Springfield Lodge - 3 Bedroom Home - Princes GateN°001
Wales, United Kingdom
Hot tubFireplace
From $2,169 per night
Wales is a land of rugged coastlines, mountain peaks and storied castles in western Britain. Renting a luxury villa here pairs that wild scenery with privacy, space and concierge care, placing you near Pembrokeshire's beaches, the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia for an unhurried, design-led country escape.
- Pembrokeshire Coast beaches and dramatic clifftop walking paths
- Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia peaks for hiking and stargazing
- Michelin-level dining at Ynyshir, The Walnut Tree and The Harbourmaster
- Medieval castles, Hay-on-Wye book town and the Eisteddfod heritage
- Private villas with pools, concierge and direct booking
Known forRugged coastline, mountain national parks, medieval castles and Welsh heritage
Best time to visitMay to September for warm, dry days; spring and early autumn for quiet trails
Nearest airportCardiff Airport (CWL); Bristol and Birmingham serve the wider region
Ideal forFamilies, walking groups, couples and multi-generational country retreats
The Stables - 2 Bedroom Cottage - Princes GateN°002
Wales, United Kingdom
Hot tubFireplace
From $2,169 per night
The Lodge - 2 Bedroom Cottage - Princes GateN°003
Wales, United Kingdom
Fireplace
From $2,169 per night
Idyllic Country Estate in Princes Gate, WalesN°004
Wales, United Kingdom
From $2,169 per night
Historic Manor House in Tenby, WalesN°005
Wales, United Kingdom
Heated poolSea view
From $1,395 per night
Charming Coastal Retreat in SaundersfootN°006
Wales, United Kingdom
Sea viewWaterfront
From $1,085 per night
77homes available
1–14bedrooms
up to 25guests
Wales in pictures
Where to stay in Wales
Events not to miss in Wales
- Late May to early June
Hay Festival
The world-famous festival of literature and ideas gathers writers and thinkers in the book town of Hay-on-Wye, on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog. Plan a countryside stay around it.
- July
Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells
One of Europe's largest agricultural shows celebrates Welsh farming, food and livestock over four days in mid Wales. A genuine window on rural Welsh life.
- Early August
National Eisteddfod
Wales's roving festival of Welsh-language music, poetry and performance is the country's biggest cultural gathering, held in a different region each year. Check the year's location before you travel.
- September
Abergavenny Food Festival
One of the UK's leading food festivals fills this market town at the gateway to the Welsh borders with producers, tastings and talks. A fine anchor for an autumn foodie escape.
Wales through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Lambing season and coastal walks
Daffodils, newborn lambs and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at its freshest, with puffins returning to Skomer. Quiet roads and long evenings for exploring castles.
- Summer (June – August)
Beaches, mountains and festivals
Gower and Pembrokeshire beaches rival any in Britain, Eryri (Snowdonia) is in full hiking season and the Eisteddfod crowns the cultural calendar. Peak season for coastal houses.
- Autumn (September – November)
Harvest flavours and golden valleys
Food festivals, foraging and fiery colour through the Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons. Storm-watching on the coast pairs well with a wood-burner and a well-stocked kitchen.
- Winter (December – February)
Log fires and castle country
Short days suit bracing beach walks, snow-dusted peaks in Eryri and slow afternoons by the fire. Wales's 600-plus castles are wonderfully empty.
The Area
Wales packs astonishing variety into a compact corner of Britain. Snowdonia rises in the north with its highest peaks and glacial trails, while the Pembrokeshire Coast in the southwest delivers some of the UK's finest beaches and a national coast path. In the middle, the Brecon Beacons and Mid Wales offer rolling uplands, dark skies and waterfall country. Cardiff, the capital, balances Cardiff Castle and the Wales Millennium Centre with a lively waterfront. Smaller towns reward exploration: Conwy with its medieval walls, Hay-on-Wye famed for secondhand bookshops, and Aberaeron's pastel Georgian harbour. A luxury villa lets you settle into this landscape at your own pace, with heritage and wilderness both within easy reach.
Where to Stay in Luxury Villas in Wales
Smiling House curates a collection of luxury villas across the regions that define Wales. Around the Pembrokeshire Coast, properties open onto sea views, sheltered coves and the coastal path, ideal for beach days and clifftop walks. In Brecon, the Brecon Beacons and Mid Wales, characterful country houses sit among hills, rivers and dark-sky reserves, suited to walkers and groups seeking seclusion. Closer to Cardiff, villas blend rural calm with capital-city access. Many homes feature private pools, generous grounds, log fires and concierge support, so chefs, housekeeping and activity planning can be arranged in advance. Whichever base you choose, expect space, privacy and a design-led sense of place.
Things to Do
Wales is built for the outdoors. Hike Snowdonia's ridges or the gentler Brecon Beacons, and walk sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path past hidden coves. The coastline rewards surfers at Llangennith and Rest Bay, while kayaking and paddleboarding suit calmer waters in Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire. Boat tours from Cardigan Bay reveal dolphins, seals and dramatic cliffs. History runs deep: explore medieval castles, Conwy's walls and the book town of Hay-on-Wye. Cultural festivals anchor the calendar, from the historic Eisteddfod to the literary Hay Festival and the Green Man music gathering in the Beacons. A concierge can secure guides, private tours and tee times to match your group.
Dining and Nightlife
Welsh cooking has shifted from hearty tradition to genuine destination dining. Ynyshir near Machynlleth pushes Welsh ingredients through a bold, multi-course lens, while The Walnut Tree near Abergavenny serves refined modern British plates. On the Cardigan coast, The Harbourmaster in Aberaeron is prized for fresh seafood and an easy harbourside mood. Evenings lean toward characterful pubs over late nightlife. In Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach hosts live music and DJs, and The Cambrian Tap pours local craft beer. For atmosphere it is hard to beat the Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllaen, reached on foot along the beach. A private chef in your villa brings the produce home.
When to Visit
Late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, brings the warmest, driest weather and long daylight for coast and mountain. July and August are liveliest and best for beaches, festivals and family trips, though popular paths and towns are busier. Spring and early autumn offer quieter trails, golden light and excellent value, ideal for walkers and couples. Winter is moody and dramatic, well suited to a villa with log fires, dark-sky stargazing and bracing coastal walks. Wales sees frequent rain year-round, so layered clothing and a flexible itinerary always help. Book popular festival weeks and school holidays well ahead.
Getting There
Cardiff Airport is the main gateway to South Wales, with Bristol and Birmingham airports widening international and domestic links for the broader region. London is roughly two hours from Cardiff by direct train, with onward connections toward Mid and West Wales. For Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons, a car is essential to reach rural villas and remote beaches, and to move freely between coast, hills and towns. Smiling House concierge can arrange airport transfers, chauffeur service and car hire ahead of arrival, so you step straight from journey to villa with the welcome, provisions and any activities already in place.