Isfryn Cottage

For those who want their active Snowdonia National Park holiday, but with some town-centre comforts, charming Isfryn Cottage ticks all the boxes. The  Victorian-era, stone-built, self-catering cottage sits in a secluded courtyard, just off the main square in the traditional Welsh market town of Dolgellau ('Dol-geth-lie' for non-Welsh speakers). You can walk into the mountainous countryside right from the door, but you've also got Dolgellau's pubs, cafes, restaurant and riverside park on hand, so everyone wins, whatever kind of holiday you're looking for.

It's a traditional up-and-down cottage, with dining room, kitchen and (very) snug lounge on the ground floor, and the bedrooms upstairs, accessed by a narrow flight of stairs. The smart house bathroom is on the ground floor too (with bath and overhead rain shower), while upstairs there's a double bedroom with views, and a light-filled single room – so really, the cottage is for couples or friends, or a small family with a child who can manage the steep stairs. It's all been lovingly restored, with plenty of original features, vintage and upcycled furniture and fittings, and a quirky, arty decorative scheme. But the mod-cons haven't been neglected, so there's also a brand-new, fully furnished kitchen, central heating and WiFi throughout, and a large smart TV. Other things to consider – there's no outdoor space (perhaps not a problem for a couple intending to go into town), and there's parking for just one small car (though there is free on-street parking nearby). Finally, it's dog-friendly – which is a real bonus given the number of brilliant walks nearby.

As a southern Snowdonia base, it's hard to beat, with some great adventures near at hand, including the challenging mountain-bike trails at Coed-y-Brenin, around five miles north of Dolgellau. Perhaps more on the gentle side but enticing nonetheless, you're right on the 10-mile Mawddach Trail, for example, which winds along a disused railway track from Dolgellau, hugging the estuary as far as Barmouth and its sandy beaches. Walk or cycle this way, and you'll pass right by the owners' other business, Graig Wen, where there are more cottages available (suitable for larger groups of friends and family), plus glamping and camping.