Saracen's Head, Beddgelert

Beddgelert is one of Snowdonia’s most desirable destinations, tucked just below the biggest mountain in Wales or England itself. The mesmeric high-altitude scenery will keep your eyes raised for much of your visit, but when they lower to focus on the pressing business of refreshment, they will likely alight on this impressive addition to the village, a Robinson’s Brewery pub prettily standing on the banks of the rushing Afon Colwyn just before the river’s confluence with the Afon Glaslyn.

 The 15 rooms in this big, white, multi-gabled edifice are each individually designed and contemporarily decorated to reflect the landscape hereabouts: the greens of the foliage, the steely greys of water and sky and the purplish dove grey of slate. All accommodations have tea- and coffee-making facilities, wifi, flatscreen TVs, hairdryers and irons. Four rooms are also dog-friendly, which is apt in the place where Gelert, famous loyal hound of Prince Llywelyn the Great, is buried.

 The pub food could be along the lines of scallops with black pudding and pea puree, beef wellington or Welsh lamb marinated in honey. Swill it down with a beer brewed specially for the pub, the Faithful Gelert. And then get out exploring: the surrounding terrain is another of the Saracen Head’s major plusses. For starters, there is a certain canine’s grave to see, and a certain peak to climb.