Fancy escaping to Snowdonia for a winter break? Here’s a few ideas: A wander along a windswept beach can be an exhilarating experience in wilder weather! There’s plenty of vast beaches within a few minutes drive or walk along the footpath from Graig Wen and The Slate Shed B & B. For exceptional mountain and coast views in fine weather you can scamper up Cadair Idris and back in half a day. A walk along the Mawddach Estuary is beautiful anytime: crisp and clear or misty and atmospheric. Rain showers often bring huge rainbows arching across the water.  If you’re forced to take shelter in one of the water side pubs with a Snowdonia ale, or a cosy cafe with hot chocolate and cake, its not such a hardship! Plenty of  dog friendly places are open too. There’s 365 day a year family activities at Coed y Brenin – thousands of acres of forest with miles of tracks for biking, walking, geocaching or just a good lunch while you watch the children on the excellent playground.  There’s a couple of mighty waterfalls here which are awesome after rain. Portmeirion is open daily and a wander through the Italianate village to the wild gardens by the sea is always a fantastical experience. Corris Mine Explorers is open all year whatever the weather – in fact it’s the best place to go if it rains! We’ve been on one of Mark “the Mole”‘s tours through this abandoned slate mine and it is thrilling and fascinating. Everyone we’ve sent there has come back and told us how much they had enjoyed themselves too. There’s still plenty of options for local places to eat out in the evening or you can stay in and self-cater with excellent produce from local independent shops.  Most of the boutique style shops in Dolgellau and Barmouth are open year round at weekends. You can check availability for self catering breaks here and for B & B here or call us on 01341 250482