Llandrillo, Wales

When my mum asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year, I asked for a couple of days away for us to spend time together. This is my 9th year abroad and it doesn’t get any easier to be far away from home, so when I am able to I really want to make the most of the time with my family. We decided to book an Airbnb in Llandrillo, a small village near Bala and Corwen. As we were driving to the air bnb we realised we had already been here before in 2021. That time it rained the entire time whereas this time we had glorious weather so it looked very different anyway! The trip was off to an interesting start with Ayla projectile vomiting on the way there. Luckily it seemed to be a one off…

Llandrillo is a sweet little village with not much going on. We had an airbnb opposite a playground and abandoned school, next to a very tasty restaurant called The Berwyn. The owner was kind enough to make us a takeaway one evening and it was an amazing goats cheese portobello mushroom dish with dauphinoise potatoes, chips and veg! Definitely recommend. I did a deep dive on the school after lurking around it and looking in all the windows. There were only 17 children in the school so they now have to go to school in Corwen and people are mad about it.

On the first day we had lunch at the Berwyn Arms, a pub with amazing views of the Dee valley about 20 minutes away.

In the evening we tried to hike to see a stone circle, but unfortunately Ayla is now 16.4kg and unpredictable with walking. I carried her and it was extremely hot.

Sadly we didn’t make it ALL the way to the stone circle but opted to enjoy the view about 3/4 of the way up instead.

Nothing beats UK summer countryside weather and views.

The next morning we went to Rhug Organic Farm for a veggie full english (something I really crave when away), and then went to Bala railway. We realised again we already went on this railway but we went on it again. The conductor was the happiest man in the world to be a train conductor and I think I am in the wrong career.

In the afternoon we went to a little hidden gem called Caerau Gardens. This place was so sweet. The gardens were amazing and they had a really cool play house for children and a fort and a zip line. What a great find. You do have to pay to go in but it is a small family run business and very well maintained and well thought out. Ayla loved all of it.

The following day we went to Ty Mawr country park before heading home. This place has a free farm and has a play area and an easy loop walk. Another good find and very cheap parking!