With the Bank Holiday fast approaching and the annual school
shopping frenzy almost upon us; we think everyone deserves a
break.
We've compiled a list of the best things to do, see and eat
this Bank Holiday and the reasons why a last-minute trip to North
Wales can offer everything you're after - even if you're not sure
what that is yet!
Smash The Perception
North Wales isn't as far away as you think!
For many, the obvious choice for a summer holiday in the British
Isles is to head down the M5. Why not try something
different? Forget (the rather busy) South West and escape to
North Wales instead with no extra travel time - and perhaps even
less.
A direct train from London to Bangor takes just over 3 hours -
enough time to finish work in the big smoke and be sitting on the
beach enjoying a sundowner as the sun disappears on the
horizon!
Manchester is just 2 hours away by car or train and Chester and
Liverpool are even closer.
The Seafood
It's always made me chuckle how, despite being an island nation,
we choose to eat very little seafood, instead opting to deprive
ourselves of this fantastically healthy and abundant food for 90%
of the year and then feasting on it whilst on holiday as if it's
the last piece on earth.
Not here, not now. It's the height of the lobster and crab
season at the moment and you'll find both (locally caught and
delicious) in most good restaurants along the coast. We're also
entering the mussel season and so local fishermen are in full swing
getting the freshest shells onto your plates.
Not so keen on shellfish? Not to worry, local restaurants
certainly aren't shellfish (I'm not proud of that one!), and will
also be dishing up fresh fish such as Hake, Mackerel and Plaice;
all of which are in season at the moment. Try Dylans, The Marram Grass, The Boathouse, The
Dining Room or The
White Eagle to name but a few of the best restaurants
serving fresh, local seafood this Bank Holiday.
A Little Fear Goes A Long Way
It's long been argued that this most basic of survival instincts
is what keeps us alive. In this day and age though, I think fear
and the accompanying adrenaline high we get from being pushed
outside of our comfort zone is what makes us feel alive. It's the
distinction between existing and living, the distinction between
being alive and feeling alive!
North Wales has for so long been a playground for adrenaline
junkies in-the-know but it's now well and truly opened it's doors
to the masses. Everyone from children to grandparents can now come
and get their adrenaline fix in North Wales, and it doesn't have to
be life and death stuff - just good old fashioned fun for
everyone.
Take the plunge coasteering around the dramatic Welsh coastline,
go white water rafting down our biggest and best rivers or try
kayaking and paddleboarding in quiet coves and mountain lakes.
Speaking of 'fight or flight' why not take to the skies with Europe's longest,
and the World's fastest, zip-line, or step into the unknown at
Bounce
Below - an underground cave network lit up and rigged with
several layers of giant trampolines and slides (pictured
above).
The latest addition to our outdoors playground is Surf
Snowdonia - a fresh water wave-garden the size of 6
football pitches, in the heart of the Conwy Valley. This is the
World's first inland wave lagoon, complete with water obstacle
course, 'blobbing', a cafe-bar, shops and viewing galleries… not
something you want to miss (pictured below).
Come and get involved - you'll go home feeling
invigorated and re-motivated I promise!
Quality Time in Quality Places - For Less
Take a few days off and catch-up with friends or family that you
haven't seen in a while, or perhaps haven't had much quality
time with recently. One of the joys of North Wales is it's laid
back, slightly slower pace of life which gives you the time to do
to the things you love, with the people you love.
Alongside the excitement of the above activities, we've beaches
galore (often empty!), scenic walks, fantastic eateries and
picturesque villages - the perfect recipe for some quality time
'mooching' about, relaxing and catching-up with friends. When was
the last time you did that?
"we only choose cottages that we would holiday in
ourselves"
It's important to pick the right cottage if you're going to have
some down-time relaxing, reading a book or playing board games
(they do still exist) during your stay and we're confident with our
hands-on approach that we'll find the perfect cottage for you,
without breaking the bank…
As we approach the Bank Holiday, many of our cottages that
aren't yet booked are offering special offers or short breaks that
don't cost the earth. Visit our Special Offers page to check
them out and don't forget to give us a call if you have any
questions!