Just outside the eastern boundary of Snowdonia, Waenfechan Glamping may not be within the national park but its location is arguably better. From the River Conwy, two miles below, climb up the sloping valley, past the National Trust’s renowned, 80-acre Bodnant Garden and there, above it all, is the glamping site itself sitting like a natural viewing point on the family-run farm. To the west the national park unfurls itself in corrugated glory, while north Conwy castle is hidden behind hills that slip into the Conwy estuary, backed by Llandudno’s Great Orme and the Irish Sea beyond.
While the views, the farm setting and the local footpaths are certainly a key attraction, Waenfechan’s Hideaway Pods are real things of beauty in their own right. Modern and angular, they are fronted by sliding glass doors that face west towards the mountains, while a wooden deck outside makes the perfect spot for a sunset drink. Inside, an L-shaped sofa pulls out into a double bed, with a television above for rainy evenings, and there’s a compact kitchen space and en-suite bathroom too. To top it off, each of the two-person pods has its own private hot tub, where you can steam away to your heart’s content as the sun sinks between the clutches of Tal y Fan and 3,000-foot Foel Fras in the distance.
If you can tear yourself away from the bubbles and fluffy bathrobes, there’s a great circular walking route directly from the farm. The three-and-a-half-mile Hiraethlyn Walk takes you around the perimeter of Bodnant Garden below and also, handily, includes the village pub too. It’s the more gentle option if you fancy a warm up before the big peaks of Snowdonia. A drive 20-minutes north to the seaside is also a must. The juxtaposition of walled, castle-topped little Conwy, with it’s dinghy-dotted bay and Britain’s tiniest house, compared with the tradition Victorian seaside town of Llandudno, home to amusements on the pier and a vast, wide promenade makes for a lovely mix. From the latter, you can take walk, take a cable car or ride on the old tram up to the peak of the Great Orme headland. Soak up the view, look back on the beaches and, if you squint, you might just be able to see Waenfechan Glamping in the distance too.
It takes around 15 minutes to drive north to Llandudno Junction, from where you can head out to the eponymous seaside town and explore the Great Orme limestone headland, or cross the River Conwy into the quaint county town. Overlooked by grand Conwy Castle, this snug, walled, waterside town is a delight, with plenty of good eateries and independent shops. It doesn't take long to circumnavigate the entire city walls (you have to come off the wall tops at the railway line, but otherwise you have wall-top views the whole way around). Conwy is also home to the UK's 'smallest house' (01492 573965). Measuring 72 inches across, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep, it manages to squeeze in a bedroom and a living area (with very basic cooking facilities), and whilst more suited to one, it did have couples living in it in the 19th century. If you choose the Great Orme instead, there's excellent walking or you can ride the Great Orme Tramway. Elswhere, Surf Snowdonia (01492 353123) – the world's first inland surf lagoon – is within 15 minutes drive and it's only a tad further to Snowdonia's most popular attraction Zip World. Needless to say, though, it's the hiking, biking and breath-taking scenery of Snowdonia National Park that is the main (and free) attraction for most!
If you're not cooking in your lodge's kitchen, there are a number of good eateries within striking distance. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, The Bee Inn (01492 650291) in Eglwsybach serves excellent stone-baked pizzas and a fabulous Sunday lunch, while the 17th-century Holland Arms (01492 650777) is the best choice for a pint in the sun – it has a substantial beer garden with stunning views and the local beer from Conwy Brewery and Orme Brewery. The Tal Y Cafn (01492 650016) is a 200-year-old coaching in turned modern bistro, which makes for an atmospheric setting for excellent food and, for the most local of local dishes, try The Hayloft (01492 651102), where award-winning cheeses and ice creams are homemade in their on-site dairy and the bread is handmade daily in the farm shop bakery.