Another hidden gem nestling among the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. This two bedroom ground floor cottage is a perfect retreat for people looking to get away from it all.

It’s quite a new build so all the essentials are well taken care of. Efficient central heating, unlimited hot water, a fully fitted kitchen and immaculate décor throughout. The lounge is comfortably furnished and include a very traditional and handsome welsh dresser. We spent a lot of time with the large patio doors thrown open so as to make the most of the view. The cottage looks out onto the northern slopes of Moelfre and the Llawlech mountain range which stretch out towards Barmouth and the Mawddach Estuary. And cow watching is much more fun than people watching.

There’s separate dining area which sits five or more quite comfortably. Next is the kitchen, quite small but it has everything you’d need including a dishwasher and washing machine. There’s a large bathroom with shower over bath. One twin bedroom room and finally, a large family bedroom with double bed and an extra single bed if required. Opening the curtains in this south facing bedroom every morning was one of my favorite bits of the holiday.

Gallery

Location

I say this about a lot of our cottages. But the location really couldn’t be much better. Hengaeau sits above the pretty little seaside village of Llanfair on the Cambrian coast. You climb up a small lane out of the village before winding your way back down a private driveway to the farm. The nearest beach, Llandanwg, is one of our favorites, with its little rock pools to one side and sandy dunes on the other. The historic castle town of Harlech is about 2 miles to the north. There are three or four pubs in the town as well as a selection of restaurants. There’s also the castle of course and the famous St David’s links golf course.

If you decide to stay at Hengaeau you must also find the time to drive a little further up the lane to Cwm Bychan and the magical lake up there. It’s a beautiful spot and offers some fantastic wild trout fishing. Other popular activities in the area include mountain biking and walking of course.

on a traditional working farm
among the mountains of Snowdonia
two bedroom ground floor cottage

At Dolgadfa, a grade II listed farmhouse and converted barn have been combined to provide some really luxurious self catering accommodation for up to 12 people. Once you turn off the quiet country lane round onto the drive it’s immediately obvious that Dolgadfa is a bit special. The double fronted farmhouse and neighbouring barn flank two sides of a square courtyard. Manicured lawns and the River Dee provide a natural boundary on the opposite side. And all the time, that opulent sound of crunching gravel as the your car slowly rolls up to the front door. Ideally of course, you should be in a Range Rover and have at least one Labrador and two pairs of green Hunter wellies in the boot. But that’s not compulsory.

So already you’re feeling a bit posh and privileged and that continues once you step inside. My favorite room is immediately to the right of the front door of the main farmhouse. A magnificent dining room complete with open fire, mahogany furniture and ancient low wooden beams.

To the left is a smaller kitchen. The original oak panelled walls have been retained and provide testament to the historic significance of this 16th century farmhouse. A lovely traditional Aga set in the original inglenook fireplace is complimented by a more modern electric oven. A separate breakfast room provides the perfect refuge for early risers wanting a quiet cup of tea before the kids get up.

..luxurious self catering..
..Labrador not compulsory..
..open fire and mahogany furniture..

Further on we come to the snug. A small lounge complete with log burner overlooking the paddock and the river beyond. Also on the ground floor is a separate utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer and lazy made and a separate wc.

Upstairs the styling is more subtle. Three bedrooms in total. Two bedrooms have zip and link beds so can be made up as a twin or double. These share a dividing shower room and wc. The 3rd larger double bedroom has its own en-suite with bath and shower attachment. All the bedrooms have been tastefully furnished as you can imagine. Plush curtains and elegant antique pieces of furniture perpetuate the feeling of style and luxury.

Over to the barn next. A slightly more modern feel here as it’s a fairly recent conversion. But every bit as tasteful. I’m guessing guests might retire here after dinner as there’s a really big comfortable lounge with plenty of seating and yet another open fire. And don’t worry, the adjoining utility room has a handy fridge freezer for your ice, beer and wine. There is also a ground floor wc, so you should be set for the night.

..tastefully furnished..
..plush curtains and antique furniture..
..big comfortable lounge..

Three more bedrooms upstairs in this part of the accommodation, all with their individual private bathrooms. The first bedroom is a large twin room which has a French door facing out across the river. The door has a great view but, best of all, it also lets the morning sun pour in at the start of every day. The spacious en-suite has a bath with shower attachment.

The second bedroom is a double and faces onto the courtyard. The original wooden structure of the barn having been left exposed. The adjoining bathroom again, has a full sized bath with shower attachment. Finally the third bedroom is another double with a handsome brass bed. The en-suite has a shower this time.

All the fixtures and fittings, furniture and linen are, of course, immaculately chosen. The rooms are homely without being cluttered and the blank canvas provided by the original barn means that the layout is practical and convenient.

Gallery

Location

Dolgadfa’s fantastic location on the banks of the River Dee just outside Bala in Snowdonia befits this sumptuous property well. Part of the 2,500 acre Crogen Estate the accommodation has private access to some of the finest mature woodlands in Wales as well as the more traditional mountainous Snowdonia landscape. Private fishing rights to the river and grazing paddocks for horses are other benefits. (Grazing is available for guest horses but not stabling.)

There’s a traditional village pub just less than a mile away and a Michelin star restaurant just less than 2 miles away. So both walking distance just about, but bring a torch in winter.

The nearby town of Bala is a Mecca for adventure activities. More fishing opportunities present themselves at Llyn Tegid. Sailing and windsurfing are other popular pursuits there. White water rafting and kayaking is available at the world renowned Tryweryn white water centre. And the town itself is a wonderful mix of traditional welsh culture and contemporary shops and caffes.

Sitting as it does on the Eastern edge of the National Park, this part of Snowdonia has the natural benefit of being easily accessible from the English road network. Although saying that, costal towns such as Aberdyfi to the west and Snowdon itself to the North West are only an hours drive away.

..on the banks of the River Dee..
..a Mecca for adventure activities..
..private fishing and horse grazing..

Becws used to be an old bakery but don’t worry you wont be expected to wake up at the crack of dawn to bake any bread. The building has of course been lovingly restored into a great little holiday cottage. A big oak front door leads you straight into the living area. A high lofted oak beamed ceiling provides a sense of space and light. A large inglenook complete with the original baking ovens dominates the right side of the room. To the left oak kitchen units provide a well equipped food preparation area.

The pretty bedroom has a king sized bed as well as plenty of wardrobe space and lighting. The bathroom next door is spacious and comes complete with a hydrotherapy steam shower. You can of course turn a few nobs and just use it as an ordinary shower if you prefer.

Funnily enough one of the nicest parts of this cottage is the corridor which connects these two living spaces. This corridor has been glazed down one side. Which allows guests to drink in the magnificent views that this cottage enjoys. The french doors here give access to a small, private and sheltered courtyard area. Just perfect for enjoying a glass of wine as the sun dips down into cardigan bay at the end of a relaxing day.

Gallery

Location

Becws might have the best views of all our properties. Sitting in a slightly elevated position this great little cottage looks out over the sands of Shell Island and the Artro estuary and onto Cardigan Bay and the mountains of the Llyn Peninsula beyond. The little village of Llanbedr is about a mile down the road. There are two pubs in the village as well as a small grocery store, post office and butchers.

You’re right on the doorstep of Cwm Nantcol and the Rhinnog Mountains so plenty of opportunities for walkers. And the beaches along this stretch of the north wales coastline are among the nicest in the UK. And no, it doesn’t always rain in wales. Other attractions include golf on the Royal St Davids links course in Harlech, mountain biking at the award winning Coed Y Brennin Centre and White water rafting on the Tryweryn river.

..converted bakery..
..stunning views over cardigan bay..
..ground floor, one bedroom cottage..

Pastel painted garden furniture sits on a manicured lawn. Shaded from the midday sun by a clematis, hanging heavily on a nearby trellis. The borders are full of flowers and a noisy finch twitters angrily as I try to photograph it all for the website. I wonder if Sue and Richard, the owners, would mind sorting out our garden some time.

Ysgubor is a converted 18th century granary one of the larger cottages in a row of 4. The front door opens up onto a comfortable lounge with digital TV and music system etc. The kitchen diner has a country cottage feel and is well equipped. There’s also a large en-suite bedroom on the ground floor. Some beautiful antique furniture adds a touch of class to each room.

Upstairs there’s 3 more bedrooms plus a second bathroom. One large bedroom with 3 single beds and across the hall a very cute child’s bedroom leads onto the master bedroom. All the bedrooms upstairs benefit from large skylights which fill the room with soft light each morning.

Gallery

Location

Ysgubor is a beach lover’s paradise. One of the nicest and cleanest beaches in this part of North Wales is just a short walk away. For us and our two young children it was a daily pilgrimage. Buckets, spades, towels, sandwiches, lots of water, and then a short shuffle in our flip flops to the beach. Stopping only to send Dad back for the forgotten sun cream.

Lots of other things to do in the area as well. A selection of pubs and restaurant if you eventually tire of the BBQ in the garden. Historic castles and monuments are dotted everywhere on the map. Barmouth, a popular seaside town is 3 miles to the south and The Royal St Davids, a beautiful 18hole links golf course, is a short drive to the north. A pair of breeding Ospreys near Tremadog are also attracting a lot of new visitors and finally, the hills behind the village, offer plenty of options for even the most enthusiastic walker.

Beautifully kept garden
Miles of Sandy Beaches
18th Century Converted Granary

Bwthyn is the end cottage in a row of 4 converted barns in Dyffryn Ardudwy, Snowdonia. This two bedroom ground floor cottage is perfect for that traditional seaside holiday.One double bedroom and one twin combined with a large lounge and fully functional kitchen means Bwthyn is ideal for families looking for a quiet break by the sea. It certainly beats camping.

Large floor to ceiling windows down one side means the lounge is nice and bright as well as being spacious. A comfortable sofa and armchairs face a romantic cast iron fire set in the original stone surround. At the other end of the room there’s a large dining table. Great if you’re better than us at persuading the family to sit down together at meal times.

A step up leads to an open plan kitchen. Smaller than the lounge but everything you need is there. Cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle etc. Then two bedrooms, one double one twin. Both bedrooms are spacious and immaculately furnished. That perfect combination of quality period furniture combined with new and clean bedding and linen.

The bathroom has a modern white suite and shower. Here to, the original and exposed oak beams add character and a sense of luxury.

We all agreed that Bwthyn was one of those houses that has a really comfortable feel to it. A space where everyone can relax. Slumped in front of the TV, slouched over a good book, preparing a picnic for our afternoon excursion or just looking enviously out of the window at the perfectly manicured gardens. One day my lawn will look that good.

Gallery

Location

‘Bwthyn’ is located, in my opinion, in one of the nicest parts of the 840 square miles that makes up the Snowdonia National Park. You’re certainly in the heart of the park here. Glorious sandy beaches a stones throw to the west and un-spoilt mountain wilderness to the east. Travel north and you come to Harlech with it’s famous castle and the impressive Royal St Davids links golf course. Further north for Portmeirion, Betws y Coed and of course Snowdon itself. Barmouth and the magnificent Mawddach estuary winding its way past the foot of Cader Idris is a 5 minute drive to the south.

Lots of outdoorsy things to do in the area including the new Mecca of mountain biking, Coed Y Brenin. Definitely worth a trip, whether you’re a complete beginner or one of the world class racers that visit regularly. If you consider other pursuits like white water rafting, mountaineering, wakeboarding and coasteering there’s certainly plenty of opportunities for adrenalin junkies to get their fix. Personally, I prefer to stick to building sandcastles on the beach, but each to their own.

A traditional seaside holiday
In the heart of the Snowdonia National Park
It certainly beats camping

The cosy lounge has one of those invitingly plump sofas as well as a digital tv. The adjoining kitchen is well equipped with the usual oven, microwave, toaster, kettle etc. The ground floor master bedroom has a bed below a charming Georgian type window and, like the rest of the cottage, is refreshingly free of chintz. There’s also a small child’s bedroom suitable for younger children. The bathroom has a shower over bath arrangement and is, again, spotlessly clean.

Gallery

Location

‘Stabal’ is part of a converted row of 4 barns. There’s a beautifully kept garden area which in turn is surrounded by fields full of ubiquitous welsh sheep.

The property sits between the two villages of Dyffryn and Tal y Bont. Dyffryn has a couple of pubs serving food. There’s also a well stocked grocery store, friendly butchers, garage and post office in the village. Tal y Bont is a little smaller but also has a pub and of course the famous ‘Tony’s’ Italian restaurant.

One of the best reasons to visit Stabal is the sandy beach just a short 500m away. This small part of the coastline is the favoured spot of many who are in the know with miles of un-spoilt sandy beach stretching out in both directions. And when you eventually tire of building sandcastles there is of course the adventure playground of Snowdonia itself right on your doorstep. So if you’re looking for that perfect peaceful gateway or a romantic break away from all the hustle and bustle I can strongly recommend Stabal.

A cosy romantic getaway
Miles of sandy beaches
A welcoming home from home

Recently renovated this old stone cottage has been well designed and laid out. Its original stone exterior belies the up to date facilities within. A large bright kitchen-diner boasts a modern fully fitted kitchen as well as fantastic views over the surrounding fields and the mountains beyond.

The lounge is equally spacious. A comfortable 3 piece suit faces onto a renovated stone fireplace and chimney breast The original wooden beams and real wood flooring adds character and warmth to the room.

The adjoining hallway leads initially to the bathroom. Well laid out once again, with a shower over bath. Two bedrooms in total. One twin and one double. So perfect for small families but the price means it’s not unreasonable for two.

Gallery

Location

There is one farmhouse nearby but apart from that Bryncaled is surrounded by green fields on all sides. The area is a stronghold for the welsh language and the cottage offers a true taste of rural Wales. The village of Chwilog is just over a mile away. The village has one pub, The Madryn, a post office and small corner shop for papers etc. The popular harbor town of Pwllheli and its boating marina is 5 miles away and the very fashionable seaside town of Abersoch a little further on again.

These seaside destinations are a must for all guest naturally. (Don’t forget to try the ice cream at ‘Cydwaladers’ when you get to Criccieth.) But the real advantage of staying in this cottage is the fact that the mountains of Snowdonia are also so accessible. Snowdon itself is only a short drive away and the area now offers an abundance of activities for all.

Centres for white water rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing are fast making Snowdonia the in place for adrenaline junkies. More leisurely and cultural pastimes are also available naturally. The area is littered with historic monuments and castles. Criccieth is the nearest, with Caernarfon and Conwy castle all within an hours drive. The gardens at Bodnant are also well worth a visit as are the art galleries in Llanbedrog and Llangefni.

Send me an email if there’s something in particular that interests you and I’m sure I’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

..a beautiful of the Llyn Peninsula..
..a true taste of rural Wales..
..near fashionable Abedovey..

Y Felin is in the rural village of Dyffryn Ardudwy in Snowdonia, half way between Harlech and Barmouth on the Cambrian Coast road. A short grassy drive leads up to a private but sunny garden. (It never rains in Wales, honest!) Slate stepping stones guide you to the front door of this beautiful, typically asymmetrical, 17th century stone cottage.

..sea views..
..original features..
..under floor heating..

Open the door and step onto the warm slates which cover the ground floor. (This under floor heating is a marvellous thing) Modern facilities, dishwasher, washing machine etc are combined with original features like the ledged and braced doors and exposed beams.

There’s a cosy lounge complete with obligatory inglenook or ‘simne fawr’ eith cast iron log burner. Perfect for those romantic evenings cuddled up together on the couch. Upstairs there’s a modern bathroom where the complete with ceramic bath and power-shower and there’s a nice view of the cows from the bath if you leave the curtains open. The two bedrooms are nicely furnished and all the linen was crisp and clean.

Both bedrooms have window seats overlooking the coastline about half a mile away. One disadvantage of this period property however was the painfully low doors. But I learnt to duck by about the third day. In front of the house some old barns and stone walls combine to provide a secluded courtyard type garden. Surrounding that is a 4 acre field which came with the property and was perfect for our Border Collie.

Gallery

Location

The train station is about half a mile away and the bus stop is just up the road. But best of all there are two pubs within walking/staggering distance. Dyffryn was a nice village complete with a small grocery store and butchers, post office and garage. The historic town of Harlech is 10minutes drive to the North and the seaside town of Barmouth is 10 minutes to the south. Moelfre and the Rhinog Mountain rage is just behind you and the beach is just in front of you.

Lots to do in the area, Harlech has it’s famous castle of course as well as a 18 hole links golf course. We also enjoyed our time at the pony trekking school in Dolgellau, a nearby market town.

..historic castles..
..miles of sandy beaches..
..glorious unspoilt mountains..

As we pushed past a fragrant camellia and crossed over a little stone bridge to get to the front door, we knew that Llys Bennar was going to be a bit special.

The cottage is the largest within a collection of 4 barn conversions. An oak panelled hall way complete with antique chair and expensive looking pictures leads off to a well equipped kitchen which is filled with the mouth-watering smell of freshly baked bread, a much appreciated welcome gift from the owners, Sue and Richard. The kitchen in turn leads to the breakfast room. My photo of the breakfast room doesn’t do it justice perhaps. This nice bright room houses a huge long bench seat facing onto an impressive oak table. Perfect for family meals, board games and colouring in!

There’s also a small WC and a boot room come utility next to the kitchen. Ideal for our wellingtons and walking gear. Next door, the games room has a full sized pool table and a handy little docking station for our Ipod. Great fun on a warm evening with the patio doors opened up onto the back garden, drinking a beer and eating peanuts between shots.

The ground floor ensuite bedroom has a super-king bed and would be perfect for grandma and granddad if they can be persuaded to come.

A central stairway leads you to the upstairs lounge. The lounge, once again, is a treasure trove of antique furniture and tasteful décor. Having this room upstairs is fantastic as the views are spectacular. Rolling sand dunes stretch out in front of you and behind them a crystal blue sea and a cloudless sky.

Two bathrooms and three more bedrooms upstairs. A spacious and wonderfully sunny twin room, a smaller room with a set of bunk beds for the children and finally the very impressive master bedroom.

Gallery

Location

The wonderful Bennar Beach with its Green Coast Award is the obvious attraction when you’re staying at Llys Bennar, and is only a 10 minute walk away. But perhaps because the area is renowned for its beautiful coastline the mountains behind are sometimes overlooked. Luckily maybe as unlike Snowdon itself, an hour to the north, the Rhinog Mountains are ignored by many tourists and remains one of the Britain’s few true wildernesses.

Snowdonia is of course fast becoming Britain’s activity capital. Mountain biking, white water rafting, pony trekking, rock climbing are all available nearby. Whilst Celtic hill forts, religious shrines, mighty medieval castles and revealing industrial remains will entertain the more cerebral. We also found plenty of traditional pubs, charming tearooms serving home made cakes and stylish restaurants.

Antique furniture
Miles of sandy beaches
A welcoming home from home

Moelfre, named after the mountain behind the cottage, is a one bedroom barn conversion on a working welsh hill farm. It’s difficult for me to be objective when describing Moelfre as it’s one of the two self catering cottages that we let out ourselves here at Byrdir. But I hope you’ll agree when I say they’re nicely furnished and decorated. We’re certainly very proud with the way they’ve turned out.

Using local craftsmen to completely rebuild an old disused barn, has meant that we’ve been able to use as much natural and local material as possible. Nick and Adam did most of the structural work including laying the natural slate tiles on our heated floor. Mike, a carpenter from the village, hand carved the oak trusses and glazed gable end. Whilst stonemasons Charlie and Rich, two brothers and friends of ours, did a brilliant job of the external granite stone work.  (I was allowed to help with the backbreaking but unskilled work of fetching the stones from the fields.)

We’ve designed the barn with a ‘grogloft’ or sleeping deck up in the eaves of the barn. The velux window up there has a brilliant view over the farm, Moelfre and the Rhinog Mountains. The living area downstairs has an open kitchen. We’ve tried to include everything you’ll need such as a combination oven, hob and dishwasher. The underfloor heating provides more than enough heat but we’ve also installed a cast iron log burner to help create that romantic atmosphere. The french doors open to a fantastic view of the Cambrian coast line and the Llyn Peninsula beyond.

..on a working welsh hill farm..
..complimentary cooked breakfast..
..sandy beaches to the west..

We’ve tried to buy the best fixtures and fittings possible. Including hand made brass lamps, oak furniture and real leather sofas. The bathroom has been kitted out with a powerful thermostatic shower and expensive taps etc. But more importantly perhaps we’d like to think that we’ve invested some time and effort into smaller projects like renovating an old cast iron radiator for the bathroom, making the curtains by hand, restoring some old furniture bought at our local auction and buying some nice ornaments made by friends and neighbors.

Gallery

Location

Moelfre is on the grounds of our farm here at Byrdir where we also run a small B&B (have a look at www.byrdir.co.uk for more information). During the summer months, when the B&B is open, we’ll try and persuade you to join us for a cooked breakfast in the main farmhouse free of charge. Although you’re naturally free to stay in bed and cater for yourselves if you prefer. There are lots of other advantages to staying here on the farm. It’ll give you a chance to get involved in things like feeding the pigs, collecting the chicken eggs and meeting the ducks. Throwing a stick for our border collie, Dell, seems to be the favorite pastime of most of our guest however. Great views in every direction. Views over the Cambrian Coastline and its sandy beaches a mile to the west, Snowdon and her friends are to the north and you are naturally encouraged to explore the rugged Rhinnog Mountains that climb up behind the cottage to the east.

The other attractions associated with Snowdonia are all close by. Historic castle and golf course in Harlech, narrow gauge steam railways in Porthmadog and Talyllyn, slate and copper mines in Bleuna and Beddgelert as well as more adventurous pursuits like kite surfing, white water rafting and mountain biking etc. Let me know what you fancy and I’ll point you in the right direction.

..luxury barn conversion..
..views over the Cambrian coast line..
..in the heart of Snowdonia..