7 Night Southern Snowdonia Walking with Sightseeing Holiday
These holidays offer a perfect mix of short, guided walks (3.5-5 miles), combined with time spent sightseeing. Visit a selection of standout highlights in Southern Snowdonia (Eryri) with hassle-free coach travel and the help of an HF Holidays Leader.
What you’ll love
- Admiring the iconic Italianate village of Portmeirion
- Taking a ride on the Talyllyn steam train
- Visiting the impressive Dolgoch waterfall
- The views of Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales
- A guided tour of Yr Ysgwrn, a traditional 20th century Welsh farmhouse
- Staying in the comfort of our country house
- A more personalised experience thanks to small group sizes (maximum 15 people)
What’s included
- Tickets for the Talyllyn Railway
- Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided walks and sightseeing visits with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
- All transport to and from walks and sites of interest
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See more Information tab for details.
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival, served from 4.30pm.
Distance: 3½ miles (6km)
Ascent: 650 feet (200m)
In summary: Ascend through woodland for lovely views across Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales, to arrive at the historic market town of Bala. There will be time to explore before we continue to the National White Water Centre on the Tryweryn river. Here we’ll enjoy a riverside stroll and see some canoeing and rafting in action.
Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Ascent: 650 feet (200m)
In summary: Explore the Ardudwy Coast, with a visit to the Artro estuary and a walk on the delightful beach at Llandanwg. En route there's a visit to the impressive Llanfair slate caverns and in Harlech, we’ll discover the castle. Considered to be one of King Edward I’s most spectacular coastal fortresses.
Discover more about Dolserau Hall and the local area for ideas on how to fill your free day.
Distance: 3½ miles (5.5km)
Ascent: 500 feet (150m)
In summary: The Precipice Walk is one of the most famous attractions of the Dolgellau area, and affords wonderful views down the Mawddach estuary and over to Cadair Idris. After a morning walk, there's a visit to Portmeirion, the stunning Italianate village set on a peninsula, created by the architect Clough Williams- Ellis. There's time to explore woodland and coastal walks from the village.
Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Ascent: 800 feet (240m)
In summary: A morning walk into the Dysynni valley to visit Castell Y Bere and Mary Jones' chapel. The 13th century Castle Y Bere was the last stronghold of the Welsh princes. From Abergynolwyn village we walk beside nant Gwernol, then board the steam train for a ride on the Talyllyn railway to admire beautiful Dolgoch Falls.
Distance: 5 miles (8.5km)
Ascent: 1,200 feet (360m)
In Summary: We walk alongside the Mawddach river as it passes through rocky gorges, passing abandoned gold mines and two impressive waterfalls. Climbing up to a ridge we get stunning views through the trees of the Rhinogydd range and Cadair Idris before descending to the Forest Visitor Centre. The walking is mainly on good, gently graded forestry access roads, apart from one short, steep rocky track that takes some care. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Yr Ysgwrn, a traditional 20th century Welsh farmhouse and home to one of Britain’s best-known Welsh-language poets.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Dolserau Hall
Arresting countryside views dominate at this characterful Victorian manor house at the southern end of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park. The location is idyllic; think ancient woods and craggy uplands in all directions (parts of the park served as the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings). There’s no shortage of things to do, either, including following the Mawddach Trail along the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, discovering the compact range of hills known as the Rhinogs, and climbing the rugged foothills of Cader Idris – the highest mountain in southern Snowdonia (Eryri) at 893 metres. You’ll also be close to Dolgellau, the small market town best known for its once flourishing woollen industry (ruins of the Pandy fulling mills used to remove fats and grease from the wool cloth can still be seen along the Afon Aran River).
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Dolserau Hall has 23 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
We love: The rooms in the main house or converted coach house. Some come with standout views of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
Room supplements
| Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Dolserau Hall
Getting to Dolserau Hall
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationAddress
Dolserau Hall
Dolgellau
Gwynedd LL40 2AG
Tel: +44 (0)1341 422522
By train
The nearest station is Machynlleth.
For train times and to plan your route check National Rail.
By taxi
The 16-mile journey from Machynlleth railway station takes about 30 minutes.
For pricing, please contact Cader Cabs* and Mach Taxis* directly.
Cader Cabs
A local, 24/7 firm, who can provide transport from nearby train stations and bus stops. No pre-booking is required.
Tel: +44 (0)7766 983 103
Email: info@cadercabs.co.uk
Mach Taxis
We recommend pre-booking your taxi at least seven days in advance.
Tel: +44 (0)1654 702048
Email: taxi@machtaxis.com
A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Dolserau Hall.
*Cader Cabs and Mach Taxis are not owned or managed by HF Holidays.
By bus
From Machynlleth take the T2 bus to Dolgellau. You can complete the two-mile journey to Dolserau Hall by taxi. Or if you alight at Dolgellau Starbucks, it’s a one-mile walk along a quiet country lane to the house.
By car
It takes about 90 minutes to drive from the M56 at Chester or the M54 at Telford to Dolserau Hall.
From the north
Head to Chester, then take the M53 and A55 to join the A550, followed by the A5104 for about 20 miles, then finally the A494 signposted to Bala.
Stay on the A494 through Bala heading towards Dolgellau. A mile after going past a junction for the B4416 to Brithdir, take the next turning on the left to follow the country lane for half a mile to Dolserau Hall.
From the south
Take the M54 and A5 to Shrewsbury to join the A458 towards Welshpool. Continue on the A458 through Welshpool and after 27 miles turn right at a roundabout onto the A470 towards Dolgellau. As you come down a steep hill before Dolgellau, look out for a petrol station on the right. Take a right turn immediately before it, then you’ll find Dolserau Hall is about one mile along this country lane on your left.
By air
The nearest airport is Manchester Airport.
You’ll need to allow around five hours, firstly taking the train to Chester, changing to the Sapphire bus to Wrexham, and from there taking the T3 bus to Dolgellau.
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Rucksack with waterproof liner
- Flask for hot drinks
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
- Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
- First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
- Camera
- First-aid kit
Admission fees are payable locally and aren’t included in your holiday price, apart from what is stated in the what’s included section. This gives you greater choice, freedom, and flexibility to only pay the entrance fees for the attractions that interest you most. Should you choose to visit all the highlighted attractions during your holiday please see the table below for the approximate totals. If Cadw (C) membership, please be sure to bring your membership identification with you. We recommend bringing some cash with you for any entrance fees to sites you wish to visit.
2024 prices
|
Approx. cost of entrance fees |
3 night holiday |
4 night holiday |
7 night holiday |
|
C members |
£8.50 |
£29 |
£37.50 |
|
No memberships |
£8.50 |
£37.50 |
£46 |
Dolserau Hall Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Guest reviews
135Kg of CO₂e
Average carbon footprint per person Learn More
