LOCATION
Often referred to as the gateway to Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed is a picturesque village nestled in the heart of North Wales. Surrounded by alpine forests, hidden waterfalls, and the rugged beauty of the Snowdonia National Park, this historic area offers a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility. Explore charming local shops, dine in cosy pubs, and explore scenic trails. Whether you're seeking a peaceful break in nature or an active escape with hiking, biking, and sightseeing, Betws-y-Coed has it all.
Liverpool: 🚗 1hr 30 drive / 🚂 2hr train
Manchester: 🚗 2hr drive / 🚂 3hr train
Birmingham: 🚗 2hr 30 drive / 🚂 2hr 45 train
London: 🚗 4hr 30 hr drive / 🚂 4hr train
Our fave things to do in Betws-y-Coed
Merlin's estate has a private wild swimming spot just a few minutes walk from the cabin. Relax there with a book or take a cold plunge to boost your dopamine for the day.
Lima Gardens, which are on the estate, host garden open days, flower arranging courses, wreath making classes and even yoga sessions. You can book any of these sessions on their website here.
Explore the local village of Betws-y-Coed which is packed with traditional stone-and-slate houses, quaint independent shops and the infamous Pont y Pair Bridge. The village is also the starting point for some amazing walks to Swallow Falls or Lyn Elsi.
Gwydir Forest Park surrounds Betws-y-Coed and is filled with mountain lakes, woodland trails and rushing waterfalls. There are many different routes for all abilities, each taking you through alpine forests and showcase far reaching views across the might mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia).
Start your walk to Conwy Falls through scenic woodlands behind the Conwy Falls Café. Locally known in Welsh as Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, the waterfall is incredible and also famous for salmon jumping.
Take a beautiful walk from Betws-y-Coed to Swallow Falls on the River Llugwy. The walk takes you through forests and along the river, ending at impressive rapids. The popular viewpoints are on the south bank, but for a better view with fewer people, try the north bank.
Try Hangin’ Pizzeria for some banging pizzas. Or head to Olif tapas bar for locally sourced small plates, including Welsh Chorizo. For a coffee pitstop or something sweet, try Alpine Coffee Shop which is a dog-friendly coffee shop with freshly cooked lunches, snacks and treats.
Head to Zipword set in stunning woodland setting nestled in the North Wales Conwy Valley. Or try canyoning, gorge walking or abseiling with Seren Ventures.
Explore the old and abandoned mines in the mountains of Snowdonia with Go Below. You'll encounter deep blue lakes, caverns and old mining gear. Go Below offer guided tours for all abilities.
Mon - Fri • 4 nights
Fri - Mon • 3 nights
Mon - Fri • 4 nights
Fri - Mon • 3 nights
Mon - Fri • 4 nights
Fri - Mon • 3 nights
Mon - Fri • 4 nights
Fri - Mon • 3 nights
Find the answer to our most frequently wondered things. Read all FAQs here.
You can travel to Merlin via car or public transport (train and short taxi ride).
After booking your chosen cabin, you’ll receive an online ‘Welcome Guide’ detailing the exact location of the cabin and directions by car or train and taxi. If you’re travelling by train, we highly recommend booking your connecting taxi in advance, as rural locations don’t tend to have Uber!
The cabin is your space to relax in any way you like to, but we’ve kitted it out with lots of phone-free activities, including:
📚 A selection of our fave books
👾 Board games
🃏 Diary of CEO Conversation Cards
📻 Radio Cassette Player + Tapes
📸 Instant Camera + 10 free films
🗺 Map and compass
And of course you might want to head out and explore the local area. The map and welcome guide include recommendations of restaurants, cafes and other attractions nearby.
Check-in is at 3pm
Check-out is at 10am
We don’t currently include food packages, but all cabins have a well-equipped kitchen including a mini-fridge and gas hob to cook up your fave meals. We include pots, pans, cooking utensils and even chef knives. Plus, loose leaf tea, coffee beans, oil, salt and pepper.
If you’re looking for a night or two away from the stove, there’s always plenty of nearby pubs and restaurants listed in our cabin guides.
Yes! All our cabins have hot showers and an eco-composting toilet in an indoor bathroom. We provide eco-friendly toiletries and luxury towels, too!
Merlin is on private land and is lockable from the inside and outside, but it is very remote so it would be a true off-grid experience.
We include enough firewood for your first night. You can add full log store access to your booking for £20 on checkout, which includes firewood, kindling and firelighters.
We recommend you unplug for the full duration of your stay to get the most from your digital detox, but this is totally self-policed. Our lockboxes have a padlock and key, with the key in a sealed envelope, so if you want to unlock it, you can.
We provide you with a Nokia so you can reach our cabin support team and contact friends and family if you need to. The number for the Nokia will be shared with you in advance of your stay.
All our stays are 3 nights as this is the minimum time it takes to fully switch off and reap the benefits of nature and time offline. You can read more about 'The 3 Day Effect' here.
We know plans can change, so we’ll always do what we can to accommodate booking amendments. If your check-in date is over 28 days away, your stay can be rebooked for a new date or you can request a voucher, or a full refund. If your check-in date is within 14-28 days, you can move your stay to a future date, or request a voucher equal to the payment you have made. Cancellations or amendments are unfortunately not possible if your check-in date is in or within 14 days. All bookings have a 48 hour cooling off period, so if you change your mind you can reschedule your stay or get a full refund. Rescheduled stays are non-refundable.
You can read our full terms & conditions here
