Where mountains meet the sea…
CANNY Brits are snubbing the costas this year and opting for stay-at-home holidays.
And Scotland and Wales are the favourite destinations, according to a survey, which reckons we will collectively save 3 billion by not holidaying abroad.
That comes as no surprise – for I've just returned from a break in Wales and am thoroughly captivated.
It is a few years since I visited the Snowdonia area and had forgotten just how stunning the scenery is.
Every corner reveals a new gem, every skyline hides yet another breathtaking view.
And everywhere seems to be eager to wish you a hearty croeso (Welsh for welcome).
We made a brief tour of the area where Mid Wales meets North Wales. The Welsh have a more poetic way of putting it, of course. To them, it is where the mountains meet the sea.
Indeed, the Snowdonia range seems reluctant to give up its lofty perch, waiting until the last moment to tumble into the bays and estuaries which bless this part of Wales with miles of remote and untouched coastline.
It is a paradise for walkers and nature lovers and also has plenty of family-friendly beaches for more relaxing holidays.
The area has accommodation to suit every taste, and every pocket. Caravan parks and holiday apartments are to be found in every coastal area while elegant hotels offer superb accommodation if you want to push the boat out.
We did just that, having discovered the delightfully named Welsh Rarebits. This is a business which has spent 25 years building a reputation as the best place to find quality hotels throughout Wales.
Within the pages of Welsh Rarebits' brochure you will find 54 of the country's hotels.
Our first night took us to the beautiful Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel, in Dolgellau, the former summer residence of Bolton cotton magnate James Leigh Taylor.
It once covered thousands of acres buy its grounds are still substantial, encompassing 21 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens which drift away to the Cader Idris range behind and gaze down upon the Mawddach estuary.
It is a beautiful location matched by the elegant accommodation and you are genuinely made to feel as though you are a guest in someone's home rather than staying in a hotel.
Family photos decorate the corridors and lounges and the furnishings give the impression of a house which has been lovingly decorated over time rather than a hotel which was shoe-horned into a corporate image.
Many country pursuits are to be enjoyed, including salmon, sea trout and trout fishing free to residents, golf, mountain biking, hill walking and, of course, sightseeing.
It was like leaving old friends when we reluctantly packed our bags to set out through the wonderful Welsh countryside.
But any disappointment soon faded when we checked into what must be one of the most iconic hotels in the country: the Hotel Portmeirion.
Portmeirion is the fantasy village created by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.
It stands on its own private peninsula overlooking sea, sand and mountain.
The hotel occupies a commanding position and, just like the hotel in Dolgellau, is furnished in an individual and elegant manner making you feel special the moment you step through the door.
And the art deco dining room is a stunning space designed to convey the atmosphere of a grand ocean liner.
At high tide it seems almost to be afloat, an impression enhanced by the stone ship permanently moored outside!
There's an outdoor pool (open May to September) and close by are Snowdonia's mountains and the Llyn Peninsula's wildly beautiful bays, beaches and headlands.
But the true way to a tourist's heart is through his stomach. We ate like kings at both hotels, feasting on sumptuous breakfasts which carried you through a busy day of touring to dinner which would challenge some celebrity chefs to achieve.
Can't wait to be wished croeso again!
Factfile
We booked through Welsh Rarebits. Brochure from Prince's Square, Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6PZ, Wales. Visit www.rarebits.co.uk (email info@rarebits.co.uk) or call 01686 668030.
The Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel, Penmaenpool, Dolgellau LL40 1YB. Call 01341 422129 or email relax@penhall.co.uk. From 95 for a single room or 150 double. Visit www.panhall.co.uk
The Portmeirion Hotel is at Portmeirion, LL48 6ET, Wales. Call 01766 770000 or visit hotel:portmeirion-village.com. Prices from 135 single or 172 double.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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