Looking for dry, warm weather, somewhere in Britain – where would you head? How about Wales.
Portmeirion: Wales might be traditionally seen as generally rather wet and cold, but head for the village of Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales, and you’ll find outdoor subtropical gardens! Eucalyptus groves, exotic bromeliads and giant ferns all thrive here due to the area’s rather remarkable micro-climate.
The secret is something called the föhn effect which allows dryer, warmer air, to flow down the lee side of a mountain and can massively reduce the rainfall and wind-chill effects on that side. Those really are proper palm trees in the picture above which shows the central square of Portmeirion.
Overall, this is probably the best place to sun yourself during the cold Winter weekends. There are only two hotels in the village including The Hotel Portmeirion
Pembrokeshire: Although this area on the west coast of Wales isn’t as dry as Portmeirion, the southern edge of Pembrokeshire is one of the sunniest areas of Britain.
Of course we can’t guarantee the day you arrive it won’t rain in either location, but if you’re looking for an escape then these two are a pretty good bet.
Links in the area:
Hotels in Penrhyndeudraeth (very close to Portmeirion)
Visitor attractions around Penrhyndeudraeth
Self-catering in Penrhyndeudraeth
Things to see in Pembroke
Hotels in Pembroke
Self-catering in Pembroke
