Best luxury and boutique hotels, B&Bs in North Wales

‘I would love to keep it to myself, but I thought I should share the good news.

At the top of one of the world’s steepest streets, Glyn and Jacqueline Roberts’s restaurant-with-rooms occupies two 16th-century buildings above Edward I’s formidable castle (faint hearts, take the High Street route).

Plas Tan-Yr-Allt, Porthmadog

Surrounded by gardens and ancient woodland, with views over the Glaslyn estuary to the Rhinog mountains, this late Georgian villa-turned-B&B revels in its rich history.

Y Goeden Eirin, Caernarfon

Sandwiched between Snowdonia and the Menai estuary, this B&B in a converted granite cowshed celebrates both its Welsh heritage and its eco credentials.

Empire Hotel, Llandudno

On the promenade, this small, family-owned hotel is furnished with ‘impressive grandeur’, from the ‘splendid’ public rooms, all oil paintings and gilded mirrors, to the sea-facing suites on its upper floors.

Plas Dinas Country House, Caernarfon

‘Wow! This is the most wonderful country house,’ writes a reader.

Dolffanog Fawr, Tywyn

Few guest houses have as magnificent a mise en scène as this one in Snowdonia, set among pretty lawned gardens, with views across sheep-filled pastures to Tal-y-llyn lake and Cader Idris.

Coes Faen, Barmouth

On the edge of Snowdonia, with 30 acres of gardens overlooking the Mawddach estuary, lies one of the most innovative, eco-friendly hotels in the UK.

Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, Nant Gwynant

Built in 1810, this ‘eccentric’ hotel at the foot of Snowdonia retains the spirit of a mountaineers’ hostel, along with a wealth of memorabilia commemorating mountaineering’s golden age.

Pale Hall, Bala

In a woodland garden that stretches to the River Dee, this historic Victorian manor is today a sumptuous hotel rich in antiques and fine original features.

Escape, Llandudno

There’s a touch of fun at Sam Nayar and Gaenor Loftus’s design-conscious B&B, in a white stucco Victorian villa just up the street from the Great Orme Tramway.

The Kinmel Arms, Abergele

Well placed for walks in countryside and along the coast, this Elwy valley inn (Tir Prince group) stands around the corner from the parish church, in a small village surrounded by green fields.

Sandy Mount House, Rhosneigr

A beach-house vibe breezes through Louise and Phil Goodwin’s restaurant-with-rooms, in a seaside village on the Anglesey Coast Path.

Tyddyn Llan, Corwen

The views roll out over the Vale of Edeyrnion to the Berwyn mountains, and provide a backdrop for the ‘superb’ food served in this restaurant-with-rooms.

The Bull – Beaumaris, Beaumaris

In a lively seaside town known equally for its medieval castle and its ice cream parlour, this ancient coaching inn is today a ‘friendly’ hotel with updated bedrooms, a stylish restaurant, and a well-preserved pub whose wonky doors, open fireplace and old photographs create much atmosphere.

Hotel Portmeirion, Portmeirion

Amid the architectural astonishment that is Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis’s Italianate village, on the edge of a tidal estuary, this early Victorian villa is today a ‘comfortably furnished’ hotel run with ‘friendly, welcoming’ staff.

Ty’n Rhos, Llanddeiniolen

On a secluded farmstead, the Murphy family’s ‘friendly’ hotel is in ‘lovely countryside’ overlooking the Isle of Anglesey.

The Druid Inn, Llanferres

Close to Offa’s Dyke Path, this unpretentious country pub, a ‘friendly’ gathering spot for locals, is a ‘lovely’ find.

Y Meirionnydd, Dolgellau

In a town of granite and slate, Marc Russell and Nicholas Banda’s handsome, contemporary restaurant-with-rooms makes a fine base for expeditions in Snowdonia national park.

Hotels nearby

The big outdoors and cosy hotels in North Wales

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For those seeking adventure, North Wales offers everything from the world’s longest zip wire allowing you to fly through the skies of Snowdonia, to the man-made lagoon in Conwy Valley featuring a wave machine and all the facilities you need to learn to surf. Outdoor pursuits including high ropes, racing circuits, rock climbing and abseiling, horse riding, quad biking, mountain biking and clay pigeon shooting are all available as ways of exploring the beautiful surroundings. Meanwhile, golf and fishing remain some of the most enjoyable activities - particularly if the weather is well suited to the occasion.

The beaches in North Wales really are a marvel. With 250 miles of coastline, they are available in abundance, framed by dramatic cliffs and with a remote feeling of seclusion and peace. Colwyn Bay beach’s claim to fame is that it has a longer coastline than Rio’s Copacabana beach, and the popular seaside resorts of Rhyl and Llandudno continue to please. Anglesey’s beaches are a particular delight, and here there is a wealth of history to add to their intrigue, with churches and lighthouses nearby to explore and learn about.

When it comes to hotels, there is a traditional rustic beauty to those available - Plas Bodegroes has the most spectacular gardens surrounding the postcard perfect house, while Trefeddian Hotel overlooking Cardigan Bay is a magical place for a family holiday with lots of space to run around and go wild, and the warmest of welcomes when you return after your adventure.

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Hotels in North Wales

Hotels in North Wales

Hotels nearby

The big outdoors and cosy hotels in North Wales

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