Boltholes made for BBQs
WHere long evenings, good food and open skies come together
There’s something about cooking outside that changes the rhythm of a holiday.
Someone takes charge of the grill while others gather nearby with a drink in hand, simply enjoying the warmth of the evening. In North Wales, where sea air, mountain views and big skies come as standard, a barbecue isn’t just a way to cook, it becomes the centre of the day.
These boltholes are made for exactly that.
Mynydd Ednyfed, Criccieth – For big gatherings and BBQs that turn into full-blown feasts
If ever a house was designed for outdoor cooking on a grand scale, it’s Mynydd Ednyfed.
Set within seven acres of gardens just outside Criccieth, this is a place where a simple barbecue can easily evolve into something far more ambitious. Why not get lobsters delivered from a local supplier? It only seems fair when the outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a Kamado BBQ and pizza oven, meaning you’re not just grilling, you’re slow-roasting, baking, experimenting. It’s the kind of setup that invites long, sociable cooking sessions with a crowd gathered round.
Inside, there’s space for up to twenty at the dining table, but when the sun appears, meals take place outside. Plates are carried across lawns, glasses refilled, and people settle into pockets of the garden as the evening unfolds.
With sea views in the distance, a tennis court, hidden patios and endless space to roam, this is a bolthole where BBQs become events in themselves, the kind that no one is in a hurry to end.
From left to right: Mynydd Ednyfed’s outside table, its lawn in front of the house and conservatory, its Kamado BBQ
Moranedd, Anglesey – For coastal suppers with salt in the air
At Moranedd, the sea is never far away, and neither is the feeling that food should be fresh and shared outside.
Just a short walk from Porth Trywyn (Borthwen Beach), this house is perfectly placed for days that revolve around the coast, swimming, walking, or simply watching the tide shift. And when it comes to food, the barbecue naturally takes centre stage.
Pick up fresh seafood on the way at the Menai Seafood Company, bring it back to the house, and cook with the doors thrown open to the garden. The veranda becomes a natural gathering spot, glasses clinking as the sun begins to dip, while the scent of food drifts out across the lawn.
There’s something effortlessly relaxed about evenings here. Maybe it’s the vast skies, or the proximity to the water, but BBQs at Moranedd tend to stretch into stargazing by the lake, with the last of the warmth lingering in the air.
From left to right: Moranedd’s open sea view, Moranedd
Plas Madoc Coach House, Conwy Valley – For garden feasts with a touch of theatre
At Plas Madoc Coach House, the barbecue setup has been thoughtfully designed to feel almost like an extension of the house itself.
Set within an historic estate in the Conwy Valley, the outdoor space is expansive and considered. A built-in barbecue, pizza oven and generous dining terrace create the perfect setting for al fresco feasts, while the Big Green Egg stands ready for slow-cooked suppers that draw everyone outside.
This is a place where cooking becomes part of the experience. Pick up your steak and burgers nearby from Edwards of Conwy, and even gather your vegetables straight from the garden beds, for everything to then come together over fire and flame.
As the evening cools, the hot tub calls, the outside fridge keeps drinks close at hand, and the wide lawns stretch out under darkening skies. It’s easy to lose track of time here, moving between table, terrace and garden as the night settles in.
From left to right: Plas Madoc Coach House’s Kamado BBQ, its outside dining space
where evenings linger
A good barbecue isn’t just about the food. It’s about where it happens, the setting, the people, the joy of evenings without a plan.
Find the right place, light the coals, and let the rest take care of itself.
