ON the outskirts of the Snowdonia National Park is the small Welsh town of Bala.
It’s surrounded by the region of Penllyn with mountain landscapes, large valleys, lakes – and it has an award-winning hotel.
Bala sits at the tip of Llyn Tegid in Snowdonia which is Wales‘ largest natural lake at 3.5 miles long and the town is home to around 2,000 residents.
With its position on the lake, Bala is popular for watersports like sailing, windsurfing and canoeing.
For any keen hikers, the main mountain ranges, Aran, Arenig and Berwyn are less crowded than others in Snowdonia.
But other activities you can do in or around the town include scenic walks or the Bala Lake Railway, and visit local attractions like Caerau Gardens or the National White Water Centre.
Bala is also home to the Palé Hall hotel which has a Michelin Star – an award that celebrates exceptional hotels with character, design and service.
It also has a Michelin Green Star, which recognises commitment to sustainability.
The hotel’s Henry Robertson restaurant has been awarded three AA Rosettes for its fine dining.
The hotel is inside a Victorian Manor house which dates back to 1871 and is set within 50 acres of gardens and parkland.
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It has 18 hotel rooms and four garden suites – room rates start from £360 per night up to £1,200.
The largest suite is Harper’s Barn which sleeps between two and four guests and is tucked away in the grounds.
The two-level residence has two bedrooms, each with its own ensuite, a separate living room, kitchen, dining area, hot tub and a private garden.
There’s plenty to do there too, from wine tasting and cellar tour to fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, pottery classes, as well as fine dining experiences.
The hotel’s restaurant is called Henry Robertson and offers various tasting menus as well as afternoon tea and Sunday lunch.
Visitors sing its praises on Tripadvisor too, one wrote: “Everything about this place oozes class and style without being pretentious or stuffy.
“An amazing country estate with beautiful rooms that makes for a lovely relaxing break.”
The lakeside town in Wales shares its name with a very similar place in Ontario, Canada.
Like the one in Wales, it surrounds Muskoka Lakes that even has the Bala Falls – a large waterfall in Canada.
For more places to visit in Wales, Llandudno was named one of the most affordable places for a beach holiday in the UK earlier this yea.
The Victorian seaside resort is a gem for anyone looking for a UK break on a budget thanks to its affordability, highly rated beaches and activities.
According to Which? Llandudno is rated as one of the top 10 seaside towns in the country.
Up against the likes of Salcombe, Whitley Bay and Newcastle, Llandudno came out on top for being budget-friendly and having incredible beaches.
It also has highly rated beaches with the North Shore Beach and West Shore Beach being known as the “Queen of Welsh Resorts”.
For more hotels, check out this one in Wales right by massive beach resort with medieval castle views and fancy spa.
And another huge Welsh hotel estate with championship golf courses and the country’s largest spa.
