You can see the sun rise over the mountains and watch it set over the sea during a stay at Snowdonia Hideaway. This converted hayloft sits within a four-acre smallholding on the quieter side of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. It’s just three miles from the sea at Tywyn, which you can glimpse from one of the fields, and has views of the mighty Cadair Idris mountain, southern Eryri’s highest peak. It’s the ideal place for outdoor lovers who want a comfortable base to return to after days exploring all that this part of West Wales has to offer – and that, as you’ll discover if you stay here, is rather a lot.
Hiking, biking, surfing, pony trekking, zip lining and more are all available around here. And after all that, you’ll be grateful for the wood-fired hot tub that sits outside this bolthole. This little hayloft is self-catering that teeters on the line between a holiday cottage and a glamping getaway. It has plenty of home comforts under its solid roof: a bed, electricity, and a kitchenette included, but you need to go outside to reach the loo. The toilet and shower are housed in a nearby timber building, just a few steps off the deck that’s outside the hayloft’s front door. It’s this, and its connection with the outdoors, that make it a glampy place to stay. It has its own enclosed garden with a fire pit for nights out under the stars but you’re also free to wander in the two-acre wildflower meadow which your hosts are encouraging to flourish here.
At the bottom of the field, the Talyllyn Railway passes by. Stick your hand out and its steam trains will halt to let you aboard. You can use it to head down to the seaside at Tywyn for fish and chips or up to Dolgoch Falls for a walk among waterfalls. Those are just two of the tamer adventures you can have around here. At the other end of the scale, you could hike to the 900-metre peak of Cadair Idris or whizz along the mountain-biking trails of Coed-y-Brenin. All these and other adventures are detailed in the guidebook that your hosts leave for you in your accommodation between the mountains and the sea.
Panoramic views to Cader Idris the second highest mountain in Snowdonia make this place a must stay. The Crogloft is a converted hayloft with double bed, kitchenette and seating area. It has a separate outdoor shower room and washing up, an enclosed garden with fire pit and balcony. 5 mins from the popular seaside town of Tywyn, close to Dolgoch waterfalls, historic sites like Castell y Bere and mountains and lakes galore. Come and soak up all Snowdonia has to offer.Snowdonia Hideaway is within Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and there are walks into the surrounding mountains from the front door. Local routes and other things to do in the area are detailed in a guidebook that’s provided within your accommodation. Conquering southern Snowdonia’s biggest peak, Cadair Idris, can be attempted on the Llanfihangel y Pennant Path which starts seven miles away. Tywyn is the closest town and the closest beach (three miles). It’s a sandy one that’s good for surfing. You can drive to town in about five minutes, cycle on a traffic-free cycle route in about 20 minutes or even take the train. The heritage steam trains of the Talyllyn Railway link Tywyn with Nant Gwernol gorge passing right by Tynllwyn Hen, the smallholding where you're staying. There’s a halt (a request stop) at the bottom of the field where you can hop aboard to head west to the beach or east into the hills. Both Dolgoch Falls and Nant Gwernol gorge are great places to alight for a walk. Back on the coast, Aberdyfi (seven miles) is also easily reached and is a proper seaside resort with ice creams, fish and chips and donkey rides in the summer. Barmouth is another (just over 20 miles from site). You can drive there in 40 minutes or a nice way to get there is to head to Dolgellau (18 miles) with bikes and cycle on the 10-mile traffic-free Mawddach Trail towards the sea. There’s mountain biking too at ClimachX Beicio Mynydd Dyfi (15 miles) and Coed-y-Brenin (28 miles).
The Peniarth Arms is the closest pub to Snowdonia Hideaway, just a mile from site. It has a beer garden and does good pub grub. For more choice of places to eat out, head for Tywyn (three miles). There’s fish and chips from Skippys or Mor and a great coffee shop,Toast, as well as restaurants The Salt Marsh Kitchen and Proper Gander. In Aberdyfi, try The Sea Breeze for fresh fish and seafood. In Dolgellau, The Cross Foxes Inn (15 miles) is a good pub serving a Welsh menu. If you want to cook back at your hideaway, Tywyn has everything you might need in its high street: a good butchers, greengrocers and a Co-op.