Dolgellau, self-catering holiday cottages, barns, rural retreats and lodges to rent in Gwynedd, Wales

Within the beauty of Snowdonia National Park, by the banks of the River Wnion, lies the picturesque market town of Dolgellau in Gwynedd. This is a mountainside town, situated close to the base of the Cader Idris Mountain, a popular mountain for hikers and walkers.

What Dolgellau offers for Self-Catering Breaks

Dolgellau with its national park location could be an ideal choice for a country cottage holiday or rural getaway. Choices when it comes to finding a place to stay include Welsh country cottages as well as farm-stay holidays.

Lying at the southern end of Snowdonia National Park, there are many walking paths to the summit of Cader Idris including Pony Path, the easiest but the longest route and Fox’s Path, the most direct route to the peak of the beautiful mountain. The views from the top of Cader Idris are truly rewarding and if you enjoy walking, taking one of these trails is a must when staying in or visiting Dolgellau.

Another point of interest close to the town is the 12th century Cymer Abbey, the ruins of which are steeped in history. Dating back to an incredible 1198, Cymer Abbey was once the centre of religion in the village and today makes for an interesting visit whilst on a cottage break.

There are many activities that can be enjoyed in Dolgellau and its surrounding countryside whilst on a self-catering holiday. Some popular ones include climbing, horse riding, cycling and white-water rafting on the river, which is great for any adrenaline junkies out there! There are also a number of wonderful heritage railway stations close to the village including the Fairbourne Railway and the Corris Railway, both of which make excellent day trips from Dolgellau. These narrow-gauge railways have been wonderfully preserved and include museums.

Since 1992, every year, Dolgellau has hosted an annual world music festival called Sesiwn Fawr. Once held on the streets of the village, this festival has now expanded out onto the outskirts due to the popularity of the festival and you may be lucky enough to catch this festival. Acts that have performed at Sesiwn Fawr include Cerys Matthews, Bob Geldof and Super Furry Animals, and crowds in their thousands flock from all over Wales to this fun and exciting event in Dolgellau.

During the summer, the village also hosts another fun festival, the Gwyl Cefn Gwlad which translates into the ‘Festival of the Countryside’. This great event is free and includes a fete and an agricultural show, and all money raised from the array of stalls from the fete is given to charity.

Dolgellau has a wonderful sense of community and is a great place in which to visit for an action-packed holiday in Snowdonia National Park.

Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Dolgellau, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Gwynedd.