Author: Watson Thomas

About: Watson is a Cardiff-born freelance writer who has written for everyone from The Times and the Independent Traveller to the South Wales Echo and Western Mail. Career highlight: going in search of (and finding) the Northern Lights in Norway.

From John le Carré to Miranda Hart via a host of top international musicians and the UK’s largest collection of second hand bookshops – the Hay Festival 2013 is gearing up to be the best one yet…

Hay Festival

Outstanding speakers not to be missed

In an unprecedented double-length interview, creator of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and countless other spy classics John le Carré makes his first visit to the festival and talks about his works to Philippe Sands. Meanwhile, this year’s library lecture is given by none other than Quentin Blake, whose long collaboration with Roald Dahl have confirmed him as Britain’s greatest artists. Plus, if you’re a sports fan, the batsman and former England Test captain Michael Vaughan will be previewing this summer’s ashes series.

Why so serious?

Lee Mack, Ruby Wax, Dara O’Briain, Miranda Hart and Alan Davies are just a few of the comic heavyweights with plans to have you keeling over with laughter during this year’s festival. On Sunday the 26th of May, acerbic-tongued food critic Giles Coren teaches how to avoid rip offs, offensive waiters and day-old food in his witty seminar How to Eat Out: lessons from a life lived mostly in restaurants.

Music to read books by

From internationally-known KT Tunstall’s first solo performance and indie giants Noah And The Whale to the dance inducing Manu Dibango, the Hay Festival promises to bring a variety of incredible musicians together. Welsh singer and guitarist Cerys Matthews will also be exploring the songs, lullabies and ballads that have been part of her family life for centuries.

Something for the kids…

If you thought the Hay festival was purely one for adults, you were wrong! Julia Donaldson will be bringing to life characters from The Highway Rat, The Singing Mermaid and, of course, The Gruffalo. If that weren’t enough, popular authors Gemma Malley, Caroline Green and Phil Earle will be talking about why they love the dark side of life – at least in their stories.

A few on-site extras

The Sky Den and Studio are just two of many on-site extras; a pair of cozy tents where there will be great performances ranging from spoken word performances to live music. Workshops will also be offered for creative writing throughout the tents combined with a tent devoted solely to free arts and crafts. Other offerings will be a bookshop (this is Hay-on-Wye, after all) and a “Mess Tent” for cooking during the festival.

HowTheLightGetsIn

HowTheLightGetsIn is the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, and this year is bigger than ever! With powerful talks from people such as Terry Eagleton, Lawrence Krauss and Diane Abbott, not to mention music from the likes of Utah Saints and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, this fringe fest is sure to entertain. For an authentic Welsh sound, be sure to check out the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir.

Of course, you’ll be needing accommodation

Felin Newydd

If there’s a large group of you, why not stay in the privacy of a luxury country Manor House, Felin Newydd for example. This beautiful manor can sleep up to 18 guests and sits snugly between Hay and Brecon. Smaller groups may want to check out Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages for everything from cosy bolt holes to cavernous converted cottages.

Food for thought…

It may not be the focus of the festival, but Hay’s selection of cafés and restaurants is just as impressive as the programme itself. True foodies should check out the likes of the Old Black Lion, The Swan Hotel, and The River Café, Glasbury while those needing a caffeine fix should check out Booths Bookshop. There’s also a local farmers market held in the Memorial Square on Thursdays between 8am and midday if you want to stock up on local produce.

Find out more about the Brecon Beacons.

Author: Sue Rice

Role: Wales Coast Path Project Manager,
Natural Resources Wales.
http://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk

What a difference a year makes

This time last year I seemed to be spending most of my time nervously checking the long range weather forecast praying for a dry day for May 5^th.
Why?  So that we could carry on with our plans to celebrate the opening of the Wales Coast Path (WCP). This year, as our attention turns to the first anniversary, luckily I don’t have to worry about wet weather contingencies, or deadlines to cancel!  It might still be a bit chilly, but at least we might get some sun.

We celebrated the opening with three great events in Flint Castle, Aberystwyth Prom and Cardiff Bay. All were well attended with good entertainment, and marked a huge milestone for Wales.
We had managed to achieve a world first by completing a path around the country’s entire coastline.  All 870 miles of it.  We’ve had some great press across the globe, and I even got interviewed on Radio 2’s Drive Time show by Simon Mayo!

However, the official opening wasn’t the end of the job for those of us working on the development of the WCP.  Work has continued over the last year to improve the alignment and quality of the Path, and this work will continue for some time.

In just one year…

We have been lucky to receive a further two years funding from Welsh Government for the ongoing development of the Path and users will see improvements as they walk the Path. I’m sure people wonder if investment in this sort of infrastructure project is worth it, but initial research covering the twelve months around the opening indicate that over 2.8 million people used the WCP, resulting in £16 million gross added value to the Welsh economy.  And that’s just in year one.
When you consider that the path only cost £14.75 million to develop over 6 years, then you start to see just how beneficial tourism is to Wales.

The beauty of the WCP is its diversity.  You don’t have to be a committed walker to use it – there is something for everyone from the flat Gwent Levels, to the rugged Pembrokeshire Coast; and from undefeated castles to unexpected wildlife encounters.  In order to maximise the potential benefits of the path we all need to work together to celebrate what Wales has to offer.  Like the Path, our coastline is varied, unique and beautiful and we need to be shouting about it from the roof tops.

We need to find innovative ways to market it, utilising new technologies.
This is something we are trying to do with the new Wales Coast App that will be launched at the end of May.
This new App will combine information about the WCP and our fantastic award winning beaches, celebrating all that is good about our coastline.  Another first as far as we are aware – come on Wales!

History on your phone as you walk the WCP!

As you follow the Wales Coast Path,  you can look out for HistoryPoints QR codes at places of interest. Just scan the code with a QR reader app on your smartphone to receive concise and fascinating facts about the building, structure, memorial, wildlife or landscape in front of you. This is the first QR tour of its kind on any long-distance trail in the world and can even show you how to pronounce tricky Welsh place names.

Wales Coast Path Wallpaper

To celebrate the one year anniversary of the Wales Coast Path, our free monthly wallpaper features Ceibwr Bay in the Pembrokeshire National Park.
For this, and many other wallpapers, visit http://bit.ly/WalesWallpapers

Find out more about QR codes on the WCP
Find out more about the Wales Coast Path

Machynlleth Comedy Festival, 3 – 5 May

Now in its fourth year the Machynlleth Comedy Festival has quickly gained a reputation as a real hidden gem, this year featuring as-seen-on-TV comedy acts such as Sarah Millican, Josh Widdicombe and Stewart Lee.  Other acts in the star studded line-up include Sara Pascoe, Richard Herring, and Mark Thomas. The town is known for its quirky venues, which helps to make it popular with both the acts and audience alike. There will also be a line-up of Welsh language comedy acts.

Ffestiniog Railway Steam 150, 3 -6 May

Steam 150 is a big event to celebrate 150 years of steam on the Ffestiniog Railway, from the humble horse to the the arrival of the steam train to North West Wales and the rest of the world. The event consists of ‘Preparation day’ on the Friday, followed by ‘Horses to England Engines’ on Saturday, ‘Global Narrow-Gauge Expansion’ on Sunday and ‘Ultimate Narrow-Gauge – Grande Finale’ on the Monday.

Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza, 4 -6 May

Over the May bank holiday weekend Llandudno will be packed full of Steam Engines and Victorian Musical Organs, Vintage Cars and Costumes, Curiosities & Sideshows, people dressed as they were back in the Victorian days, and Victorian sideshows.

This year’s entertainment includes The George Formby Entertainers, Absolute Magic Jay Gatling, HTC Entertainers, and Mr Alexanders Travelling Show, and at 12pm each day there will be a Grand Parade full of Marching Bands, Victorian Costume walkers, Steam engines and vintage vehicles, Britain’s best Town Criers, stilt walkers, street entertainers, and Star Wars characters.

Welsh Highland Railway Beer Festival, 17 – 19 May

The Welsh Highland Railway Society’s Ninth Real Ale Festival, Railale, will comprise an eclectic mix of a fine selection of real ales and ciders, combined with a variety of music, fine food and of course steam hauled trains. There will be a large selection of beers available at the festival’s main site at Dinas, including a wide range of new beers to choose from and a selection from Porthmadog’s Purple Moose brewery.

Snowdonia Slateman Triathlon, 19 May

This trail triathlon is said to have achieved cult status in the two years it has been running, due to its excellent route and stunning views. The two race options will be the Full Slateman (1000m/51km/11km) or Slateman Sprint (400m/20km/6km), and team relay categories are also available for both distances.

The race venue is the stunning village of Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon. This will be the first in the 2013 series, which will also include the Anglesey Sandman Tri and Snowman Winter Tri.

Hay Festival, 23 May – 2 June

The Hay Festival in Wales is a gathering in the staggering beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park, which for the past 26 years has brought together writers from around the world to debate and share stories. The Hay festival, founded in 1987, celebrates the written word attracting all types of writers from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists, environmentalists and musicians to inspire, delight and entertain.

Welsh Perry & Cider Festival, 24 – 27 May

The 12^th Welsh Perry and Cider Festival takes place this May in the new venue of Caldicot Castle.  The festival starts on Friday evening and ends on Monday with a day aimed at families, offering lots of fun and games.  There will be live music and entertainment all weekend, and a huge selection of cider and perry to try.

Beaumaris Arts Festival, 24 – 30 May

The Beaumaris Festival presents an exciting and varied programme of events to appeal to a wide audience. Acts include actor Timothy West, the Pavao String Quartet, jazz singer Tina Mayand baritone Gary Griffiths.

Welsh Open Stoneskimming Championships, 26 May

Although most people have tried it at some time in their life, stoneskimming is now considered a competitive sport and not just a game. Why not have a go and see how far you can bounce your stone across the water. There will be other stone themed events too, which should provide a cracking day-out in the heart of the Welsh Countryside, and the afternoon will also feature a “head to head” contest between Ron Long, the current British “Old Tosser” Champion, and Dougie Isaacs, the current World Champion.

Urdd National Eisteddfod, 27 May – 3 June

The Urdd National Eisteddfod is one of Europe’s biggest youth touring festivals, and will this year be visiting Pembrokeshire and the small village of Boncath. Over 15,000 children and young people will be competing during the Eisteddfod week in various competitions such as singing, dancing and performing.  The large pavilion is the heart of the Eisteddfod and where all the competitions are held. Surrounding the pavilion will be 200 colourful stalls and a range of activities for the family, from biking, climbing and sport sessions to a fun fair, live bands and celebrity children’s shows.

Search for more events

Discover what other events and festivals are taking place during the spring.

Golf Live 2013 offers an unrivalled range of interactive theatres, where visitors can see the world’s greatest golfers show their talent, pick up on top tips from industry experts and try out the latest equipment.

Golf Live 2013 will also host The Celebrity Cup, which will see 24 celebrities battle it out over two days representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at Celtic Manor Resort to claim the inaugural Celebrity Cup.

Six celebrities will play on each team in a round robin format with each team playing against each other. The format will be four ball better ball challenge over nine holes with teams accumulating points from each hole allowing for maximum viewing excitement. The holes will be a composite course of the Montgomerie and the Roman Road courses. The culmination of the event will be on Sunday afternoon when the top two teams from the previous rounds will play off for the title with the prize giving being presented by none other than Ant and Dec alongside the event ambassador Colin Montgomerie.

Tickets for Golf Live and The Celebrity Cup start from just £15 for adults, £5 for children, with free entrance for under 3 year olds. For more information on Golf Live, visit www.golfliveevent.com .

Enter our prize draw!

Visit Wales, as official destination partner, have 50 day tickets to give away for any day 10-12 May 2013.  For your chance to get your hands on one of these tickets, just fill out the form below:-

Sorry, this competition has now closed.

Terms and Conditions apply.

Find out more about Golf in Wales.

Despite dividing her time between cities, contributor Annabel Herrick is a proud Brecon Beacons native and keen cyclist (along her humble village canal or competing with buses on Manchester’s busy roads). You’re also likely to find her looking at or attempting to do art, practicing yoga or eating welsh cakes.

Have a go with guided rides

The festival is offering a variety of rides from £5-£15 for the opportunity to explore the local area in the safe hands of local cyclists who are keen to show you the sights. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking to test your skills on the slopes of the Black Mountains, simply amble along the cider county’s quaint villages ending the day with a pub lunch, or you’d rather immerse yourself in the twist and turns of the beautiful Bwlch Forest Centre, there is something for everyone.

Brecon Beacons (photo: Hay Tourism)

Improve your Bikeability

If you don’t feel ready to hop straight on the saddle, come along to the workshops and build up the courage to grow as a confident rider for just £3 per person. Based on the DFT’s guidelines these sessions are offered to beginners or those who feel they need a little kick-start to venture out onto the roads.

Get stuck in with Cyclocross

Great for any ability, feel free to bring along your own trusty bike and all you need is £2 in your pocket to get ready for a challenge on this short but demanding course. See if you can manage to power through the mud, completing laps over grassy humps while avoiding delving into the ditches. Remember to mind the barriers!

Dig up our old bike bits in the Funky Junk workshops

On the grounds of the Hay Castle you can leave the kids with us as they help us revamp our old chains, tyres and even saddles into beautiful creations; perhaps a clock for the house or even a pair of earrings for mum. This is a great chance to get the kids involved in this eco-friendly project to transform these rusty parts into a great gift with a personal touch.

Up your game with the demo bikes

This is definitely one for those cyclists wanting to upgrade to a more sophisticated model. Bike aficionados are free to come and try out the impressive award-winning bikes designed by high-end brands such as Merida or Commencal and see if they can’t tickle your fancy.

DIY with Bamboo Bicycle Club

Bamboo Bicycle Club

London-based cycle gurus ‘Bamboo Bicycle Club’ are running weekend workshops where they’ll teach you the skills you need to build your own bike. They’ll be running a stand at the festival demonstrating the process of making one of their bikes and giving festivalgoers the chance to try their hand at some bamboo craft.

A few self-catering accommodation suggestions…

Let Brecon Beacon Holiday Cottages give your tired legs a well-deserved rest in some of the best self-catering holiday homes Wales has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a romantic haven for two, such as Beacons View cottage which houses quirky antiques and mesmerizing views over the hills, or for a raucous family home-from-home you could settle into The Birches, a secluded four bed farmhouse.

Or perhaps a stylish B&B…

If you’re after something more stylish look no further than a stay at The Bear Bed and Breakfast. The bedrooms are each uniquely designed (double or en-suite) and you will wake up to a locally sourced, traditional cooked breakfast to fuel your day of cycling.

Find out more about the Brecon Beacons and cycling in Wales.

Don’t let the weather reports put you off, there’s still loads going on in North Wales this Easter.

Here’s a quick run down of some of the best places to go and things to see and do over the long weekend:

GREAT THINGS TO DO

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways - Two unique narrow gauge railways with a fascinating past

Wales Coast Path – Take a long or short hike along the coast.

DELICIOUS FOOD 

Dylans Rataurant – Contemporary restaurant right on the waterfront in Menai Bridge

Maram Grass Café – Award winning Bistro on the front at Newborough,  Isle of Anglesey

Talardy Hotel St.Asaph, on A55 – Open for rotisserie speciality dining and brand new rooms

Riverside Restaurant at Chainbridge Hotel Llangollen

NEW PLACES TO STAY

Plas Rhianfa Country House Hotel – Live the life of luxury in a newly refurbished chateau style hotel

Pentre Mawr Llandyrnog, Vale of Clwyd - Glamping in safari tents with all high end luxury mod cons

Manor House Hotel Llangollen – Contemporary boutique style hotel in town – where Wales meets the world

Rhuthin Castle Hotel - New luxury spa and boutique bed rooms

EASTER FAMILY FUN

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways – Two unique narrow gauge railways with a fascinating past

Anglesey Arts Forum – Traditional and contemporary craft at a number of locations across the Isle of Anglesey

Easter Eggstravaganza at Greenwood Forest Park near Bangor and Welsh Mountain Zoo Colwyn Bay

Easter craft fair at Erddig (National Trust property) near Wrexham. Hand made crafts

New Winter Garden at Bodnant Gardens

Portmeirion - North Wales’ unique coastal resort

NATIONAL TRUST EASTER EVENTS

29 March-1 April - Easter trails in Chirk Castle

30 March - Easter fun at Penrhyn Castle

31 March – Cadbury’s eggtravaganza atPlas Newydd

Find out more about North Wales and Easter in Wales

Rhosygilwen’s Music Without Frontiers Festival, 29 March – April 1

Do something completely different this Easter. Spend daytimes exploring the beautiful countryside and coastline of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and enjoy a packed programme of entertainment in the evenings at Rhosygilwen’s Music Without Frontiers Festival of music, dance, food and stories.

Porthcawl Jazz Festival, 5 – 7 April

Named Jazz on The Sands, this year’s Porthcawl Jazz Festival offers one of the best line-ups to date including The Kenny Ball Jazzmen, internationally acclaimed Chris Dean Trio of Syd Lawrence Orchestra fame, trumpet master Digby Fairweather, B D Lenz claimed to be one of the best US jazz guitarists, rising saxophone star Simon Spillett, international flautist Eddie Parker, The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Big Band, The Dave Cottle Quartet with Oliver Nezhati, and Sicknote Steve.

The Laugharne Weekend, 5 -7 April

The Laugharne Weekend is 3 days of talks, music, poetry and prose. This year’s line-up includes Sir Peter Blake, Mark Thomas, Caitlin Moran, and Tracey Thorn.  Other acts include a live theatre performance and a cartoonist drawing pictures of Dylan Thomas. There will also be a food fair at Laugharne Castle on the 6^th and 7^th.

 Countryside Challenge, 6 April

Spend the day in the great outdoors at Loggerheads Park solving clues, following trails and having fun against the clock to complete the countryside challenge. There will be a prize for the family that completes the challenge in the fastest time. There will be the choice of either a shorter challenge or a longer, more difficult challenge suited to families with older children. Later in the month Loggerheads will also host an Abseil Challenge on 27 April.

Rally North Wales, 6 – 7 April

Rally North Wales will be the opening round of the 2013 British Rally Championship with its 53^rd rally over two days, based in Welshpool.  The event offers a thrilling day out for competitors and spectators alike with nail biting fast action across all stages.

Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, 8 – 12 April

Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is all about encouraging and supporting independent film and cinema in Wales, the UK and Internationally. Now in its second year the 5 day festival will show more than 60 films, with a hefty prize available to the best film of the festival. So pop along to Stradey Park to be inspired and entertained.

Real Ale Trail, 13 April

The Real Ale Trail is a beer festival with a difference. Visit proper Welsh pubs based in Flintshire’s beautiful countryside, then move on to the next by bus. While away a day rediscovering the charm of authentic Welsh pubs and unique real ales, without having to worry about who’s driving. Also, step aboard the real ale train at Llangollen railway featuring a well stocked bar and free drink.

RHS Flower Show Cardiff, 19 – 21 April

Get down to Bute Park for three days of everything flowers and plants. There will be floral marquees and a plant village both bursting with beautiful plants & specialist nurseries and a show gardens full of design ideas.  Activities for all the family include arts and crafts, make a bee hotel, fossil hunting, tree climbing, a chance to plant seeds, and an owl sanctuary.

Wonderwool Wales, 27 – 28 April

The Royal Welsh Show Ground in Builth Wells plays host again to Wonderwool Wales, a wool and natural fibre festival.  There will be exhibitors and trade stands covering all aspects of Felting, Knitting, Weaving, Spinning & Crochet along with Textile Art with raw materials, equipment, books and finished product.  There are also demonstrations and a selection of fibre animals on display including sheep, alpacas and angora rabbits.

Search for more events

Discover what other events and festivals are taking place during the spring.

This match is a repeat of the first international cricket game to be held in Wales in 1973, when Swansea’s ground hosted the contest. The clash this June between these two nations, who know each so well, is sure to be another tough test for England, as they look to continue their unbeaten record in Cardiff and repeat their victory of 40 years ago.

Tickets for ICC Champions Trophy start from just £20 for adults, £10 for Under 21s and £5 for juniors under 16 years of age.
For more information on the ICC Champions Trophy visit www.icc-cricket.com or follow #ct13 on twitter for the latest updates.

Enter our prize draw!

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, just fill out the form below:

The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and food hygiene across the UK.

These days we’re all more conscious of what we’re eating and making the right choices.
But how can you do the same when you eat out?
You can’t tell the hygiene of an eatery by the food, interior design or even the cost.
But there’s no need to guess any more, as the Food Standards Agency, in partnership with Local Authorities, has introduced a simple food hygiene rating scheme.
Think of it as a way to see inside the restaurant kitchens and get some ‘behind the scenes’ information.
And you might be surprised by some of the results.
It’s possible that a cheap takeaway might have a higher food hygiene rating than a smart, expensive restaurant!

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Each business is inspected by a local authority food safety officer and given a hygiene rating between 0 and 5.
The top rating of 5 means a business has ‘very good’ hygiene standards and every outlet should be able to reach this.
These ratings are now available for you to search and check on the FSA website and app.
And look out for the distinctive green and black sticker in the window of your favourite restaurants.
Display is voluntary however, so some restaurants may choose not to show their rating.

Check before you choose

So whether you’re meeting friends for a leisurely pub lunch, grabbing a quick snack in a cafe or planning a meal for a special family occasion, check out your choices first by visiting food.gov.uk/ratings.
We recommend you choose restaurants or takeaways with the higher ratings.
And when you’re out and about, it’s not too late to check with the food hygiene rating app.
It’s free to download, so why not look up your local restaurants now? It’s quite addictive.

Go to food.gov.uk/ratings and check out your local restaurant or download the app
for free from the FSA website (or search for `food hygiene rating’ in the app store) available on both Apple and Android devices.

Do some exploring and take in a bit of heritage too

Visit a National Trust Property or Cadw site during the Easter break and you’ll find lots of exciting events lined up for kids, and a great day out for the adults too. The National Trust have teamed up with Cadbury to organise a series of Easter egg hunts across the UK. Visit Dinefwr Park and Castle, Llanerchaeron, or Dolaucothi Gold Mines to take part in a trail and have your face painted too.

Take a family holiday at a resort

Take some of the stress out of the Easter half term holidays by taking a holiday where everything you need is on site. Bluestone are offering an Easter break package which includes lots of activities for the kids including an Easter egg treasure hunt, and Easter egg delivery service where your egg gets delivered to your lodge by an Easter bunny, and Easter bonnet lantern making craft workshop.

Or if you want to head to the North, how about Pontins at Prestatyn Sands where there are lots of great events on over the Easter holidays including The Shaolin Warriers, as seen on Britain’s Got talent, and one of the nation’s favourite bears, Sooty, live on stage.

Visit a farm attraction

There are plenty of farm attractions all over Wales that offer a great day out for all the family.  With a wide range of animals including traditional farm animals, more exotic animals and pets in need of a cuddle, they’ll be something to put a smile of everyone’s face.

In North Wales, try Bodafon Park Farm in Llandudno, Foel Farm Park on Anglesey, or Greenacres Animal Park in Deeside.  Or if you’re heading for Mid Wales try Fantasy Farm Park in Llanrhystud, Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, or Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Crymch.

There is a large choice of animal attractions in South Wales, and some of the best include Folly Farm in Kilgetty, Greenmeadow Community Farm in Torfaen or Cefn Mably Farm Park near Cardiff, and Walnut Tree Farm Park in Newport.

Or really get into the Easter spirit and visit a rabbit farm. If you are in Mid Wales pop along to Machinations rabbit village in Llanbrynmair, where the rabbits live in luxury accommodation with their own mini town. Or head North a bit and visit Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit Farm on the LLyn Peninsular, which is great for family day out.

Take a break in a remote holiday cottage

Easter is all about that ‘spring’ feeling and as the clocks will have just gone forward there will be lots of extra daylight to explore some wonderful Welsh scenery. The best way to do this?  Stay in a remote cottage right in the heart of Wales’ most magnificent countryside.  How about Isallt Bach on the Llyn Peninsular, Ty’r Beudynear Machynlleth, or even Tai Isaf Holiday Cottage in Bala which is only accessible by 4×4 or Penrhyn Cottage in Pembrokeshire which has no electricity!  Check out more self-catering cottages or search our accommodation database.

Visit our Easter 2013 page for more ideas for the Easter weekend.