spectacular

It’s the perfect place if you like a combination of adventures and chilling out, taking in the gorgeous scenery.

A historic market town in the UK is definitely worth a visit this spring, as there’s so much to see and do there. It’s ideal for adventure seekers, and those who just want to walk around, eat good food and chill out.

Tregaron is one of Wales’s oldest market towns. It’s home to independent retailers, coffee shops, and the elegant Y Talbot, a grade II-listed hotel, pub, and restaurant, positioned right in the town square’s centre.

From here, you can embark on an exhilarating road trip along a former drover’s track that showcases hairpin turns through wild terrain.

The Abergwesyn Pass is a 20-mile single-track route stretching from Llanwrtyd Wells to Tregaron. Along this isolated road, you’ll encounter a notorious stretch called “The Devil’s Staircase”, reports Wales Online.

This appropriately named portion of the Abergwesyn Pass features hairpin curves and sharp climbs that aren’t suited to anxious motorists.

For adventurous drivers, you’ll love tackling one of Wales’ most isolated countryside regions, encountering sheep, gnarled trees and rocky formations along the way. It’s extremely steep, reaching a maximum gradient of 20.1%, and cuts through thick woodland towards miles of expansive, barren valleys, providing a descent that will push your brakes to their absolute limits.

Drive carefully and enjoy the scenery as you meander through the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, where you could potentially encounter nobody throughout your entire journey. You can also tackle this route by bicycle if your legs are ready for the test.

As well as the Abergwesyn Pass, Soar y Mynydd, Wales’ most isolated chapel, is worth the detour. This modest, whitewashed church was constructed in 1822 to minister to an extremely dispersed community of farmers.

Wandering through this tranquil location, you could easily assume the chapel has been deserted for years. Actually, visiting preachers travel from across Wales to hold services in Welsh.

It’s a serene spot for a picnic, as there’s often nobody else there.

Llyn Brianne Reservoir also deserves a stop to witness an enormous dam. You might be surprised to learn that this striking stone-built dam is Britain’s tallest, rising 91 metres (300 ft) above the River Tywi.

Containing an incredible 64 million cubic metres of water at almost 300 metres (990 ft) above sea level is a remarkable engineering achievement. Building work began in October 1968, with the dam constructed from crushed rock, larger stone, and clay sourced from the surrounding area.

After dark, it becomes a stargazing hotspot in the Cambrian Mountains, making it an excellent location for astrophotography.

Further south, beyond Llyn Brianne reservoir, lies the amazing RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve. The reserve encompasses vital habitats of oak woodland, wet alder woodland, and scrubland, all defined by heavy rainfall and swift-flowing rivers.

These conditions are ideal for woodland birds, whilst also offering the perfect environment for significant lichens and bryophytes. Whether you begin or finish the route at Tregaron, you should make time to discover this small Welsh-speaking town. Here, you’ll discover a livestock market, the Tregaron Red Kite Centre and Museum, and locally sourced food and cask ales in a beautifully converted 16th-century Welsh inn.

Y Talbot is an independently owned hotel and Michelin Guide-listed restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes. This charming boutique hotel radiates a ‘cosy country inn’ atmosphere with its slate floors and inglenooks.

The location is said to be the final resting place of a circus elephant which perished in 1848 and lies beneath what is currently Y Talbot’s beer garden.

The establishment, run by head chef Dafydd, who trained under Marco Pierre White, showcases regional ingredients, including lamb, beef, and cheeses sourced from the Teifi Valley, fish from Milford Haven, and shellfish from Cardigan Bay.

Close by, you’ll also discover a neglected Welsh abbey where princes lie buried. Strata Florida Abbey near Tregaron is a remarkable location in Wales where history, royalty, and spirituality meet.

Established in 1201 by white-robed Cistercian monks, this hallowed ground was formerly among medieval Wales’s most vital religious and cultural hubs.

It also serves as the burial site of numerous Welsh princes, including the renowned Llywelyn the Great, who famously convened a council here to guarantee his son Dafydd’s position as the legitimate successor to the Welsh throne.

The Abbey was established as a major institution serving the indigenous population of Wales and Western Christianity through its affiliation with the pan-European Cistercian Order of Monasteries.

The carved west doorway into the Abbey remains standing in isolation and provides an eternal vista down the nave towards where the high altar formerly stood.

You can still see some of the decorated tiles that would have adorned the church floors, along with elaborate carvings throughout the site.

This spectacular Victorian mansion is Britain’s original smart home and the world’s first hydroelectric-powered building, featuring historic gardens and starred as Lockwood Manor in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Nestled within a spectacular mountain setting, this Victorian property stands as a genuine architectural trailblazer and the very first of its kind.

Cragside in Rothbury, Northumberland, holds the title of Britain’s original smart home, and it’s utterly magnificent. From the exterior, the enormous mansion looms over the water beneath it, all asymmetrical and striking, resembling something straight out of a film.

Its multiple pointed roofs and curved brickwork give it a distinctly Tim Burton-esque quality, and indeed, it has featured in numerous productions thanks to its remarkably distinctive beauty.

It appeared in the 2018 blockbuster hit Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as the location for Lockwood Manor.

Yet it’s truly the fact this was the world’s first building powered by hydroelectricity and operated by hydraulics that makes it such an extraordinary marvel. Rivers, lakes and even waterfalls all work together to power the property and its enchanting gardens.

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History

Cragside was brought to life through the vision of William and Margaret Armstrong, with William serving as an engineer and industrialist responsible for numerous groundbreaking inventions.

Meanwhile, Margaret had extensive expertise in botanical life, which inspired the creation of the gardens.

What began as simply a sporting lodge in 1863 gradually evolved into a sprawling estate, developed over three decades. The architectural masterpiece was expanded in three principal phases between 1870 and 1884 by architect Richard Norman Shaw.

It quickly evolved into a hub of groundbreaking innovation as the married couple developed their revolutionary vision for electricity and power generation.

The property operates through hydraulics in an entirely unique manner, standing as the world’s first water-powered home. It pioneered central heating, electric lighting, gravity-fed plumbing, water-driven machinery and a hydraulic lift, delivering unprecedented levels of domestic comfort.

Contributing to the property’s pioneering spirit is the electric lighting, which was installed in 1878 using carbon-arc lamps in the Gallery room.

Working alongside chemist Joseph Swan, they advanced this further in 1880 by enabling the first residential installation of incandescent lightbulbs.

Following years of refurbishment and innovation, the property eventually passed to their great-nephew, William Watson Armstrong, after he inherited it.

As they had no children, he became the rightful heir to the estate, and following their passing, the home remained with his family for two additional generations.

Walking

Due to its breathtaking setting, Cragside provides an excellent location for extensive walks across and surrounding the grounds, featuring two particularly lengthy routes – one called the Hydro-power Trail and the other Views of Cragside.

Stretching a lengthy 6.5 miles, these trails are closer to a hike than a leisurely stroll and could occupy the majority of your visit, but the estate serves as an excellent launch pad for the adventure.

The Hydro-power Trail is one that guides you past every aspect of the technology used to harness water power.

On the other hand, the Views of Cragside route offers panoramic views of the Northumberland hills and beyond. It leads you past the Formal Garden, where you can pause to appreciate the meticulously arranged flower beds.

There are signposts scattered throughout the estate directing you to various trails suitable for a range of abilities. The most family-friendly and considered easy to moderate is Nelly’s Moss, which takes up to an hour to complete.

Visiting the estate

To fully enjoy all that Cragside has to offer, there’s no need to pre-book, and parking is included in your entry fee – National Trust members excepted, naturally. Adults are charged £27.00, whilst children pay £13.50 upon entry.

Families consisting of two adults and up to three children can opt for a family ticket priced at £67.50. The site opens its doors from 11am, with the house closing at 3pm and the remaining facilities open until 4pm.

The fishing village sits magnificently in a stunning cove on a peninsula, offering fresh seafood, timeless charm and an escape from typical tourist crowds

Cornwall harbours a hidden gem which truly seems frozen in time.

Encircled by stunning scenery and overflowing with authentic Cornish charm, this South Cornwall fishing village stands amongst the area’s most exceptional locations.

Described by Secrets of Cornwall as “a great secret frozen in time”, this tiny harbour village nestles magnificently at the foot of a steep, dramatic valley that opens out onto the splendid Veryan Bay.

Considered the crown jewel of Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, this coastal village provides quintessentially Cornish views, yet remarkably stays free from the usual tourist masses.

The late Sir John Betjeman – Poet Laureate and famously the campaigner who saved St Pancras Station from destruction during the 1960s – once described this little hamlet as “one of the least spoiled and most impressive of Cornish fishing villages”, and it’s safe to say Portloe has fully lived up to such acclaim.

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Timeless Cornish treasure

The village derives its name from the Cornish ‘Porth Logh’, meaning ‘cove pool’ – a fitting description reflecting its picturesque position within a cove surrounded by dramatic hillsides.

This naturally sheltered spot established its role as a flourishing pilchard fishing harbour throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

In fact, until the 20th century, over 50 fishing boats operated from the village’s protected cove harbour, a number that has since dropped to just two.

These remaining operational vessels continue their work, hauling in lobster and crab which is then supplied to the village’s two venues – The Lugger and The Ship Inn.

Considered among Cornwall’s most delightful villages, Portloe stands as a true hidden gem, preserved from the passage of time and modern development, reports Cornwall Live.

The steep valleys encircling the village have guaranteed Portloe’s protection from urban sprawl over the years, leaving the settlement and its buildings practically unaltered since their initial construction during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Like much of Cornwall, Portloe’s past is linked with smuggling, with French brandy being the main contraband transported through the village in a bid by locals to supplement the hamlet’s dwindling fishing trade.

Famous connections

Portloe provides a genuine escape from Cornwall’s well-known summer crowds, offering simply a scenic historic harbour and a small beach which exposes a limited stretch of sand at low tide – its picture-perfect surroundings undisturbed by tourist commotion.

The village’s unspoilt appeal has also rendered it a popular filming destination over the years, most notably appearing in Forever England (1935) starring John Mills, Treasure Island (1949), The Camomile Lawn (1991), and more recently in Richard Curtis’ rom-com blockbuster About Time (2013), the BBC’s Wild West television series, and Irish Jam (2006).

What to see and do in the picturesque coastal village

Tourists should not overlook Portloe’s two most renowned establishments – The Lugger hotel and The Ship Inn.

Situated right at the top of the harbour slipway, The Lugger provides diners with the opportunity to relish freshly caught lobster, crab and fish while taking in unmatched views of the Cornish coastline.

Immersed in Portloe’s history, The Lugger was once a notorious smuggler’s refuge, with its landlord even meeting his end at the gallows during the 18th century for smuggling French brandy.

For those favouring a valley-facing view and a more traditional pub atmosphere, the much-adored Ship Inn awaits – originally a 17th-century fisherman’s abode that remains decorated with maritime memorabilia.

Serving delicious meals, The Ship Inn has established its reputation on fresh seafood whilst also accommodating lovers of more typical pub favourites.

One Tripadvisor review of this beautiful village reads: “One of those hidden treasures that we love. Tucked away and not easy to find, but so well worth the trip.

“There is no beach to speak of, this is still very much a fishing village. One hotel, one pub, lots of fancy pants second homes and a handful of old fishing boats plying their trade.

“A great place to start a section of the coast path also. Or just sit and be, and let the day drift by.”

Another visitor said about Portloe: “Lovely, timeless location, where they still winch small fishing boats up on the beach. The only other place I know of like this is Cadgwith Cove on the Lizard peninsula. Simple and unspoiled – thankfully not inundated with tourists like Polperro. There are beautiful clifftop walks to enjoy, or you can just sit and listen to the waves lapping on the shore.”

There’s remarkably little else to keep you busy in this charming Cornish fishing village apart from dining, enjoying a drink and absorbing the breathtaking coastal views – and frankly, we can’t think of a better way to spend your holiday time.