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, this luxury self catering accommodation near Bennar Beach 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.

Luxury Self Catering Accommodation

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

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Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t 5 star self catering like our other cottages. This is outdoor living at it’s glorious best, with a dash of comfort to help you along.

So you turn up at the farm, a little apprehensive not knowing exactly what to expect. Owners Bethan and Pryderi greet you, and their friendliness and smiling faces put you at ease immediately. The first surprise is the red wheelbarrow. No cars allowed, so the wheelbarrow proves to be a great way of transporting bags across the fields to your dome. The next surprise is the communal kitchen, showers and toilet. All very clean and much more luxurious than we were expecting. Kitchen facilities are basic but includes some gas rings for cooking, a fridge and electrical sockets for charging your phone etc.

..glamping on the Llyn..
..outdoor living..
..futureistic structure..

After a quick look round we followed Pryderi and our red wheelbarrow along the riverbank. We are introduced to some chickens along the way but they didn’t seem very impressed with their new neighbours so we quickly moved on. Equally blasé sheep watched us as we cut across a field to our dome. A slightly futuristic looking structure in this most rural of landscapes.

We duck inside the zipped opening into a room of white canvas pulled tightly over a lattice of steel tubing. You get the impression that these domes are particularly well designed and put together. Everything from their construction, location and the furniture within has been carefully considered and chosen.

An impressive bespoke wooden bed at the centre complete with storage draws underneath and useful hanging hooks on the back of the headboard. Two single futons at the foot of the bed facing outwards through the clear panels that rap around the far side of the dome. Best of all perhaps is the small log burner sitting on a piece of local slate. A windup radio and light sitting on the bedside table are a small concession to modern technology.

Outside there’s a sturdy picnic bench, small BBQ and a portable camp fire pit all within earshot of the nearby stream. Situated a discreet distance away among some hawthorn trees is the little wooden shed that houses your own compost loo. I know you wont believe me, but it really doesn’t smell at all inside the shed. Honestly it doesn’t. Saying that I did tend to pop into the flushing version near the car when we were passing.

Glamping North Wales

Location

The Glamping North Wales eco domes are located on a small rural sheep farm just a stone’s throw away from the mountains of Snowdonia and the Beaches of Abersoch. The farm itself is two miles away from the nearest main road, so your peace and tranquility is assured. Long walks from your base are naturally possible but a short drive will take you to the more well trodden paths leading up Snowdon and the surrounding mountains.

In the other direction the beaches and coves of the Peninsula are a favorite of lots of our summer guests. The ever popular Abersoch as well as the market town and sailing harbour of Pwllheli attract thousands of visitors every year. But we’d also suggest also exploring quieter locations like Aberdaron, Porth Dinllaen and Criccieth.

..small rural sheep farm..
..beaches of Abersoch..
..mucking around in the stream..

Popular local attractions include the petting farm near Chwilog, Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway, Glasfryn Adventure Park and numerous castles and historical sites. But if I were you I’d spend most of your time mucking around in the stream, getting grass stains on your trousers, drinking hot chocolate from a tin cup and eating burnt sausages with beans for tea. Glamping North Wales | Unique Eco Pods on the Llyn Peninsula

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Moelfre, Self Catering Barn Dyffryn Ardudwy, 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.

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

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.

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.

Self Catering Barn Dyffryn Ardudwy

Location

Moelfre Self Catering Barn Dyffryn Ardudwy 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. 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.

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

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.

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Gorwel-March – sleeps 5 Arrive: Sat 01 Jun 2013 Depart: Sat 08 Jun 2013 (7 nights) Gorwel-March | 5 star log cabin with sea views in Abersoch. Self Catering Holiday cottage with uninterrupted views across Cardigan Bay and the Snowdonia Mountains. [Read more..]

£670.00 £580.00 Book online

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A huge, stone floored, kitchen diner greet guests as they enter the cottage. Locally sourced oak beams span the high vaulted ceiling of this impressive space. An oak kitchen flanks the left hand side of the room and includes a beautiful range cooker and modern fridge freezer. An integrated dishwasher is also included. Washing machine and separate dryer are located in a utility area next door.

..labour of love..
..attention to detail..
..fantastic view of the valley..

On the opposite side of the room an oak table looks out onto a fantastic view of the valley. A large patio window framing the scene perfectly. The table itself is of course constructed from locally sourced oak and put together by a family friend. (Mine’s on order!)

Next, a ground floor en-suite twin bedroom is perfect for grandma and granddad perhaps. A wooden floor and more bespoke furniture give the room warmth and style. The en-suite has a large shower cubicle, wc and washbasin. There is also a separate ground floor wc adjacent to the kitchen for the kids when they run in from the garden.

From the kitchen diner we can also walk through to a smaller snug. Here, a two seater leather sofa faces onto a cute wood burning stove. A great spot for mum and dad to hide. Pictures from local artists adorn the walls. Pictures which perhaps, try to capture the essence of this area and all its beauty for people not lucky enough to experience it first hand like the guests to this self catering cottage near Bala.

The much larger lounge next door houses two striking red leather sofas. An impressive top of the range smart TV hanging on the wall adjacent will ensure that the gadget fanatics in your group will be well entertained as they flick from the usual digital TV channels to browsing the net and youtube videos, to checking emails or listening to DAB radio. Those lower down on the TV remote pecking order can be consoled by the fact that each bedroom also has its own flat screen TV.

Upstairs we have two more en-suite bedrooms. One double, one twin. Both these en-suites have a shower over bath arrangement. Here again the choice of fixtures and fittings is faultless. And the substantial oak doors and luxurious beds add to the general feeling of quality and excellence.

Self catering cottage near Bala | Talybont

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Location

The village of Llanuchllyn on the southern tip of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) is just over a mile away. The steam train that runs along the edge of the lake sets off from here. The village is also home the famous Eagle Pub. There’s a short cut across the fields back to the cottage, but don’t forget to bring a torch.

Bala itself is a 5 minute drive away and is a charming example of a welsh market town. A wonderful mix of traditional welsh culture and contemporary shops and cafés. The surrounding area has long established itself as a Mecca for adventure activities. Sailing, kayaking and windsurfing can be enjoyed on Bala lake and the world renowned Tryweryn white water centre is just on the outskirts of the village.

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. But seaside towns such as Aberdyfi and Barmouth are only an hour drive to the west. Similarly Snowdon is a little less than an hour to the North.

..on the banks of the river..
..Mecca for adventure activities..
..Bala Lake nearby..

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This two bedroom self catering house in the seaside village of Dyffryn Ardudwy on the west cost of the Snowdonia National Park was formerly the home of the local minister. The property has been recently renovated to a very high standard. I know everybody says that, but this one really is posh.

..sleek kitchen..
..this one really is posh..
..like a hotel but better..

Open plan living down stairs. The sleek kitchen has all the facilities you’d want including a dishwasher and washing machine. Outside, there’s a lovely raised decking area just off the kitchen. Patio furniture and a small BBQ allows guests to make the most of those sea views and has the benefit of being a real suntrap from lunchtime onwards. There is also a lawned garden area but this is the other side of a side lane, which means younger children probably shouldn’t be left there unsupervised.

Back into the kitchen of this luxury cottage with sea views and a breakfast bar separates this area from equally plush dinning chairs and table. Dinner can be enjoyed whilst looking out over the sandy coastline that makes this part of north wales so popular with many of our guests.

Just round the corner is a spacious lounge with two comfortable sofas facing onto a large flat screen tv complete with surround sound speakers. The state of the art heat exchanger will provide more than enough warmth via the under-floor heating system but the best gadget in the lounge is the wall heater. Guests have the choice of projecting 5 different types of fire onto the front panel with the option of crackling sound effects if you want. My favorite however, is the ‘aquarium’ setting.

Floor level led lights lead you up the carpeted staircase to two spacious bedrooms, both of which are en-suite. The double room, again, has fantastic sea views and contemporary fittings and fixtures including the 3rd of 4 flat screen tv’s in the house. The deluxe en-suite bathroom has a large bath with a shower over. The twin bedroom next door also has a large shower in it’s en-suite bathroom.

5 Star Luxury Cottage with Sea Views | Ty-Capel

Location

Dyffryn Ardudwy is a bustling sea side village half way between Harlech and Barmouth on the western edge of Snowdonia. The village has a butchers, post office and small grocery shop as well as a couple of cafés and two pubs serving food. (The pubs are within easy walking distance of the house.) The larger towns of Barmouth and Harlech offer a wider selection of shops and restaurants and are 10 minutes away by car.

The area’s most obvious draw is the miles of clean sandy beaches nearby. But guests should also take the opportunity to explore the rugged rhinog mountains also accessible from the house. Snowdon itself is a 40 minute drive to the north.

Other activities within a short car journey include mountain biking at Coed Y Brennin, white water rafting at Tryweryn and pony trekking in Betws Y Coed. Smaller independent activity providers will also take you gorge walking, kite surfing, climbing etc. Two many to mention.

You can’t drive for more than five minutes in this area without passing a burial ground, castle or some sort of historic monument. And our more recent industrial past can be re-lived with trips on narrow gauge steam railways and by exploring underground slate mines.

Or, you could just sit on that decking area, read a book, drink a glass of wine and watch the sun go down.

..bustling seaside village..
..rugged Rhinog mountains..
..historic monuments..

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Bwthyn Clyd is the second cottage that Bethan and Gary have renovated. And it’s every bit as stylish as their first one, Bwthyn Bach. It’s been immaculately decorated and filled with modern elegant furniture.

As you walk in, stable doors open onto a spacious lounge with leather furniture, flat screen tv etc. On the right, a breakfast bar separates this living area from a modern galley kitchen. All the facilities you’d expect here and, again, the crockery and accessories are tastefully chosen. Bethans influence I suspect more than Gary’s. A door to the left leads to the double bedroom with its luxurious king size bed. The contemporary bathroom includes a large shower cubicle with power shower. Lots of storage space which is perhaps unusual for a holiday let. And the bedding and towels are crisp and fresh as guests to the first cottage would expect. All in all a perfect base for couples or young families to explore this rural part of southern Snowdonia.

Gallery

Location

In the summer most people will visit the cottage because of the miles of Green Coast award winning sandy beaches nearby. And there certainly worth the trip no matter what time of year you decide to stay. But this particular corner of Snowdonia also offers walkers a wealth of undiscovered bridleways and footpaths in some of the most beautiful scenery of the National Park.

The mountains here offer a welcome alternative to the more heavily visited peaks to the north. You can walk the higher ridges here all day without bumping into another living sole. I’m not sure if there are many areas in the UK where that’s still true.

There are two pubs in the village both serving food as well as a post office, small grocery store and garage. The larger towns of Barmouth and Harlech are 5 miles to the south and north respectively.

Perfect Romantic Getaway
Near the Beautiful Bennar Beach
Tastefully Furnished Through Out

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This impressive grade two listed property is on the outskirts of Dolwyddelen in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. The property has been split into two parts. And although it can be rented in its entirety in this instance I’d like to describe the westernmost half called No.2. I bet you can’t guess the name of the other half! Thick stonewalls divide the two halves and there are two separate private gardens so no need to worry about the neighbours unless you want to say hello.

..grade two listed building..
..beautiful mahogany table..
..warming log fire..

The entrance at the rear of the property leads you into the kitchen. Modern fitted units including a dishwasher and washing machine are integrated very nicely with older period features such as the flagged stone floors and cast iron range. There’s also a wine cooler which can hold 40 bottles of wine!

The dining room next door is dominated by a beautiful mahogany table. Surrounded by antique upholstered dining chairs and warmed by a real log fire. Perfect for a large family banquet.

The lounge is equally sumptuous. So large in fact that we happily played table tennis with the supplied set at the back of the room whilst grandparents watched the telly in front of a second real fire. Only ducking occasionally as the odd ping-pong ball went astray. Large leather sofas and a big flat screen tv finish off this grand room.

Grade II Listed Property in the Heart of the Snowdonia National Park

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Location

The cottage is in a fantastic central location, within half an hour of leaving your front door you can be sunbathing on the beaches of Harlech, white water rafting on the Tryweryn ore horseriding through the Gwydyr Forest.

Dolwyddelen has one pub, one shop, one restaurant, one church and one school. Not huge I grant you but I think all the basics are covered there and all within walking distance of the cottage. There are lots of walking routes up into the hills also available from your front door. If nothing else, all our guests should walk the short distance up to Dolwyddelen Castle which dominates the skyline in this rural valley.

..central location..
..Dolwyddelen Castle..
..5 mins from Betws Y Coed..

Dolwyddelen Castle in the Snowdonia National Park was built by Llywelyn ab Iorweth or Llywelyn the Great, during his reign over most of Wales in the early part of the 13th Century. Llywelyn’s birth place is closer still. Literally in a clearing at the foot of the garden a tree covered hill signifies the spot where an even older, wooden fort used to stand.

Betws Y Coed, a bustling little town in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park is famous with out door enthusiasts is only 5 minutes drive away, and has a larger selection of shops and restaurants. Bleunau Ffestioniog, 5 minutes in the other direction is better known for it’s industrial heritage. Slates excavated from the surrounding mountains are quoted as having roofed the world. This period in history can be relived by visiting the underground tours at Llechwedd Slate Caverns. The narrow gauge steam locomotive that used to hall slate down to the harbor in Porthmadog now carries tourists along one of the prettiest railway routes in the world. Another exiting new development in the town is the down hill mountain biking centre.

This extreme form of mountain biking complements the more well established cross country mountain biking centre at Coed Y Brennin. And on the way there, you’ll pass the newly developed fishing lake at Trawsfynydd in the Snowdonia National Park. This 1200 acre lake contains both brown and rainbow trout, as well as Perch, Rudd and Pike.

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I’ve been to Sylfaen a number of times before, our oldest daughter, Lowri, is best friends with Alaw, the youngest daughter at the farm. I knew there were some fantastic views up in those hills above Barmouth, I knew there were some fantastic old farm cottages up there. But I was still amazed when Rob, Alaw’s dad, took my a little further up the valley to see his newly restored stone cottage.

Formerly the home of a sea captain sailing from Barmouth, this 3 bedroom stone cottage commands truly spectacular views over the Mawddach estuary and Cader Idris beyond. The cottage itself is a traditional build of stonewalls under a welsh slate roof. I was sold on the place before I stepped over the threshold. But I can happily report that the cottage is perfect on the inside too.

..spectacular views..
..log burner..
..original oak frame..

As you step in, a lovely log burner has been placed in the large original inglenook fireplace to the left. This, combined with some comfortable seating and rustic oak beams creates a lovely cozy sitting area. A modern fitted kitchen has been installed to the right. Practical functionality, integrated dishwasher, modern cooker etc., plus nice touches like a granite worktop and a Belfast sink. The small dinning area is adjacent.

A door leading off the kitchen takes you to a split level bedroom area. Upstairs a large double bedroom has the best views in the house perhaps. Downstairs there’s a smaller twin room. All the beds are as you’d expect of a 5 star cottage and covered with crisp clean linen. The bathroom next to this twin room has a modern white suite with bath and shower attachment.

Back into the kitchen to climb up the bespoke spiral staircase to the last and largest of the three bedrooms. The original oak roof frame gives this en-suite double bedroom a special sense of character and style. The en-suite bathroom has a modern powerful shower as well as a luxurious roll top bath.

Gallery

Location

Many visitors to this area will have already ventured up out of Barmouth to explore the well-known Panorama walk. Famous for it’s vista across this seaside location. Few if any will have climbed further up this single track road however. The views up here are even better of course. I suspect the pleasure of the observer is enhanced by the knowledge that only a handful of people are privy to this secret spot.

Barmouth itself has been a popular seaside holiday destination since Victorian times when the new Cambrian coast railway opened up this secluded part of North Wales to the cities and towns of England. The conversion of Coed-Y-Moel into a well-appointed self-catering holiday cottage is evidence of a new trend towards more luxurious accommodation and a renewed enthusiasm for the region.

..seaside location..
..secret spot..
..adventure sports..

And it’s difficult not to get exited about the area. Adventure sports are becoming increasingly popular. Everything from kite surfing and sea kayaking to rock climbing and mountain biking. More unhurried activities such as fishing, golf and walking are also enjoyed by many. Our more cultured guests will enjoy the huge array of historical attractions. Narrow gauge steam railways and slate quarries lay testament to our industrial heritage while impressive castles like Harlech and Caernarvon remind us of a time when Celtic – Anglo relations wern’t quite as amicable as they are now perhaps.

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