When You Can’t Change the Weather, Change Your Scenery: The Joy of a Windswept Walk

There’s a particular kind of magic in a North Wales storm. Rain threads through the trees, mist curls around crags, and the wind presses your coat close. The world sharpens, sounds carry further, and every step feels vivid. These are walks made for wet days, bracing, dramatic, and utterly alive, paired with hideaways that welcome you with fire, warmth, and a view that makes every storm worthwhile.

Here are four walks, each paired with a Bolthole that makes the day complete.

Anglesey: Trearddur Bay & the South Stack Coast Path

Start your adventure at Min y Mor, perched on the cliff edge at Trearddur Bay. This dramatic home sleeps eight across four airy bedrooms, with vast windows looking straight over the Atlantic. The open-plan kitchen and dining space spill onto a terrace perfect for watching a storm unfold, while the living room, cushions piled high, offers the ultimate vantage point for sunsets, sea spray, and sky in motion. After a long walk, the four bathrooms, including a wet room and ensuite, make drying off simple.

From Min y Mor, take the South Stack coastal path to Rhoscolyn – a there-and-back route of roughly 5 miles. Follow the clifftops along the dramatic coastline, past seabird colonies and tiny coves, with the lighthouse as a steady companion through the mist. This is a brisk, invigorating walk: wind at your back on the return, waves crashing below, and the sharp scent of seaweed and salt in the air.

When you reach Rhoscolyn, retreat to Scarlet’s for a hot meal, or grab a quick sweet treat at The Sea Shanty. Then return to Min y Mor, towel off, pour a drink, and sink into the panoramic views, watching the storm roll across the sea from the warmth of the house feels like a reward you’ve truly earned.

From left to right: Min y Mor overlooking Trearddur Bay, the South Stack Coast Path

Llyn Peninsula: Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd

Glyn y Weddw is no ordinary base. Set in the rear wing of a historic 1857 dower house, this four-bedroom apartment sleeps eight and gives you private access to the mansion’s gardens and woodland. The building itself is a gallery, with exhibitions by contemporary Welsh artists, and an award-winning on-site café serves thoughtful meals in a space as sculptural as it is delicious.

From the apartment, head straight onto the Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd circular trail – a 3.5-mile loop that starts from the gallery grounds. The path winds through specimen woodland, along headlands with views over Llanbedrog Beach, and through soft, mossy trails where the drizzle brings every colour to life. The loop returns to the gallery, making it perfect for wet weather: stop at the café mid-walk for coffee or tea and watch the sea roll in. For those who want a splash of fresh air after the walk, the beach is only 200 yards away.

Back at Glyn y Weddw, you can unpack your wet jackets, explore the private gallery wing, or simply sink into the lounge and watch the Atlantic grey shimmer from the apartment’s windows. Even in rain, the history, art, and seaside views make this stay extraordinary.

From left to right: Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, the Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd circular trail

Snowdonia: Betws-y-Coed & the Gwydyr Forest

Bryn Afon in Betws-y-Coed is the kind of house that feels perched in the trees, and in the heart of adventure. Sleeping twelve across six bedrooms, with terraces overlooking the River Llugwy, it gives immediate access to forest, river, and village. Inside, period features, a games room, and a large kitchen make it a house for groups who want comfort and space after a storm.

From Bryn Afon, take the Llyn Elsi circular walk, a 2.5-mile loop through Gwydyr Forest. The trail climbs gently through mossy pines, past waterfalls, and alongside rushing streams. In mist or drizzle, the forest feels almost magical; the sound of water and wind dominates, broken only by birdsong. For a slightly longer day, extend your walk downstream along the riverside path toward the Miners’ Bridge, or upstream to Swallow Falls.

Afterwards, pop into Betws-y-Coed for a warming cup at Ty Gwyn Coffee House or a bowl of soup at Pete’s Eats, then return to Bryn Afon to relax on the river terrace or light a fire inside. The combination of exertion, rain, and comfort makes for a restorative rhythm that only Snowdonia can offer.

From left to right: Bryn Afon, Gwydyr Forest

Conwy Valley: Conwy Castle & Riverside Walks

Cockleshell Cottage is a jewel tucked behind Conwy’s 800-year-old walls. This compact, two-bedroom cottage sleeps four and boasts a rooftop balcony with castle views. Inside, the stone inglenook, wooden dining table, and curated furnishings offer warmth and charm after a wet day exploring the town.

Take a 2-mile circular riverside walk from the cottage along the Conwy Quay and Promenade to Cae’r Castell, with views of the castle walls, boats in the water, and the hills rising in the distance. The path is wide and accessible, perfect for drizzly days, with plenty of benches and viewpoints along the way.

When you return, choose from several nearby eateries: The Jackdaw offers a cosy evening meal (booking recommended), while Johnny Dough’s serves excellent pizza. Then retreat to the cottage, pour a drink, and watch the rain fall across the castle from the balcony, a moment of stillness that perfectly frames the day.

From left to right: the view from Cockleshell Cottage, Conwy Quay

Why Rainy Walks Work

Rain and wind sharpen the senses: moss glows, streams roar, and the hills feel alive. Each walk is structured, circular or there-and-back, manageable, and designed for maximum impact in wet weather. Then there’s the return: houses that welcome you with fire, hot drinks, riverside views, and the kind of comfort that makes every storm feel like part of the adventure.

North Wales proves that you don’t need perfect weather to have perfect days. The scenery is ever-changing, the walks invigorating, and the hideaways, carefully chosen, thoughtfully designed, make every storm a memory worth savouring.