Sat alongside the River Dee near the small village of Llandrillo in North Wales, Rivercatcher Log Cabins have a Scandinavian feel with a strong sense of ‘hygge’ – a Danish word meaning cosy or in the moment.
Ideally positioned in the foothills of Berwyn Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia national, Rivercatcher Log Cabins provide the perfect base for a weekend of hiking and exploring the local area – or just recharging the batteries with a good book.
We stayed in Rivercatcher’s lovely Gezellig Log Cabin which has a colourful bohemian theme and delightful views of the surrounding countryside and gambolling spring lambs. Attention to detail in the cabin is impressive with a well-stocked kitchen containing every gadget or kitchen appliance you could possibly need. There's also a compact but luxurious bathroom with an excellent shower. Stylishly decorated, the cabin has a luxury feel while also still retaining its rustic character.
Arriving late after work, we walked to the local village pub (a five-minute stroll) in Llandrillo for dinner. The Dudley Arms is a traditional country pub, serving good local ales and hearty pub grub using local ingredients. A friendly welcome and two pints of Station Bitter later and our long journey in rush hour was soon forgotten.
Enjoying the first warm spring weekend of the year, we were keen to blow the cobwebs away by exploring the quieter hiking trails just outside of Snowdonia National Park. The next morning feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep, we set off to explore the nearby Berwyn Mountains – a wild and isolated expanse of rugged moorland with sweeping views across to Snowdonia national park. This beautiful area is relatively unknown, but still offers excellent walking trails – we saw just one other lone walker and some disgruntled looking sheep all day. The 10-mile walking route covers the northern most peaks of the Berwyns; Cadair Bronwen, Cadair Berywn and Bwlch Maen Gwynedd, while two ancient upland passes and an old highway connects the Ceirlog and Dee valleys.
There’s nothing better after an invigorating day in the hills than returning to a cosy bolthole, and a stay at Rivercatcher's Log Cabin is the perfect retreat. Everything in Gezellig Log Cabin is designed for comfort, with a woodburner positioned next to a comfy sofa and a welcome pack of local treats, such as chunky shortbread and Bara Brith to enjoy with a large pot of tea. After our long hike, tired legs were eased in the hot tub before we celebrated with a glass of wine on the decking. It is a real treat to stay here in spring and watch the countryside come to life – and an ideal spot for exploring North Wales.
Places to visit
Berwyn Mountains
Climb to the peak of Cadair Berwyn (2558 feet) and enjoy views across to Snowdonia National Park. This ancient moorland mountain range is lesser known than neighbouring Snowdonia, but no less appealing for hikers with spectacular views and wildlife. Keep an eye out for Bronze Age remains and walk along the ancient highway connecting the Dee and Ceirlog valleys. Various routes available but if time and fitness allows, the 10 mile circular Cadair Bronwen route covered the three most northern of the peaks.
Portmeirion
The following day we took a trip to the beautiful Italian-styled village of Portmeirion. The surreal tourist attraction of Riviera inspired houses and ornamental gardens created by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 is a bit like walking into a film set. On a sunny day, Portmeirion feels a world away from North Wales.
Barmouth Beach
As the sunshine continued we made our way to Barmouth beach in southern Snowdonia for a paddle and an ice cream. A popular spot for families and dog walkers, this large resort beach is framed by mountains.
Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park covers 823 square miles of north-west Wales and contains the country’s highest peak, Snowdon. The region, designated as a national park in 1951, was sculpted by glaciers, leaving behind a spectacular landscape of craggy mountains and hills, deep valleys and over 100 lakes.
Llangollen canal
Crossing the border of England and Wales, the Llangollen canal is famed for the Pontcysyllte aqueduct – a 125 feet high water road. Test your head for heights by walking across this incredible feat of engineering while admiring the views.
Now go there
Rivercatcher Lodges are four individually styled Scandi log cabins in the foothills of Snowdonia’s beautiful Berwyn Mountains in North Wales.
Each with its own theme and perfectly designed for two, the cosy self-catering Rivercatcher Lodges feature wood burners, fully equipped kitchens, kingsize beds and glass fronted apex windows to make the most of the green landscape.
Cook alfresco on the gas-fired outdoor kitchen or soak under the stars in the hot tub within the sanctuary of the lodge’s private deck. A three-night weekend break in low season costs £372 and a week £531. rivercatcher.co.uk
A three-night short break in low season costs £365 and a week £521. www.rivercatcher.co.uk/luxury-log-cabins-north-wales
- Accommodation and meals were provided by Rivercatcher, www.rivercatcher.co.uk, 01490 440498