Stately Homes to visit near Porthmadog

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As we head towards spring, the stately houses and homes of North Wales are gearing up to open their doors once again to the public.

Visiting a stately home is a lovely way to spend an afternoon whilst visiting North Wales.

Soak up the history and imagine the lavish parties and generations of men and women who have lived and worked in the house and grounds. There are a number of houses and gardens you can visit around Porthmadog;

Plas Newydd House and Gardens

Not only is this an interesting place to visit, the views of Snowdonia and over to the Menai Bridge are amazing.

Take a stroll along the woodland walk, look over the Menai Straits as you walk, but make sure you look out for one of the 100 red squirrels that can be spotted at Plas Newydd. The gardens are full of life, even in winter, with wildlife to spot, or take a walk past the cannons which were a wedding present given to the current owners.

The interior of the house is styled in the decor of the 1930s, and also contains the largest exhibition of works by artist Rex Whistler. Fans of militaria will also want to see the onsite military museum.

Plas yn Rhiw

This 16th Century manor house may be small by stately home standards, but Plas yn Rhiw also offers stunning views over Hells Mouth Bay. Once owned by three sisters called the Keating’s, who employed the services of Clough William Ellis (the architect who created Portmeirion) to renovate the cottage in the 1930s.

The formal gardens outside are a riot of colour all year round; from snowdrops in winter, to bluebells and rhododendrons in spring. Come in summer and you’ll be able to view the spectacular hydrangeas, fuchsias and old English roses.

Bodelwyddan Castle and Park

Bodelwyddan Castle dates from the middle ages and is a pretty impressive sight even today. The Castle opens to the public at weekends, and for special events. It’s also said to be haunted, so why not try one of the special ghost evenings and see if you can spot a spook?

Inside the castle you’ll find Welsh artwork, a ‘Faces of the Great War’ exhibition as well as interactive galleries and Victorian games for the kids.

Take a tour of the gardens and you’ll come across a World War One trenches experience, alongside a children’s play park and a formal walled garden.

The World War One trenches are built as close as possible to the remains of original trenches and are a close replica with tunnels, huts and areas with firing steps. To visit you need to book a guided tour which you can do through the ticket office.

There’s so much to see and do here, particularly on a nice day as there’s 260 acres of grounds so it makes a great visit for all the family.

You could mix a visit to one of these houses with a visit to a local farm park or one of our suggested family friendly wet weather activities to make sure you have a fun packed stay.

To book accommodation near Porthmadog with us, or to come for a meal in our restaurant then give us a call on 01766 512421 or contact us here.