Valentines Glamorous Camping

The Llŷn Peninsula is mighty fine for rambling explores: the 870-mile Wales Coast Path can be joined in Llanbedrog for lengthy hikes, saddles can be leapt into at Pen Llyn Stud (a 15-minute drive away) to take the peninsula at more of a canter, and pedallers can hire bikes in Pwllheli when two-wheeled whizzing fits the bill. If that’s not enough for active types, they’ll be best pleased by proximity to Snowdonia National Park, which is 45 minutes from base. It’s got castles and National Trust sites to visit, fab eateries to try out and, of course, the highest peak in Wales (Mt Snowdon) to scale. Not so energetic, or have trouble getting about? There’s a train to the peak too, so climb aboard for an easier way to get those views. Train anoraks may be keen to chug along to a different set of tracks: the scenic Welsh Highland Railway departs Porthmadog en route to Caernarfon, cutting through Snowdonia on the way to the coast, and Ffestiniog Railway leaves from the same station, heading towards the centre of the national park and its stop at Blaenau Ffestiniog. That might get history buffs keen for longer stays in the past… Luckily, there’s plenty hereabouts to entertain: the hulking Criccieth Castle is half an hour away, and Caernarfon, Harlech and Penrhyn castles are all between 45 minutes and an hour from base. More outdoorsy types may prefer Portmeirion instead – the stunningly scenic Italianate village (and shooting location for 1960s cult classic TV show The Prisoner) is just 45 minutes from the site.