Caernarfon Castle
World heritage site
A visit to Caernarfon and the Castle makes a charming day out. Consider combining with a boat tour on the Menai Straight (boat tours depart from outside the castle) for the best views of this magnificent castle.
Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is World Heritage Site.
Edward I and his military architect Master James of St George erected a castle, town walls and a quay all at the same time. This gigantic building project eventually took 47 years and cost a staggering £25,000.
Portmerion Village
Architectural heritage and gardens
Portmeirion is a tourist village just south of Portmadoc in North Wales (and approximate 12 miles from Ysgubor Degwm). It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village with colourful villas, majestic mansions and elaborate mature gardens.
Portmerion village offers woodland and coastal walks; three restaurants, a cafe and ice cream parlour; spa; history and unforgettable architecture.
A list of upcoming events at Portmerion Village can be found here.
Eryri
Snowdonia National Park
Covering 823 square miles of diverse landscapes, Snowdonia National Park is a living working area, home to over 26,000 people. Ysgubor Degwm is approximately a 10 mile drive to the stunning Eryri landscape.
As well as being the largest National Park in Wales, Eryri (Snowdonia) boasts the highest mountain and the largest natural lake in Wales, as well as a wealth of picturesque villages like Betws y Coed and Beddgelert. Snowdonia is an area steeped in culture and local history, where more than half its population speak Welsh.
Air World
Aviation Museum
Located on the airfield of the former RAF Llandwrog, the museum has an impressive collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia. The museum offers the opportunity to get close up to some historic aircraft. Set on an active airfield, the museum houses iconic machines such as the Hawker Hunter, D.H. Vampire, along with the only T2 BAe Harrier remaining worldwide.
Part of the museum is devoted to the creation of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, started here at RAF Llandwrog in 1942, whilst other sections describe the wartime airfields of North Wales. The gift shop sells model kits and souvenirs.
The airport has a cafe run by the Wales Air Ambulance staff.
Bodnant Garden
National Trust
Bodnant garden spans 80 acres of hillside and includes formal Italianate terraces, informal shrub borders stocked with plants from around the world, The Dell, a gorge garden, areas of the woodland garden, meadows, winter garden and a waterfall.
Bodnant Garden is famous for its Laburnum arch, the longest in the UK, flowers in May and June.
The drive from Ysgubor Degwm to Bodnant Gardens, through the stunning Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, takes approximately one hour fifteen minutes. The journey is spectacular, with plenty of beautiful villages and vistas.
Zip World
Llechwedd
Caverns: A challenging underground course, Caverns is a one-of-a-kind experience that takes up to 3 hours. Caverns will leave you exhilarated and drained in equal measure. Set in a historic slate mine, the various nooks, crannies, tunnels and chasms have been brought back to life with 13 zip lines, rope bridges, tightropes and more, to push your bravery and endurance to the ultimate test.
Also at Zip World Llechwedd is Titan 2 Zip Line and Bounce below which is an enormous underground net adventure where you can jump, bounce and slide your way through this disused mine.
Zip World at Llechwedd near Blaenau Ffestiniog and is around 20 miles from Ysgubor Degwm.
Festiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
Heritage Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway with almost 200 years of history, taking you on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round tight bends (even a complete spiral) clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it. The Ffestiniog Railway and its infrastructure are now an integral part of the UNESCO “Slate landscape of North Wales” World Heritage Site.
The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage railway and runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past the foot of Snowdon and the picture-postcard village of Beddgelert, then through the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog. Passengers ride in some of the most comfortable carriages on any heritage railway in the UK, including first-class Pullman luxury and freshly-cooked food delivered to your seat.
The perfect secluded getaway
We stayed as a family of five (2 adults, 2 young kids, and a dog) and loved every moment. The house is exceptional, it is a distance away from others - you find yourselves isolated (in the best meaning of the term), in a very quiet area and with an abundance of space to enjoy yourselves. The house is very well kept, extremely tidy and clean. It is stocked full of games, kids toys, fascinating books and films. The decoration makes you say “ok, I’m stealing this idea when I get home”. The swimming pool is fantastic. It would be hard to find something negative. As for the area - do try out the recommended fish+chips shop. You will love it. Everything we wanted to see was within a suitable drive for kids, and plenty of beaches were nearby too. The owner/host is very friendly, always accommodating, and extremely helpful in making the stay the best it can be.
Jamie H
Apr 2021