Breath-taking scenery, Bali-esque beaches, ancient castles, world-class hotels and glorious weather. You might think you would need to travel to some far flung destination to tick all of these off your holiday list but, incredibly, they were all to be found within a four hour drive of London.
Wales had long been on my ‘to do’ locations, and with many an airport horror story we opted for a UK staycation for this trip. For those of you, who like me, aren’t in the know – Wales is a vast place, so planning where to visit wasn’t entirely easy at first. So Snowdonia, being one of the most famous tourist spots in Wales, seemed like a good place to start.
We plumped for one of the most highly-rated hotels in the country: PoB Hotel Palé Hall. A Grade II listed Victorian country house, in idyllic and whimsical surroundings, with a woodland garden rolling down to the banks of the river. Driving in we were greeted by families of rabbits playing on the lawn, the kids jumped out of the car to take a closer look, bewitched by their sheer numbers and cuteness. We unpacked our bags in the stunning Harpers Barn, and after a quick game of badminton we were off on our first activity.
Pleasing two adrenalin junkie boys and a slightly less gung-ho 10-year-old daughter, isn’t always easy. But with some highly recommended white water rafting nearby I thought we could give it a go. After all, just how scary could rafting down a river in Wales really be? Er, turns out, pretty darn scary! The excellent Get Wet Adventure Company provided us with all the kit needed – wet suits, life jackets, boots and helmets. Though what I envisioned would be a gentle meander down steam turned into a full on, hold onto your hats, try not to capsize experience. As the only one in our raft who managed to fall out (thankfully I was quickly hauled back in by the excellent crew), it certainly won’t be an experience I’ll forget in a hurry. Afterwards, we were ready for a sumptuous dinner in the hotel restaurant, followed by a night time relax to ease tired muscles in our own private Jacuzzi before drifting off to sleep.
Driving in we were greeted by families of rabbits playing on the lawn
The next day I was ready for a history tour. I love a castle, it brings out my inner princess, and thanks to ‘The Crown’ I had a yearning to visit Caernarfon Castle where King Charles investiture as the Prince of Wales took place in 1969 (when the now-King was just 20 years old). Its 750 year history really was fascinating and, handily, it wasn’t too far from our next adrenalin-filled pitstop: the longest Zipline in Europe!
Zipworld has made quite a name for itself and for good reason, too. Strapped superhero style into a harness you fly at nearly 100 mph over a slate quarry, with the wind whistling through your ears and your mouth contorting like a sky diver (my kids will get much pleasure from their Go Pro recordings for many years to come).
There is no end to the fun and historic activities around Snowdonia – from steam trains, to climbing Mount Snowdon, to canyoning. Though I would say just make sure to book all your activities well in advance, as they get pretty booked up in the holidays. The landscape of lush green valleys and lakes was stunning every step of the way.
Wanting to experience South Wales as well, we headed down the panoramic coast to Carmarthenshire. We booked into a luxury lodge at Dylan Coastal Resort, nestled just above the quaint village of Laugharne. Just moments away lived the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and you can even visit his Boathouse for a spot of afternoon tea. The lodge was perfect, with plenty of room for the five of us and with its own jacuzzi looking out over the Taf Estuary and the Gower beyond. The resort’s spa, too, was so good it was hard to get the kids out of the pool and exploring the local area.
There is no end to the fun and historic activities around Snowdonia – from steam trains, to climbing Mount Snowdon
We were spoilt for choice here, with the options of scenic natural wonders, from hiking in the Brecon Beacons, exploring secluded forests and caves or coastal walking routes above towering cliff tops. For families with younger kids? There are plenty of fun activities to be had from an aqua adventure at the Blue Lagoon water park or getting up close to rare and endangered species at one of the nearby wildlife parks.
For my family though it was the beaches they loved the most, with the vast expanse of nearby Pendine Sands, Saundersfoot or Tenby. The latter was, by far, our favourite – with loads of water sports on offer, be it kayaking, windsurfing or surfing lessons. Or, if you prefer a low-key mooch like me, the local walled town has lots of cute little independent stores to visit.
It was a magical and memorable trip. No horrendous airport queuing or frustratingly delayed flights a bonus. We can’t wait to go back.
Classic rooms at Pale Hall start from £300, inclusive of breakfast. For more information, please visit pobhotels.com
