Location

The cottages are about 1.5 miles from the coastal town of Criccieth with its spectacular castle and wide, safe beach - located within a private estate called Eisteddfa. Criccieth has the best of both worlds as far as the weather is concerned. The long arm of the Lleyn Peninsula shelters it from the worst of the prevailing weather from the west; it also traps the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to create a climate completely different from that of the mountains inland.

The Criccieth Musical Festival is held every June. Criccieth is a past-winner of the Town in Bloom competition for the whole of Europe which has made it well-worth a visit, not to mention to come and taste the world-famous award-winning Cadwalader's Ice cream! There are numerous good eating places here as well. The remains of Criccieth Castle are partly of Welsh and partly of English construction, and date from the reign of Llewelyn the Great (1200 -1240), the entrance is opposite Castle Square. A cottage near the entrance has been converted to house an exhibition entitled "Castles of the Welsh Prince" - well worth a visit. If this whets the appetite for visits to other Welsh castles, there are a number of others within easy reach of Criccieth, including Harlech, a short journey by the Cambrian Coast Railway, and Caernarfon, an easy car ride.

There are bus services to Caernarfon from Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Other interesting historic monuments in the vicinity, include St. Cybi's Well, about 11/2 miles north-west of Criccieth on the B4354 road; Penarth Fawr Medieval House, between Criccieth and Pwllheli, half a mile north of the A497 road, and the Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberis.

Two miles down the road, is Llanystumdwy, the boyhood home of Criccieth's most famous son, David Lloyd George. A visit to the Museum and riverside grave is a must, but many people also like to walk along the banks of the River Dwyfor, where the Statesman spent his boyhood days. " Eight miles away is the popular marina in Pwllheli, on the Lleyn Peninsula, Porthmadog, Portmeirion, the famous and spectacular ride on the Ffestiniog Steam Railway, Mount Snowdon and the beautiful Snowdonia National Park.

There are several National Trust properties in the area, including Bodnant Gardens with its famous Laburnum Arch, Plas yn Rhyw, Penrhyn Castle, and Plas Newydd on Anglesey.The cottages are within the Eisteddfa estate which benefits from the newly developed lakes which offer coarse and trout fishing by the day for a reasonable charge. Tackle can be hired. see www.eisteddfa-fisheries.com

There are lots of cycle tracks and paths to explore, including a newly completed route from Porthmadog to Barmouth and beyond.