20 minute read
Holidays
Advertisement
CONSIDERING SETTING UP A HOLIDAY LET?
In-house photography guarantees all the best angles
With UK breaks enjoying a boom since the pandemic, letting out accommodation to holidaymakers is a popular option. One leading North Wales letting agency, Menai Holidays, has the following advice for those thinking of going it alone…
It’s a full-time job
Running your own holiday let is a 24/7 job, from answering customers’ queries and keeping track of payments to managing changeovers and dealing with any issues that arise during a stay. Menai Holidays can take as much weight off your shoulders as you wish. If it is just bookings and payments you’d like us to deal with, no problem. Or you may prefer our fully managed service, which means we organise cleaning, linen, maintenance, invoicing and even guest complaints, for full peace of mind.
Money matters
Many self-hosting platforms allow guests to cancel 24 hours before arrival with no financial consequences, leaving the owner in the lurch having to find a replacement booking or suffer loss of income. At Menai Holidays we guarantee you payment for every booking. If a guest cancels within 56 days of a stay, you will be paid in full. Outside of the 56 days the guest forfeits their deposit, unless the cancellation occurs for a reason out of their control such as pandemic restrictions on travel.
before arrival with no financial consequences, leaving the owner in the lurch having to find a replacement booking or suffer loss of income. At Menai Holidays we guarantee you payment for every booking. If a guest cancels within 56 days of a stay, you will be paid in full. Outside of the 56 days the guest Don’t miss out due to last-minute cancellations forfeits their deposit,
Get it seen
Not only will your holiday home feature on our industry-leading websites, it will also be listed on Sykes Cottages’ and over 500 partner sites, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Tripadvisor and HomeAway. We’ll also ensure the best possible pictures are taken by our in-house photographer and stylist. Organising this independently can be expensive. Fully managed service O ces includes maintenance
everywhere
Menai Holidays is the only holiday letting agency in North Wales with an office in every corner. We make sure all our owners have a personal rapport with our staff, ensuring that we understand your wants and needs for your holiday home.
For more information on holiday letting, email us on info@ menaiholidays.co.uk, visit our website at menaiholidays.co.uk/ letyourcottage or give us a call on 01248 665 155.
PUDDLEDUCK PARADISE
Puddleduck Cottages are award-winning luxury self-catering holiday cottages located in the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire. Each of the cottages offer guests a true home-fromhome holiday experience in a tranquil, peaceful location next to the River Severn and Wrekin Way footpaths, with traffic-free scenic walks, cycle trails and water activities on the doorstep. A wealth of excellent cafes, pubs and restaurants are only a short walk
away, where visitors can enjoy a bite to eat or drink. The picturesque centre of Ironbridge is one mile away, “Scenic easily accessible on foot along walks and the Severn Valley Way, and there you‘ll find a selection of lovely independent shops trails” and eateries. For enquiries or to book your stay, email sonia@ puddleduckcottages.co.uk or visit the website at: puddleduckcottages.co.uk
Just off the A449 in the heart of Monmouthshire, you’ll find the village of Raglan – and at the heart of the village, you’ll find The Beaufort, a traditional coaching Inn offering a very warm welcome. Their fantastic menus are full of freshly sourced and locally produced food, an excellent choice of wines and locally brewed ales. In fact, food is a speciality of The Beaufort. The team love to create beautiful dishes with ingredients from local suppliers and producers. An amazing selection is available throughout the day from the à la carte and specials menus.
The Beaufort has a choice of superb dining experiences on offer, with a menu available all week offering traditional favourites as well as acclaimed Sunday lunches. So whether you are lunching with friends, impressing business clients or planning a romantic evening for two, there are menu options to suit everyone.
To make the most of the inn and its lovely surroundings, it is well worth extending your stay beyond your dining experience. The Beaufort has 16 ensuite rooms, each with its own unique character. You are certain of a good night’s sleep, whether on business or pleasure. All rooms
“The are decorated with individual attention. In team the main building the create rooms are larger and have been furbished in rich beautiful contemporary colours, dishes” whilst the Coach House rooms are slightly smaller, but with the same styling. All rooms have crisp white linens and soft, fluffy towels and provide comfort and luxury to all guests. There are also suites available with multiple bedrooms sharing a bathroom in a self-contained space, which may suit family groups.
DESIGN SOLUTION
When Rosie and Rick Hindley inherited her father’s farmhouse in the peaceful hamlet of Rhiwlas, in Powys, they decided to develop it as a holiday let. The existing structure didn’t make the most of the stunning mountain views, so they appointed Ke-design to reimagine the space.
Ke-design’s approach was simple and effective: remove the poorly constructed extension, take out the external wall at ground level and add a moderate extension to create an open-plan living space, with large bifold doors opening onto a new patio. A smaller extension over the porch created an extra bedroom with feature window, and ensuites were added. The garage became a games room. Now there are amazing views throughout the house, even when taking a bath! And since being put on Holiday Cottages letting website, Bryn Powys is 80% booked and receiving fantastic reviews. Ke-design was established 11 years ago in Oswestry by director Craig Marston, on his return from working in Leeds, London and Hong
open-plan living space, with large bifold doors opening onto a new patio. A smaller extension over the porch created an extra bedroom with feature window, and ensuites were added. The garage became a games room. throughout the house, even when taking a bath! And since being put on Holiday Cottages letting website, Bryn Powys is 80% booked and receiving fantastic reviews. Bryn Powys, Rhiwlas Come to dine – and stay awhile
“Award winner”
Mountain views from the new patio area
Kong, with no client base in the middle of a recession. Eleven years on, Ke-design’s main office is in Shrewsbury and takes on around 70 projects a year – a mix of residential, self-builds or newbuilds, extensions, renovations and commercial work.
Ke-design has featured in Homebuilding & Renovation magazine, and last year won Build It’s Best Self-build for <£250k. This year the practice is shortlisted for Best Architect/ Designer for a remodel of a 1970s house in Shrewsbury (see opposite). Ke-design.co.uk; Holidaycottages.co.uk search Bryn Powys
You’ll love your stay
Love2Stay Mid Wales is a brand-new glamping resort in the heart of Wales. Purposefully designed for loved ones to spend time together, this is the perfect location to escape the bustle of modern living – whether you choose to simply kick back and relax, or experience the exceptional facilities. Take a splash in the indoor heated pool, unwind with a massage or embrace the outdoors on country walks.
“Your Choose from a selection of handpicked accommodation, from innovative glampingown hot style pods to luxurious holiday homes and tub and fi re pit” bespoke lodges. Each comes with its own hot tub and fire pit, perfect for enjoying the dark skies. Whether you’re seeking a romantic escape or a fun-fuelled family holiday, you’ll be delighted by all this wonderful location offers! As well as the pool, there is a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, holistic therapies, multi-sports pitch and water activities on the lake. The pool beckons love2staymidwales.co.uk
MEDIEVAL MAGIC
With exposed beams and inglenook fireplace, 26 Mill Street in Ludlow is perfect for anyone who appreciates history and culture and is looking for a holiday in this picturesque town next year. The property is just a few minutes’ walk from the castle and market square in a very quiet part of town. It sleeps four, has two bedrooms, two Close to town and the castle bathrooms and two reception rooms. Book before the end of 2022 to get the special prices quoted on the website. This unspoilt medieval town is surrounded “For history by stunning countryside. You can explore the and castle, visit the magnificent church with its 15th-century misericords, wander the streets culture” admiring the 500 listed buildings, or simply relax in one of the many independent cafés. There are plenty of interesting shops and a market five days a week.
Your host will be delighted to advise on the best places to visit and share her favourite walks. 26MillStreet.co.uk
The Newnes Touring Caravan Park is the ideal spot for a relaxing holiday – a tranquil site where you can enjoy the break of your choice. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful countryside views, or take advantage of the network of paths that lead to the A level, well-drained grass site market town of Ellesmere, birthplace of the Llangollen Canal. Surrounded by woodlands, The Newnes “The is a nature lover’s paradise with its nine Newnes is glacial meres. Anglers can fish at no additional cost. The touring caravan park is exclusively a nature lover’s for adults, with 60 hook-up points offering paradise” mains electric and water on well-drained, level grass. Each pitch looks out onto the six-acre site, which enjoys superb views over the countryside and the Welsh Hills. Tents are also welcome – take advantage of the superb facilities on offer, or just pitch and get back to enjoying nature. Pilton House, Gower is a luxury, four-star self-catering cottage, beautifully presented and ideally situated in Newton, near Mumbles, on the Gower Peninsula. Oozing character, the Edwardian cottage is filled with every home comfort, and is only a short walk from the sandy beaches of Langland and Caswell. With free on-street parking, this delightful cottage is cosy, spacious and very comfortable, as well as being dog friendly.
Pilton House was built around 1901 and carefully updated in 2001-2. The bedrooms, sitting rooms, snug and dining areas all work beautifully for family Beautiful period-style interiors gatherings, and the property is equipped and finished to high standards throughout. The private courtyard garden houses a self-contained studio, where you will find your own pizza oven and space to hang wetsuits, and store surfboards and sandy shoes.
Eco and unique
Asheston Eco Barns provide luxury holiday cottages in the unspoilt heart of Pembrokeshire. Everything, from the local produce hamper on arrival through to the underfloor heating, log burners and swish bathroom, brings you a five-star Pembrokeshire holiday like no other.
Retaining much of their traditional character, and created with luxury in mind, each of the family-friendly eco-barns is a unique one-off – lovingly restored and furnished with antiques, enjoying magnificent views across Brandy Brook to Roch Castle. Asheston Eco Barns offer some of the most eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Britain, so you really will be helping protect the planet when you stay. Most of the energy
with luxury in mind, each of the family-friendly eco-barns is a unique one-off – lovingly restored and furnished with used here is generated by state-of-the-art antiques, enjoying magnificent renewable technologies. Solar systems heat views across Brandy Brook to the water and typically 85% of your energy Roch Castle. needs are generated on site. Recycled rainwater is used for toilet flushing, and the organic food in some of the most eco-friendly your welcome hamper helps support the local economy while self-catering accommodation protecting animal welfare and the environment too. in Britain, so you really will be Wonderfully secluded, surrounded by 22 acres of private helping protect the planet when grounds yet only four miles from the Blue Flag beach of Beautifully restored you stay. Most of the energy Newgale, it’s hard to imagine a more brilliant holiday location.
“A brilliant Book several Eco Barns together for a group stay holiday location”
TOP COTTAGE COLLECTION
At St Brides Bay Cottages, the team has hand-picked an outstanding selection of self-catering holiday cottages in the St Davids, Solva and Porthgain area of North Pembrokeshire. Whether you’re looking for a coastal stay or a cosy rural retreat, you’ll find the perfect accommodation for your Wales holiday – and many of the holiday cottages are dog-friendly, too.
St Davids is the smallest cathedral ‘city’ in Britain but is not much bigger than a village. It has a magnificent 12th-century cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral Close with many small interesting shops, as well as a supermarket, galleries, restaurants, pubs and a large visitor information centre. In 2008, the Pembrokeshire Landscape Gallery opened here. St Brides Bay hosts 16 cottages to suit a range of group sizes and tastes. Solva is probably the most picturesque fishing village in Pembrokeshire, and home to 14 St Brides Bay cottages. The harbour offers pubs and restaurants, as well as tearooms, galleries and craft shops, a general store and a mini-market. Eight cottages in superb locations around Porthgain and beautiful Newgale complete the St Brides Bay family. This two-mile stretch of sands is popular with everyone, from families to watersport enthusiasts.
St Davids is the smallest cathedral ‘city’ in Britain but is not much bigger than a village. It has a magnificent 12th-century cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral Close with many small interesting shops, as well as a supermarket, galleries, restaurants, pubs and a large visitor information centre. In 2008, the Pembrokeshire Landscape Gallery opened here. is probably the most picturesque fishing village in Pembrokeshire, and home to “For 14 St Brides Bay cottages. The harbour offers pubs and restaurants, as well as groups tearooms, galleries and craft shops, a general store and a mini-market. of all complete the St Brides Bay family. This two-mile stretch of sands is popular with sizes” everyone, from families to watersport enthusiasts.
The picturesque bay at St Brides
Smithy Park at Abermule, Powys is the perfect centre for exploring beautiful Mid Wales. The coast is just an hour’s drive through the Cambrian Hills and there are reservoirs, castles and historic towns nearby. Alwyn and Olive began the family business as a garage, and when the smithy behind came free, they established their first holiday park. They purchased Westbrook Farm, with access to fishing on the River Teme, and in due course anglers requested caravan and
camping pitches alongside. The rest, as they say, is history! Smithy is a special place, where the River Mule flows into the is the perfect centre Severn, and the Montgomery Canal runs alongside. Mature trees for exploring beautiful and shrubs give the park a garden-like setting and an air of Mid Wales. The coast tranquillity. The park has a friendly, family feel, tucked away yet is just an hour’s drive only a minute from local inns and a shop. through the Cambrian As well as facilities for caravans and Hills and there are campers, Oak Cottage is now available reservoirs, castles and for self-catering for a week or short historic towns nearby. break. Please ring if you wish to make a a booking. Built in 1932, the single-storey began the family cottage has been refurbished to provide Smithy Park: like a well-kept garden business as a garage, cosy yet practical accommodation. The master bedroom has a full-size double bed and shares a family shower room with the twin room. A second washroom makes the cottage ideal for four sharing, and the conservatory is a lovely spot to relax, even on chillier days.
AWARDWINNING SPOT
Trwyn yr Wylfa camp site is set within Snowdonia National Park and only a 10-minute drive from Conwy. With glorious sea and mountain views it is truly a stunning place. Relax and watch the sailing boats or turn around and face the hills, dotted with sheep and Carneddau ponies. The site offers direct access to fantastic coastal walks and accepts caravans, motor homes, tents, campervans and trailer tents. The toilet blocks have hot water and showers and separate ladies’ and “A large playing gents’ toilets, as well as family and accessible shower field rooms. There is also a dish-washing area, chemical disposal point, a recycling collection area and a large playing field for ball games. for ball games”
Trwyn yr Wylfa translates as ‘watching point’ and the site is exactly that. It has featured in iweekend and the Guardian’s The beach is a stone’s throw away top 20 coastal sites, and was nominated for Campsite of the Year in The Great Outdoors magazine, as well as being named winner of the popular Choice Wales on Campsites.co.uk.
Trwyn yr Wylfa is a great location for exploring Snowdonia and North Wales, and only two miles from the walled town of Conwy. Dwygyfylchi and Penmaenmawr have pubs, village shops, restaurants and takeaways, and are within walking distance. In fact, the spot is a paradise for walkers, with direct access to the North Wales Coastal Path. www.rhosneigr-escapes.co.uk
Travel companions
Wisteria Tours is a family-run business specialising in tailored coach tour visits to famous gardens and historic homes. The Shropshire company is run by sisters Jacky and Sue Burnell, with help from mum Jackie Crick.
Wisteria Tours regards customers as travelling companions. All share a love of gardens and first-class destinations, travelling in style and staying in elegant
“Festive hotels. Every tour is specially designed trips to to showcase a special location, and the team joins you on the journey to answer
Kew and your questions. Whether you are a new or
Castle Howard” returning customer, coming with friends or travelling on your own, the staff at Wisteria Tours make sure you feel looked after and welcome. after and welcome. The huge range of tours includes of tours includes stunning festive trips stunning festive trips to Kew Gardens, to Kew Gardens, Castle Howard and Castle Howard and Waddeson Manor, and Waddeson Manor, and countless more are countless more are planned for spring planned for spring and through the and through the summer of 2023 when summer of 2023 when so many gardens are so many gardens are Join fellow garden devotees on a tour in full bloom. in full bloom.
ON THE BEACH
On the west coast of Anglesey you’ll find the village of Rhosneigr, lapping up every sunset and offering enjoyment whatever the weather. Whilst Anglesey as a whole has a lot to boast, Rhosneigr is renowned for windsurfing and water sports. It’s surrounded by Sea views from the top fl oor coastal paths and has plenty of places to enjoy food and drink.
Wylfa is a Victorian semi-detached property offering a choice of accommodation, close to the beach. Two spacious apartments both offer sea views from the living area, and are cosy for a couple or ideal for family and friends seeking a refreshing escape to one of Anglesey’s most treasured seaside villages. The ground floor welcomes up to
“Sea four guests (plus pups!), the duplex up to eight (plus pups!), with open-plan kitchen/ views dining/living room. If you’re looking to go and sunsets” away with friends but still want your own space, why not rent both, allowing up to 12 guests. www.menaiholidays.co.uk/1113386 and www.menaiholidays.co.uk/1071644
