented in a wicker basket alongside essential tools like rolling pins, pizza cutters and rustic wooden serving boards. The wind was high on top of the cliff which made lighting the oven a bit tricky, but once away we had piping hot pizza in no time. The breakfast offerings are also top-notch. Glampers can go for a breakfast pack of pastries, cereal, juice and bread delivered to the cabin (£12.99) or, like us, take advantage of the hotel breakfast, which exceeded all expectations. Served in the tastefully refurbished pooch-friendly dining area, visitors can tuck into any variation of a traditional Welsh breakfast (like an English breakfast but with the optional addition of cockles and laverbread!) cooked fresh to order. We kept it safe with with poached eggs on toast followed by yogurts and freshly-baked croissants from the self-service area - all of which went down a treat! Little touches, including the miniature jars of gourmet ketchup and brown sauce, added a high-end feel to the experience. Located in the historic slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog and overlooking the Moelwynion mountains, Plas Weunydd is perfectly positioned for those looking to explore the dramatic landscape. For seasoned hikers, Wales' highest peak Mount Snowdon is a 40-minute drive away. But if, like me, you enjoy a more leisurely stroll, Dyffryn Maentwrog woods is a must-visit. Located a 10-minute drive from the hotel, an enchanting circular trail takes you past Llyn Mair lake, built by local landowner William Edward Oakeley as a 21st birthday present for his daughter Mair in 1889. The nearby Victorian ornamental pond and Japanese-style stone seat, built by the family at a similar time, are the perfect spot to take it all in. I particularly enjoyed hearing the distant chug of the Ffestiniog steam railway which runs through the woods. Located next-door to the glamping site is Zip World Llechwedd, one of Wales' most visited attractions. Positioned in amongst the historic slate mines, families and hardcore adrenaline-hunters can take their pick of seven adventures. We braved a ride on Titan, Europe's first four person zip line, featuring two sections of zip lines spanning over a kilometre (£60 per person). Specially converted ex-army trucks take you to a dizzying height of 1,400ft where you catch two zipwires back down to base camp. Although high, we were pleasantly surprised by the ride's leisurely speed, allowing us to take in the stunning views of the quarry below. Those scared of heights can head underground instead to Bounce Below, an enormous underground net adventure where you can jump and slide your way through the disused mine. It's ideal for adults and children from seven years and up whatever the weather and is a great alternative to traditional trampoline parks. Book the holiday Nightly rates at Llechwedd Glamping start from £125. You can find out more and book at
Wales Online
23-06-2025
- Wales Online
I stayed in a remote shepherd's hut with no power, this one thing made it unforgettable
I stayed in a remote shepherd's hut with no power, this one thing made it unforgettable This off-grid stay is romantic, remote and wildly memorable. The website promised five remote huts that are "built with love for modern nomads and that they are "charming outposts for those needing a wildly romantic adventure." (Image: Portia Jones ) It's not exactly standard procedure to check into your weekend accommodation via golf cart, but this is Wales, and normal rules do not apply. When I arrived with my sodden husband in tow at Barlwyd Glamping in Blaenau Ffestiniog, the icy rain was coming in sideways, and the wind was howling. Classic Wales. Self-check-in took the form of tossing our damp weekend bags into an electric golf cart while my husband wondered aloud why we weren't just in the pub like normal people. From there, it was a damp and slightly chaotic trundle up through remote slate hills to our shepherd's hut, which loomed out of the mist, looking every bit like the opening scene of a slow-burn thriller Netflix would undoubtedly call The Cabin in the Cwm. Now, I know I'm painting a picture that screams, 'We've gone on holiday by mistake,' but let the record show I'm a full-on shepherd's hut girlie. Honestly, give me a dinky hut done up like a Cath Kidston fever dream, throw in a roaring wood burner, and I'm in glamping heaven. While the wild Welsh weather was not initially on our side for our arrival at Barlwyd Glamping (the Met Office had issued a yellow thunderstorm warning), this was the off-grid stay I had been searching for, and it had one thing in particular that made it unforgettable. Article continues below Barlwyd Glamping, positioned high on the moorlands among the UNESCO-listed slate quarries and mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog, is reached by off-road golf buggy via bone-rattling gravel tracks, adding another otherworldly feel to the Brontë-esque landscape. These Shepherd's Huts are part of a collection of accommodation options at the Llechwedd mine, which includes Llechwedd Glamping and Plas Weunydd Hotel (Image: Portia Jones ) These shepherd's huts are part of a collection of accommodation options at the Llechwedd mine, which includes Llechwedd Glamping and Plas Weunydd Hotel. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here The website promised five remote huts that are "built with love for modern nomads and that they are "charming outposts for those needing a wildly romantic adventure". A bold claim indeed, considering that by the time we unloaded our moist cart, we were utterly drenched and in dire need of a mega pint of wine. However, once I stepped inside, I was instantly smitten. On one end, a king-size squishy bed adorned with pretty cushions; on the other, a wood-burning stove, a twee kitchenette, and even a small washroom with a shower and a flushing loo - the luxury! I should probably note that these adorable huts for two are fully off-grid (Image: Portia Jones ) I should probably note that these adorable huts for two are fully off-grid and have integrated water, sewage, and batteries, but no mains connection to plug-in items like laptops, hairdryers, or phones. Do not bring your straighteners; there's no 'hot girl summer' here; you'll just have to embrace the frizz, darlings. Instead, there is eco-friendly Hydro Power, which generates more electricity than we use, making Barlwyd net carbon neutral. If you're desperate for phone power, there's a handy battery pack you can use to get some juice for your social media snaps. Each dog-friendly hut comes with its own en-suite bathroom, very civilised. There's a water tank, so you can enjoy a hot shower, as long as you don't get too comfortable. We discovered this the hard way when my darling husband used up the entire hot water supply, leaving me with a tepid trickle and a strong urge to explore solo travel. Conscious uncoupling was also briefly considered. You can easily whip up a meal in the compact kitchen (Image: Portia Jones ) The compact kitchenette has all the essentials for whipping up a stove-top meal, including a small hob, a fridge, cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery, washing-up liquid, a sponge, and a tea towel. Outside, there is a gas-powered barbecue for use when the weather is agreeable (reader, it was not). Luckily, just a mile down the hill, you'll find Zip World's Llechwedd site and the Plas Weunydd hotel, where you can grab a delicious dinner by the fire. I highly recommend their homemade chicken curry; it's divine. Despite soggy socks and no BBQ, this remote place slowly began to work its magic. The silence was the first thing that struck me; no hum of traffic, pinging phones, or pesky emails from editors (Yes, Sion, I'm filing it now). Barlwyd delivered exactly what my overwrought soul needed: a quiet corner of Wales with no notifications, no schedules, and absolutely no Starbucks in sight. Just a wild, sweeping view and the sense that I was one dramatic monologue away from becoming Catherine Earnshaw, screeching, "I wish I were a girl again, half-savage and hardy, and free." The snug levels are very high here (Image: Portia Jones ) Honestly, once you're snug in your hut, the weather becomes someone else's problem. Just stoke the fire, pour a lovely glass of wine, and bask in the smug, off-grid glow of being entirely unreachable. No phones, no streaming, no idea what day it is, magical. And let's be honest, a thunderstorm in the night only adds to the drama. Will we blow away? Who knows. May as well have another Merlot. Throw in the occasional nocturnal "baa" from the local sheep, and you've got yourself a stay that's romantic, remote and wildly memorable. I have also yet to mention the best part: the wildness sauna, available exclusively to Barlwyd Off-Grid Shepherd's Hut guests. As a sauna convert, I was delighted to unwind in their wood-fire barrel sauna on top of the moorland, overlooking Ffestiniog's majestic mountains and a lake. Who doesn't want to steam on a remote hillside while having a quiet moment of introspection? The wildness sauna is available exclusively to Barlwyd Off-Grid Shepherd's Hut guests. (Image: Portia Jones ) Now, despite usually rolling my eyes at anything remotely woo-woo (healing crystals, drum circles, energy healing), I'm fully convinced that saunas are actual magic. The healing powers of sweating out all my anxieties and most of last night's wine cannot be overstated. Luckily for us, the weather had cleared just in time for a lovely sauna session as rays of sunlight slowly filtered through, giving the moorland a much-needed glow-up and finally revealing a tapestry of heathers, grasses and mosses. It was glorious. I'm fully convinced that saunas are actual magic (Image: Portia Jones ) At that moment, I felt a sense of peace. Or possibly just dehydrated. Either way, it worked. I was full of wellness. So, in conclusion, did I miss the internet while here? Not one bit. I came, I glamped, and I forgot to check my emails. Honestly, that's the kind of inbox zero I can get behind. If you want to escape your hectic life, this is the off-grid stay for you. Maybe just pack a rain jacket yeah? For more information and booking, visit the website Article continues below
