The Main House

The 3-bedroomed main house, also known as Moel y Geifr after the nearest hill, has a chic and classic cottage feel, with its vast inglenook, chess-tiled floors, white-dressed sofas and olive-painted casement windows in the living-dining-kitchen area. There's a local oak dining table too, plus a TV with sound system, and the obligatory woodburner (with a vast basket of logs).

In the well equipped kitchen you'll find a good-size fridge-freezer, a chest-height oven, dishwasher and plenty of crockery, pans and utensils. The owners spend some of their own family summer hols here, so it's well stocked and kept.

Stairs lead up to 3 cosy bedrooms - 2 doubles and 1 triple (bunk beds) - all of them simple and calming, with thick walls, stone niches, bright woollen blankets – and not much else besides. One bedroom has an ensuite shower room, and there's a family bathroom with tub for the other two.

But the trump card here is surely the airy timber-framed conservatory, with its walls of glass bringing those long sea views in. With more sofas here, another dining table and a TV, it's handy if your family has divided eating or entertainment schedules.

The Old Farmhouse

Tucked 50 yards away facing the hills, the 2-bedroomed farmhouse feels more like a beautifully and cleverly converted barn. Its double height living area has glass gables to bring the light in, as well as underheated slate floors, oak and glass-panelled stairs, and a more contemporary feel. It is split at the rear into an airy double bedroom with four-poster bed and bathroom (wetroom with electric shower only) on the upper level, and an L-shaped kitchen area downstairs.

Do note that all of this part – including the bedroom – is open-plan with no dividing walls, so we think it's best for a couple or a small family, rather than friends travelling together. There's also a smaller second double room with its own little bathroom on the ground floor. You could happily book this house as a couple (and not use the second bedroom); we think it would make a rather wonderful romantic escape.

Activities

• Hiking trails lead from your doorstep up to the unpronounceably beautiful Moel Ysgyfarnogod (the stone circle at Bryn Cader Faner is utterly magical!), or down to Harlech and the beaches
  
• While in Harlech, climb to its hilltop castle, one of four built by Edward I, and still impressive 700 years later
  
• Drive 30 mins to the lovely lake of Cwm Bychan, where a Roman stepped path leads up to the gnarled summits of the Rhinogs - a lovely lung-cleanser, with rocks to scramble and tarns to plunge into
  
• Mts. Snowdon and Cader Idris are also within easy striking distance - but be prepared (heaven forbid) to meet other walkers
  
• The seemingly endless sands of Cardigan Bay are great for beach games, jogging, dog-walking or horse-riding
  
• Ride the Ffestiniog steam railway - trains depart twice a day and there's a woodland walk from the halfway stop to a pretty lake
  
• We enjoyed strolling through the quirky Italianate pastiche village of Portmeirion, famous for its pottery
  
• The area is also great for mountain biking, zip wires, canyoning, slate caves and kayaking

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and the houses would make a lovely escape for an outdoorsy family. There are enclosed gardens, books and jigsaws, WiFi, and satellite TV.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

For a couple with one or two children, the smaller Old Farmhouse is a great option, if you don't mind the open-plan layout. For a larger family, or possibly two families with up to 3 children between them, the Main House works well. It has 3 bedrooms (2 doubles and a triple). Cots aren't provided, but you can bring a travel cot.

Distances:

• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Snowdonia Hideaways are located high in the Rhinog hills above Harlech, in north Wales, within the Snowdonia National Park.

By Car
You'll need a car, as it's 5 miles from the nearest town (Harlech) for provisions and eateries. The cottages are about 3 hours' drive from Manchester or Birmingham, 4 hours from Bristol and 5 hours from London.

By Train
There is a train station at Harlech (5 miles, with taxis) and another smaller one at Talsarnau (3 miles), which can be handy if some of your group are arriving by train.

By Air
If flying to the UK, the nearest airports are Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham (2-3 hours' drive); London Heathrow is 4.5 hours' drive.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.