Nant y Cyrtiau

It’s said that there are more sheep than people in Wales – and it’ll possibly feel that way for guests at Nant y Cyrtiau, a spacious Gwynedd smallholding on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, 10 minutes’ drive from the lakeside town of Bala.

Settle in here and you’ll be sharing the site with hens, ducks, a few horses and that flock of friendly sheep – the sheep are quite happy to be fussed over, and you’re welcome to help out on site by feeding the hens and collecting their eggs (which are also available to buy for a fresh brekkie). You’ll not have to share with all that many other guests though, as the owners value peace over profit, and limit the numbers on site to just a handful at any one time.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join you on site; there’s a little fenced-off area where they can be left for short periods if you’re going out anywhere that they can’t tag along. Bikers are equally welcome too, and are provided with space in an outbuilding to keep bikes and leathers dry in the event of a downpour.

Being a proper rural place, facilities are limited to just a compost toilet (aka ‘the loo with a view’), but there are many ways to improvise for other needs. The folk here suggest collecting firewood in the woods, keeping your wine cool in the stream and sourcing water from the spring (although they’ll provide bottled stuff if that source dries up…)