Lake & Embers

Far from any neighbouring house, this Welsh cottage sits on the edge of Snowdonia with sweeping views across Llyn Tegid towards the Arenig mountains. A handmade kitchen and farmhouse table set the scene for long, unhurried evenings, with a woodburner and corner sofa to sink into afterwards. Outside, the covered terrace has a six-person hot tub, and a wood-fired sauna in the garden makes winding down effortless. The lake and the trails of Eryri National Park are right on the doorstep, but little ones might be happy to spend days waving at passing trains on the Bala Lake Heritage Railway.

Home truths:
* You'll need a car to make the most of this stay – the town of Bala is a short drive away and is the nearest spot for shops, cafes, and pubs. There are four parking spaces on the premises.
* At full occupancy, two guests will sleep on a sofa bed in bedroom one.
* Due to this home's remote location, you might find that the phone signal is patchy from time to time.
* For those with reduced mobility, there's a ground floor bedroom and bathroom here.
* A small railway runs behind this home, though this is a heritage line and not a high-speed railway.