Douglas Arms Hotel, Ogwen Terrace, High Street, Bethesda, Gwynedd, LL57

It is most certainly a rarity for an Inn with such provenance to come to the market and the Douglas Arms Hotel is definitely a unique premises located in this beautiful corner of North Wales. The Inn needs little introduction, standing in a prominent roadside position within the slate quarry village of Bethesda, a landmark building which has played a pivotal role within the community for some 200 years. Grade II Listed, it’s thought the hotel was built c.1820-1830 as a coaching inn to provide accommodation for travellers on Thomas Telford’s new turnpike London to Holyhead Road (now the A5), it is a good example of a substantial late Georgian coaching inn. This is a three storey, three window range symmetrical building with two parallel ranges and a large hipped square roof lantern over the centre valley, affectionally known as the Belvedere – this of course provides panoramic views. As well as the sizeable accommodation, there is an impressive cellar/basement with a slate flagged floor which has seen some use down through the years and is still in use to this day. The hotel has been in the same family and lovingly maintained since 1913 with much of the interior unchanged since the 1930s. Like stepping back in time, they certainly don’t make Inn’s like this anymore! The Douglas Arms is complemented by generous gardens which run adjacent to the River Ogwen, a section of which is utilised as a beer garden with views of the Nant Francon valley and high peaks of the Carneddau range. The village of Bethesda is situated on the historic A5 thoroughfare, a village established on the back of Penrhyn Slate quarry, still a major employer in the area to this day. Bethesda borders the beautiful Snowdonia National Park and is surrounded by magnificent countryside including the higher mountain ranges and the stunning Nant Francon Valley. A good range of amenities can be found within the village with two large village stores as well as a number of independent traders, eateries and pubs, schools, numerous leisure facilities (leisure centre, bowling and cricket clubs) and the longest zip wire ride in Europe situated within the slate quarry. The larger city of Bangor is approximately 6 miles distant, well known for its university and national rail links with the A55 expressway located only some 3 miles distant, ensuring quick and easy access to the northern coastal attractions and the Isle of Anglesey.