Hertfordshire Snowdownia Centre

You wake to the sound of the Glaslyn river and the sight of Snowdon's ridges catching first light through the hostel window.

This is proper basecamp territory for walkers and climbers who want the mountains on their doorstep without faffing about with tent pegs in a Nantgwynant squall. The hostel bunks suit groups and solo hikers happy to share facilities, while the camping pods work for couples or small families wanting their own space after a day on the peaks. You're deep in Eryri National Park here, with the Watkin Path and Rhyd Ddu routes both close, and the Nantgwynant valley itself offering everything from gentle riverside ambles to full-on scrambles.

Facilities aren't spelled out in detail, so ring ahead to check what's provided in the pods versus the hostel rooms. Dogs are welcome but worth confirming when you book. Campfires may be allowed depending on conditions, so ask on arrival. It's open all year, which means you can have this dramatic corner of Snowdonia in winter silence or summer buzz, depending on your nerve and your waterproofs.