Our Family Weekend in Anglesey
How life has changed.
There was a time when our weekends were spent rushing about the city centre, queuing outside fitting rooms, queuing outside restaurants, rushing home only to get dressed up, go out and queue some more!
Ok so it was a lot more exciting than that at the time, it was perfect for where we were in our life then. These days however, our weekends are exciting in a whole new way. The working week is over and Saturday and Sunday are the only days all of us are together. We love having a big breakfast before heading out for the day, getting fresh air, exploring somewhere new and ending the day with a nice meal in a country pub, that’s a pretty perfect weekend day for us.
In summer last year, after spending our Saturdays at several
properties with friends who were already members, we decided to join too. It’s been one of the best things we’ve done for our little family. We’re gradually working our way through properties and have revisited our favourites several times.
Picnics on a sunny day, or a coffee and cake in the cafe when it’s nippy, we’ll head to National Trust rain or shine. So many of them are wonderful for children, the boys love it, and the fresh air does us all the world of good, recharging our batteries for the week ahead.
I can’t pretend I don’t love the excuse to browse their gorgeous little gift shops, the throws, candles and homewares are always so lovely and seasonal. I also love that the money we spend on both our membership and the growing stash of plant pots I’ve been buying, all go towards helping the National Trust continue with the really amazing work they do here in the U.K.
So yep, we’re all fans of the National Trust, including the boys, who are working their way through their book of 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4.
What we didn’t know though, is that The National Trust also own and run many gorgeous holiday Cottages from their sites across Britain.
We were beyond excited then when they offered us a Mother’s Day weekend away in one of their newest renovations in the beautiful historic county of Anglesey, North Wales.
Despite growing up in South Wales, I have never holidayed in Anglesey, although I have always wanted to. This pretty island is famous for its beautiful coastline, the prettiest red squirrels and of course delicious Môn Sea Salt. Friends that have visited have always gushed about the place and choose to return year after year.
So Mother’s Day weekend, we loaded up the cars and headed for North Wales, a beautiful 3.5 hour drive through the snowy mountains to our home for the weekend.
Set on the stunning Plas Newydd Estate this quirky period Cottage has recently been renovated making it the perfect family friendly base to explore North Wales.
Sleeping 6 across 3 spacious bedrooms, the cottage is cosy and characterful, with bay windows, a log burner and the original quarry tile floor in the sitting room. Fresh blooms and a tin of welshcakes awaited us, we instantly felt at home there. It’s modern and very well equipped but still feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle.
We loved that it was so close to the beautiful Plas Newydd National Trust Property, with a wonderful woodland park for children, coastal walks and views of snow covered snow-covered Snowdonia.
While we were away I made a little film of our weekend and I think it’s one of my favourites. All the lovely moments of my parents with the boys captured and Colin’s birthday too.
You can watch it HERE.
I would highly recommend a trip to Anglesey, we will most definitely go back and stay here again. I thought the Cottage was a perfect weekend nest and a base to explore. A friend visited with her family a few weeks after us on our recommendation, and was so impressed with all of the facilities.
A big thank you to the National Trust for all of the amazing weekends we have spent enjoying their hard work, and of course for gifting us with this beautiful family weekend to remember.
You can become a member of the National Trust just HERE.
