Booking.com’s annual prediction for the ‘top trending destinations’ of the following year were recently released, and amongst the more glamorous Brazilian mountain resorts, beachside retreats on the French Riviera and Malaysian foodie meccas, came a more inconspicuous locale; Llandudno in Wales.
Indeed, the country is starting to gain something of a reputation as a hidden gem of a destination, with beautiful beaches, rural serenity, incredible food, and history and heritage by the bucketload. All that said, Wales does also have the reputation of being a little, well, grey and gloomy. Indeed, the capital city Cardiff consistently ranks as Europe’s wettest city, and is amongst the 15 wettest in the world.
If you’re to holiday in the Land of Castles, as Wales is known, then you’re going to have to go hard on the hygge; ensuring your trip celebrates cosiness and comfortable conviviality. What better way to do that than in a rural cabin? Here are 6 top tips for having the best cabin holiday in Wales this winter.
WHERE TO STAY
You’re looking for rural, right? Well, Wales boasts vast stretches of countryside both mystical and magnificent, so you won’t be hard pressed to find somewhere that suits your needs.
Snowdonia National Park is the obvious choice for many; it’s world famous for its hiking opportunities, jaw dropping vistas, lakes and mountains, and should be the first port of call for active visitors to Wales. If you’re looking to narrow it down further, then the Glyders offers arguably Wales’ finest one day hike.
We say hike, but part of this ascent of Wales’ fifth tallest point is more of a scramble. That’s fine by us, we love to get stuck in. It’s a near 1’200 metre climb of three peaks, Tryfan, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr, but you’ll be rewarded with views which verge on the brutal, but are certainly brilliant too.
Alternatively, if beaches are more your thing, then Wales boasts 157 miles of coastline to choose from. We’re in the business of narrowing things down, though, so narrow down we will; we’d suggest you head to Pembrokeshire in the south (just under two hours from the capital) for a selection of the finest stretches of sand and surf.
Both Broad Haven and Barafundle beach have been bestowed with the Blue Flag award which celebrates water quality and environmental protection of beauty spots worldwide. What’s more, in 2017 the latter was named as one of the world’s best beaches by Passport Magazine. You’ll never want to leave.
FIND ONE WITH A HOT TUB
If swimming in the winter Welsh waves sounds a little too bracing for you, but you still want to enjoy something similar, then consider renting a log cabin with a hot tub in Wales during the colder months.
You’ll find a wide range available, from rustic and rural to opulent and urban, with Pembrokeshire, Powys, Gwynedd (the county that Snowdonia calls home) and the Isle of Anglesey particularly popular spots for this type of lovely laid back holiday.
Many of these lodges boast cooking facilities, both outdoors and in, meaning you can make use of Wales’ incredible local produce, and cook yourself and the family a feast…
MAKE USE OF WALES’ PREMIUM LOCAL PRODUCE
Welsh food has long been revered in the UK, but in recent years, it’s begun to develop a name globally. And with good reason; it’s incredible! Suddenly, across Britain and beyond into the continent, Welsh rarebit, faggots, laverbread and even Glamorgan sausages (a delicious vegetarian mix of Caerphilly cheese, leeks and breadcrumbs) are cropping up on fine dining menus, and we’re very much here for it.
But it’s the ingredients that are truly worth celebrating; Conwy mussels, heirloom leeks, sewin and samphire, and, of course, salt marsh lamb are all as good as you’ll find anywhere on the planet, and, as such, represent the perfect excuse to whip up a delicious feast in your log cabin. Hey, you could even make use of your barbeque…
Read: How to have the IDEAL staycation and get the most from your self-catering holiday
COOK OUTSIDE
Rural log cabins are all about celebrating being at one with nature, and the majority come with well appointed outdoor cooking facilities. Hey, we know what you’re thinking; the article’s title said ‘winter’.
But barbeques aren’t just for summer! A winter barbecue can be a wonderful thing, particularly when lit safe in the knowledge that you can retire promptly to your cabin should the skies open up. Which, let’s face it, is pretty common in Wales.
It might be wise to second guess the inevitable and bring a couple of your own kitchen items with you. In our experience, though generally pretty well equipped for the budding homecook, holiday rental homes don’t always have the sharpest knives, so make the first move and bring either your favourite kitchen knife or a knife sharpener with you.
He who dares wins, and all that. It might also be wise to bring a cafetiere or teapot (depending on your drink of choice, of course) as holiday homes sometimes boast only a Nespresso machine in their armoury.
BRING SOME HOME COMFORTS
Yep, it’s winter. It’s Wales. We realise we’ve said this already, but rain or even snow is pretty much inevitable. As such, you’ll need things to keep you occupied during the downpours.
Not to worry; that’s part of the pleasure of staying in a remote, rural log cabin; cosying up while it storms outside can feel kinda romantic, don’t you think?
Don’t forget to pack your car with some essentials to keep everyone busy and entertained: some board games, a Bluetooth speaker, even a Google Chromecast or another streaming device. Otherwise, you’re going to be left talking about the weather, much like we have been for the majority of this piece…
WRAP UP WARM
Average winter temperatures in Wales can comfortably drop to freezing without fair warning, with Snowdonia hovering around the 0°C for much of January and February. Do make sure you wrap up warm for your trip; however cosy your log cabin may be, it’s going to be super chilly once you step outside. Speaking of wrapping up, we’re done…bon voyage! Or, as they say in Wales, Iwrnai Dda!