Wales: perfect for a self-catering holiday

I love the freedom that self-catering getaways provide. If you want to holiday on a budget, this is the type of break you should go on. You can save loads of money by making packed lunches and cooking in the kitchen, as well as using your BBQ.

You might not think to pack your Weber portable when holidaying in the UK, but consider all the lovely meals you can have in the crisp autumn air. One of my favourite places for a staycation is Wales, especially due to its brilliant national parks.

There are three in total – Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and the Brecon Beacons. All in all, they cover around a fifth of the country, so you’ll easily find a secluded spot for you and your family and friends to enjoy some quality time together.

Snowdonia is Wales’s largest and oldest national park, after being given national park status in 1951. With 90 mountain peaks, 100 lakes and 37 miles of coast, it’s definitely the place to come to if you love your outdoor activities. I really enjoy kayaking and think it’s a brilliant sport. It isn’t too taxing and means you can glide across a dazzling lake while admiring the scenery.

Another way to appreciate the beauty of Snowdonia National Park is to go on a 9-mile bike ride from Dolgellau to Morfa Mawddach on the Mawddach Trail. Cycling is fantastic for all ages and abilities, so even if you only do a section of the complete route, you will still be rewarded by the lovely autumn air and changing scenery.

Your hard work will also be rewarded when you get back to your self-catering accommodation and fire up your Weber BBQ. You can fill up on burgers and bangers in the crisp autumn air and enjoy a steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always try and look for self-catering lodges and cottages with an open fire, as that also makes me feel cosy.

The Pembrokeshire Coast was the next recognised national park, having been given the title in 1952. If you want to go fishing for lots of food to throw on your grill, this is the place to do so, as it’s the only national park in Britain that is mainly coastal. In fact, it spans 240 sq miles of Wales’s west coast, so you can easily find a secluded spot to settle down with your rod.

Finally, the third national park in Wales is the Brecon Beacons, and this received its status in 1957. Its sandstone bluffs were created more than 470 million years ago, and in combination with the Brecon Beacons’ lakes and valleys, make it a stunning part of the country to book a self-catering break in.

Walking and hiking are popular here, but I like the sound of exploring the area by horse. This is one of the available activities in the park and I think it’s a lovely way to see the stunning scenery from a different perspective. There’s also the option to go caving thanks to the geological features of the Brecon Beacons, with huge expanses of limestone stretching for miles.

If you’ve gone on a self-catering break in Wales before, where did you go and what were your favourite bits?

 

Last updated by logcabins at 21/11/2012.