Latest news with #Snowdonia


The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK holiday park reveals major £8.1million makeover plans with new holiday cabins and campsite
A HOLIDAY park has revealed major plans for an £8.1million makeover with new cabins in Wales. Forest Holidays is hoping to gain permission to replace 85 caravans and camping pitches at its site in Beddgelert, in Snowdonia National Park. 3 The site plans to add 22 year-round, luxury cabins to its existing 16 cabin development and 85 additional pitches for both touring caravans and camping. In addition, Forest Holidays wants to create a new reception and cafe building. Currently, the site has 25 touring caravan pitches and 85 camping pitches. The proposals are part of a wider plan in collaboration with the Roberts Group - the owners of Cae Du and Cae Canol campsite, also in Beddgelert. Under a separate application, there will be more touring and camping pitches at Cae Du and Cae Canol so the village doesn't lose capacity. Public toilets and better path access for guests are also part of the plans. Back in 2017, the site gained planning consent for 16 cabins and up to 85 touring caravan pitches and camping pitches. Forest Holidays has 13 sites across the UK in woodlands owned by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Natural Resources Wales. The Beddgelert site is the smallest of the Forest Holidays locations and is set in a riverside wooded area. Each cabin currently has a hot tub and guests can enjoy access to the new Elvis Owl Nature Trail - which is ideal for kids as it includes activities to immerse them in nature. This holiday park has Maldives-like overwater bungalows Families can also hire bikes from the site, to explore the local area on wheels. Alternatively, guests can get some R&R with a spa treatment. Prices to stay at the holiday park vary, but can be found from £895 for a week, for a family of four. Beddgelert itself is a picturesque stone-built village, which is the ideal base for exploring Snowdonia National Park. From the village, travellers can head onto the Lôn Gwyrfai path which can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The route stretches over four miles to the village of Rhyd Ddu - which is then a good starting point to hike to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). According to Forest Holidays, since opening in 2018 demand for the 16 cabins at Beddgelert has been high throughout the year. The site also expects annual occupancy levels of the cabins to be 96 per cent, with guests expected to spend £650,000 per annum in the local area as well. A NEW £23million woodland holiday park with lodges, treehouses and play zones is set to open in the UK. Forest Holidays, which submitted the plans for the project, hopes to build 75 timber holiday cabins on 140 acres in a Derbyshire woodland at Farley Moor. If approved, the holiday park would feature a shop, cafe, outdoor play area and 249 parking spaces. The whopping £23million project will be able to host 185 people with cabin sizes varying from one to five beds along with treehouse rooms. Forest Holidays plans to suspend all cabins above the ground on steel pillars to protect the forest floor. The cabins would be a flat-pack design reducing the need for heavy construction equipment. Center Parcs' boss also recently revealed what to expect from its brand new holiday park in the UK. Plus, the lesser-known UK holiday park named the best in the country – with unique all-inclusive stays and free booze.


Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Heart-stopping moment 'bleeding and shivering' 80-year-old woman pleads for rescue after getting stranded on 'perilous' mountain - with panicked husband convinced 'she's gone over the edge'
The heart-stopping moment a 'bleeding and shivering' 80-year-old woman pleaded for rescue after she found herself stranded on a mountain was aired on Wednesday evening. SOS: Extreme Rescues is a docu-series following the rescue service team in Eryri, also called Snowdonia, in Wales. The BBC show's most recent episode delved into the tale of Josie, 80, who attempted to climb Snowdon with her husband, Trevor. Trevor described the 'horrendous' wind the couple experienced during their hike and how he decided not to go any further. Josie however, wanted to complete the climb and soon found herself in trouble. After waiting two and a half hours with no sight of Josie returning, Trevor, who didn't have a mobile phone on him, tried to get help. Josie, who was 100 metres from a path and on the edge of a cliff, called Mountain Rescue and the audio was played during the instalment. She said: 'I'm on Snowdon and I'm stuck. I must have come off the track and I've got lost' The call handler asked: 'Have you got any injuries at all?' Josie replied: 'Yes, I've cut the side of my head but it's only bleeding a bit. I'm starting to shiver now. I'm nearly 80.' Rescuers struggled to locate Josie on their first attempt and recalled the strong winds. Trevor expressed how he was concerned Josie may have 'gone over the edge'. The team embarked on the 'risky' climb down to Josie's last known location. After calling out for Josie, they eventually made voice contact and found her in her 'perilous' spot. 'I just thought, what have I done? Because I thought nobody would find me, nobody,' Josie recalled. 'I reached the summit and I asked two lads if they'd take my photograph. And I was coming down I saw this path and there was some lads walking off, so I thought I'd go that way. 'I was going along and the rain was really coming down and the fog was starting to drop and it was that windy. I looked down and I think I'll slide down there on my bottom and I'll make the path. 'I stopped and I looked down and I thought good God, it's nearly 3,00 foot deep there.'


The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Dandelion-like ‘Welsh dodo' plant continues to hold on in secret location
One of the rarest plants in the world is growing at a secret location on the edge of Eryri in north Wales. The Snowdonia hawkweed (Hieracium snowdoniense) is a small plant, barely reaching 30cm high, but with a brilliant golden yellow inflorescence that looks a bit like a dandelion, which it is closely related to. The Snowdonia hawkweed was first discovered only in 1880 at a remote hillside near Bethesda on the edge of Eryri, or Snowdonia, but in about 1950 the plant vanished, feared extinct after sheep grazed heavily in the area. And so the plant earned the unenviable title of the Welsh dodo. But in 2002 three plants were found clinging on to an inaccessible cliff edge not far from its original location in Bethesda. This group of plants remain the only ones known to exist in the wild and are now well protected and safe from sheep, and their numbers have increased to six plants. To add to their conservation, seed collected from them has been successfully cultivated into fully grown plants, flourishing at the National Botanic Garden of Wales (Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru) in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, where they can be seen in flower.


CNA
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Best UK eats: 9 must-visit restaurants for summer and beyond
While the UK's summer weather is not exactly guaranteed, it proves a hugely popular draw for global visitors, especially around social and sporting events like Wimbledon and Henley Royal Regatta. One thing they can be sure of, however, is that they'll enjoy one of the most thrilling dining landscapes anywhere. The only challenge? Knowing where to choose, given the almost overwhelming raft of options across the country, especially with new openings. These nine spots, all based on first-hand experience, are winners thanks to exceptional eats, engaging ambience and unique touches of distinctly British style. 1. YNYSHIR, SNOWDONIA, WALES First up comes the extraordinary dining destination of Ynyshir in the sublime, serene and impossibly green landscapes of Snowdonia in Wales. It may be an effort to get there, but once you do you'll be rewarded with a two Michelin-starred experience like nothing you've seen before. There are 29 courses, including six desserts, meaning that dinner takes a minimum of four-and-a-half hours. You can wear whatever you want – and use whatever cutlery feels right – but eating with your hands is strongly encouraged. And there is a resident DJ spinning soul, funk and old-school hip hop on vinyl. It all creates an effect like no other, even before mind-blowing bites from chef Gareth Ward start appearing. Ward slices tuna with the exquisite precision and finesse of a Japanese master and rules the vast open-flame grill where he personally cooks every protein. Highlights from a genuinely dazzling menu include pickled wild garlic stems with carabinero prawns, veal sweetbreads with caviar and ranch dressing, as well as his take on Singapore chili crab, served with a deep-fried bun. Stay the night in the former hunting lodge to make the most of your visit. 2. THE ANGEL INN, LONDON From west Wales to north London and The Angel Inn in Highgate is an all-day concept by Heath Ball which has quietly revolutionised the beloved British pub. Breakfasts are rarely available in most British boozers, but this elegant spot in leafy Highgate serves classic smoked kippers and a full English which has already won legions of fans. But there's far more on the menu, from lunch through to dinner, lubricated by creative cocktails, organic wines, independent-producer spirits and some of the capital's finest beers. Traditional pies, naturally all made in-house, are one big draw – don't miss the steak, pancetta and porter ale. But the ultimate test of any pub – gastropub or otherwise – comes with the beloved tradition of the Sunday roast. Ruby-red folds of roast beef top a huge Yorkshire pudding, perfect roast potatoes and endless gravy in a plate to make the heart sing. Just note that they're walk-in only, with no reservations taken. 3. THE DINING ROOM, LANGDALE CHASE HOTEL, THE LAKE DISTRICT The romantic and historic Lake District doesn't always feature on international visitor lists – but should. The mountains may not be Alpine in scale, but they provide the perfect stunning backdrop to Britain's most famous and largest freshwater lakes. Lake Windermere is the most famous and Langdale Chase Hotel sits directly on its shores. Dating back to 1890, it offers superb original design features, wooden panelling and stained glass, as well as contemporary touches across 30 bedrooms. Another big draw is their simply named but decidedly delicious restaurant, The Dining Room. Be sure to book a table on the terrace overlooking the lake and let executive chef Michael Cole tease the finest local produce in style. Wild halibut with creamed leeks, tarragon and parsley butter sauce was exemplary, but the Dexter beef with crispy oyster and a stout sauce stole the show. 4. DORIAN, LONDON Few London restaurants have had such a meteoric rise as Dorian in Notting Hill, thanks to chef Max Coen and his impeccable pedigree from famed kitchens including Frantzen and Ikoyi. Although Dorian has been open for a couple of years, it remains one of London's hottest tables, so it was immensely gratifying to dine there for the first time and immediately understand why it is so talked about – and loved by regulars including David Beckham. The cosy, candlelit dining room that Coen calls a "contemporary British bistro", is the canvas for a space where his lightness of touch works wonders. At dinner, crunchy potato rosti come decked in crab or Brussels sprouts, but the main of turbot was a stunning rendition of the fabulous fish, combining collagen stickiness, charred from the grill with ebony edges and sweet, yielding flesh. A green garlic sauce could've overpowered, but didn't, underlining how restraint once again rules. Desserts included lemon curd with shortbread, then perfect pistachio ice cream – topped with a quenelle of caviar. 5. ANGLOTHAI, LONDON AngloThai is a recent opening that gastronomes have been booking up months in advance. As the name suggests, it represents the mix of Thai and British heritage of husband-and-wife team John and Desiree Chantarasak, a duo who have masterminded a genuinely unique dining experience. It was rewarded with an extraordinary accolade of a Michelin star just three months after opening. Located in the elegant central neighbourhood of Marylebone, it serves a tasting menu of brilliant execution and ingenuity, offering six courses at lunch and nine at dinner, where the finest produce from across the British Isles are paired with characteristically bold Thai flavours. A Blythburgh chop with pork fat and smoked chilli relish was a symphony of flavours, while Cornish monkfish was lifted by a woodland curry and wild mushrooms. Elsewhere, ingredients include caviar and Carlingford oysters, but even ginger root, holy basil and chillies, are all sourced locally. They call their cuisine 'Rooted in Thailand – uniquely British' with very good reason. 6. MOREISH, FAIRMONT WINDSOR PARK Millions of visitors head to Windsor Castle to see pageantry and history, but few venture into the delight that is Windsor Great Park, a royal landscape of atmospheric forests, lakes and gardens. There's no better vantage point from which to experience the ancient woodland than Fairmont Windsor Park, a luxury spa hotel barely a five-minute walk away. Once you're back from a long stroll exploring the park, dinner at the hotel's relaxed bistro Moreish is the perfect way to end the day. Roasted scallops on a bed of zesty fregola came topped with a pine nut crumble and pickled kumquat for citrus and sharpness. Then West Country lamb rump was lifted by a salsify and pea veloute, with seasonal green asparagus for added freshness. Don't miss decadent desserts like rhubarb and raspberry torte, two classic British summer flavours. 7. HYDE PARK GARDEN, MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK, LONDON One of the great joys of a British summer is eating al fresco and outdoor dining doesn't get much more elegant than at Hyde Park Garden, overlooking the classy green expanse of London's most famous royal park. The terrace of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park affords views of the famed The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment who regularly trot past on their way to and from their barracks and ceremonial duties, but eyes are also drawn to plates crafted by two Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Grazing options include oysters, charcuterie and cheese plates, paired with bubbles or rose, but bigger appetites will love the chance to try iconic dishes such as the celebrated 'Meat Fruit' where chicken liver parfait is crafted to look like a mandarin. The triple-cooked chips are also a must-try. 8. RESTAURANT INTERLUDE, LEONARDSLEE HOUSE, WEST SUSSEX Leonardslee House is a picture-perfect British country house retreat, yet barely an hour from London. Their 240-acre gardens are a delight and their farm featuring animals including albino wallabies from Tasmania is definitely an unexpected bonus. Both in-house and non-resident guests are especially drawn by one Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude where chef Jean Delport – the first South African to win a Michelin star – oversees one of the finest tasting menus going. Dinner starts with a presentation of some of the produce crafted into intricate, artistic but always flavour-forward creations. Aged turbot with mussels and wild garlic was a fantastic plate, but even that was topped by a tartare of Trenchmore beef over a chawanmushi custard, finished with caviar. Wine pairings complete the picture of a seriously accomplished spot which looks set to grow in acclaim. 9. LA MOME AT THE BERKELEY Knightsbridge is home to the beautiful Berkeley Hotel which has brought a dose of French Riviera glamour to London, thanks to the arrival of the famed Cannes dining destination, La Mome. Formerly home to the two Michelin-starred Marcus by Marcus Wareing, today the space has been transformed into an expansive, light filled room, La Mome at The Berkeley. As befits the French Riviera, the terrace is where you'll find the most sought-after tables, but sitting inside lets you enjoy the impressive live piano performances.


The Sun
07-07-2025
- The Sun
UK town with Britain's only underground golf course and the world's deepest hotel
KNOWN as the 'slate capital of the world', a small UK town is home to some rather unusual underground attractions. Blanau Ffestiniog, located in north Wales, has a long history of slate mining after becoming a major production hub in the 19th century. 7 7 7 Yet despite being known for grey rock, the town itself is home to some vibrant venues. One such destination is Britain's only underground golf course. Across four floors, guests get to play an 18-hole golf course with neon lights illuminating the surrounding rock. You will want to take a jumper though - as the course is kept between six and eight degrees Celsius year-round. Included in the experience is also a ride on Europe's steepest cable railway, which players must hop on to reach the course. Rather randomly, you can then finish off the experience with a drop slide. Underground golf sessions cost from £20 per person and can be found at Zip World Llechwedd - which is also home to a number of zip lines, underground mine tours and an underground trampoline attraction. If you want to extend your stay in this unusual and historic town, there is also the world's deepest underground hotel. Opening back in 2023, Deep Sleep is located in an abandoned Victorian slate mine, 1,375feet below the mountains of Snowdonia. The accommodation has four twin-bed cabins and a slightly more luxury double bed grotto option. Why Carmarthenshire makes the perfect family hol Yet, this is not your normal check-in and stay destination. Deep Sleep is an experience that runs once a week at the weekend. Essentially an extreme immersive experience, those wanting to stay underground overnight will need to venture on a 45-minute walk into the mountains before entering a cottage, kitting up and descending to the belly of the mine. On the way down, visitors get to see old miners' stairs, bridges that are disintegrating and dramatic rock formations. 7 7 After the downward hike, guests will have a warm drink and an expedition-style meal before nodding off into a deep sleep, deep below the earth's surface. And there are no lie-ins in the morning for guests, as you need to get up at 8am for a breakfast, before heading the ascent up to the surface for 10-10:30am. Whilst a bit chilly, Deep Sleep is actually kept warmer than the underground golf course at 10C all year-round. Staying in one of the cabins will set you back £399 for two people, whereas the grotto is a bit pricier at £599 for two people. Back in Blaenau Ffestiniog itself and the surrounding area, visitors have a number of walks and trails to venture on. 7 Amazing sites such as Cwmorthin Waterfall can be visited - which one recent visitor described as "such a beautiful place to unwind". Or you could jump onboard the world's oldest narrow gauge railway - the Ffestiniog Railway. Over 13-and-a-half miles, passengers get to see the harbour in Portmadog, as well as the slate heaps in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Along the high street there are a number of cafes, pubs and independent shops too - in case you fancy a browse, nibble and tipple. Elsewhere in Wales, there is a tiny town that has been dubbed 'Cornwall without the crowds' and features a huge sandy beach where you can spot porpoises. And another Welsh seaside town that's voted the UK's safest place to live is set to get a £140k redevelopment.