Hot tub, gardens and grounds
There’s plenty going on in the three acres of private lawn and wild woodland. There’s a walled terrace here the size of a tennis court. Chill on the outside seating, dine around the big table in the mountain air. Walk the woodlands, whip up a barbecue, watch the kids smile when they find the play den, the slide and the swings.
Bring up to three dogs: there’s lots to find in the enclosed garden while you sniff out the wood-fired, ten-seat hot tub and stare at the stars. Pack a picnic for the pond or the banks of the freshwater stream. End the day toasting marshmallows and good health around the firepit.
Swimming pool and living spaces
There’s a room for every occasion here and you know a property’s big when it comes with three living spaces. That’ll also be on account of the rather lovely ten-metre-by-five indoor swimming pool heated to 26 degrees. Dive in, make a splash, lose an afternoon. Book a treatment for the spa room.
Walk the hills then come home to drop your mucky togs in the coat and boot room. Keep trim on the running machines, fixed weights and rowing machines in the gym. Huddle up around the woodburning stoves, then stream Netflix and Now TV superfast on the two smart TVs (one portable). Be a family once more.
Cooking and dining
Recently renovated, the kitchen here comes with new appliances, two dishwashers, two hobs, two ovens and a large fridge/freezer that you’ll fill with deliveries from all the main supermarkets. Alternatively, book your own in-house chef for a one-off celebration or fully catered break, then marinate yourself in the pool or hot tub.
Eat around the long tables in the dining room or out on the terrace in the sunshine. Order takeaways from Mostyn Tandoori, Dino’s Llandudno for American, Chinese from Nicky Ip’s, or just cake and coffee at Haus. Or book a classic afternoon-tea experience at The Castle Hotel.
Dine out at The Erskine Arms on chicken pot pie or Welsh beef bourguignon with parmesan pomme puree or at Fairy Glen for chicken korma, beef-and-ale pie and other pub classics. Tuck into Bangladeshi cuisine at Jalsa Tandoori or lamb kofta tacos, garlic mushroom linguine or salt and chilli chicken at The Mulberry right on the harbour.
Head to The Lava Kitchen for trio of meats, rump of lamb or mermaids’ salmon fillet cooked at the table on a lava stone. Try Signatures for duo of venison or black cod among the slate walls, vanilla leather chairs and chi-chi chandeliers. Or will it be seafood or mushroom risotto at Alfredo’s Italian?
Bedrooms
With a backdrop of the Welsh mountains and Egyptian-cotton bedding, we’ll forgive you if you hit snooze one time too many. Castle View Country House sleeps 40 in 13 beautiful en-suite bedrooms.
Bedroom one is a ground-floor garden suite with patio, a superking that converts to twins, while bedroom two is also a superking garden suite but with a disabled walk-in bathroom. Bedroom three offers a kingsize, a bunk bed and a trundle and bedroom four is a kingsize (or twins) plus one single and one trundle.
Bedroom five provides a kingsize and a double, while six is a superking or twin. Bedroom seven offers a kingsize and eight has a superking or twins. Bedroom nine offers a kingsize and a bunk bed and ten is a superking. Bedroom 11 comes with a double and a single, and 12 and 13 each sleep four in a double and twins.
What people say
Golf, wine and slate
Ride the world’s fastest zip wire at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, slow the pace at Conwy Golf Club or walking the Sychnant Pass right from the door. Taste the wine at Gwinllan Conwy or buy the slate from Llechwedd mine. Meet cheeky lemurs at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, ride the Great Orme Tramway or chill on Penmaenmawr beach, Bardsey Island or Puffin Island.
