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.

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.

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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 Rhinnog 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

We turned right in Llanbedr, (there’s only one right turn in the village, so not even I could get confused there) and wound our way up towards the picturesque Cwm Nantcol, a valley sitting between the Rhinog Mountains. The lane eventually led us to a peaceful courtyard area where Dolcymerau was set. It was springtime when we visited, the sun was shining, crocuses and daffodils were in full bloom and new born lambs grazed in the field behind the cottage. Fantastic!

The property is a large converted barn. Complete with lofted ceilings and ubiquitous exposed beams. There were 5 bedrooms in total sleeping 7/8 plus a cot. Lesley and her daughter Claire have a number of properties that they let to holiday makers and their professionalism was obvious. Spotlessly clean and tidy and equipped with everything you could want. Washing machine, dishwasher, wide screen TV, DVD etc.

Claire used to work in the fashion business and would admit to being quite extrovert, so none of your standard décor here. Crammed with interesting furniture and exotic cushions Dolcymerau was a pleasing contrast to the beige walls and Ikea fittings we usually see. The lounge was luxurious and comfortable with its cast iron stove and big sofas. The kitchen, the original dairy, was newly fitted, spacious and well equipped. One of my favorite bits however, was the french doors leading off our bedroom. They overlooked a small field. There was a lake at the far end and a woodland area surrounding that. It was like having a 24 hour nature documentary playing outside your window. Outside there was a nice lawned area with garden seating and BBQ.

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Location

Llanbedr itself was the perfect little village. The river Artro winds its way past two pubs, a corner store, butchers shop and post office. The area itself is famous for shell island and the miles and miles of sandy beaches to either side. Harlech, 3 miles to the north boasts an international links golf course as well as it’s famous castle. And the mountains behind us offered even the most enthusiastic of walkers endless options right from our doorstep. The popular seaside town of Barmouth is 6 miles to the south.

Converted Barn
Unspoilt Rural Setting
Luxurious and Unique Decor

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.

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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..

Caerffynnon, a traditional stone built farmhouse, sits high above the village of Dyffryn Ardudwy and the beautiful Cambrian coast line. The cottage is surrounded by green fields on all sides and only a short drive to the beach. We were lucky enough to be there at shearing time. Aled and Tom worked hard on a hot summer’s day to relinquish all the sheep of their heavy woolen coats. I don’t think they lay this entertainment on for all their guest unfortunately. After that, our peace and tranquility was only disturbed by a small chaffinch in a nearby tree and the occasional bleating of newly shorn sheep.

Again, the layout inside is traditional. A central hallway has a cosy lounge to one side and dining room to the other. Both rooms overlook a mature lawned garden. The kitchen at the back of the house is small but well laid out and well equipped. The bedrooms upstairs are surprisingly spacious for an old house. Two double rooms and two single rooms. So sleeping a maximum of six plus a cot. The bathroom has a large cast iron bath with a shower over.

We immediately felt at ease in this house. There’s a sense throughout the cottage that this is a well loved and cared for home. It was a pleasure returning to its comforting walls after a long day exploring the surrounding area.

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Location

As I said, Caerffynon, is surrounded by green fields. Moelfre and the remote Rhinog Mountains rise up magnificently a short distance behind the house. The fields in front of the house eventually roll down to the village of Dyffryn Ardudwy and then on again to the sandy beach that stretches along this part of Snowdonia.

There are two pubs in the village, both serving food as well as a couple of cafés, a post office, small grocery shop, butchers and a garage. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here Barmouth a typical British seaside town is about six miles to the south and Harlech with its famous castle and links golf course is about six miles to the north.

A wide range of activities available. Age old activities such as walking and fishing are now complemented by more energetic pursuits such as mountain biking, kite surfing and white-water rafting. Or, you could just sit in the garden with a glass of wine and read a book of course.

Gilfach Goch is one of the nicest barn conversions we’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Roger and Lesley have done a fantastic job of transforming their 400 year old barn into a luxury holiday cottage. High oak beamed ceilings are complimented by newly laid solid oak floors with under-floor heating. Tasteful furniture and all the facilities you could wish for, serve testament to their attention to detail.

There’s a comfortable lounge, with TV, DVD etc and the bonus of wireless internet if you’re silly enough to bring your laptop with you. The huge kitchen diner next door is perfect for those evening get togetherws. Plenty of space for everyone to eat and drink together and discuss the days events while the men pour over their OS maps.

Four bedrooms in total, all of them twin rooms. So the cottage will sleep a maximum of 8 plus a couple of cots. But low occupancy discounts are available during off peak times. So don’t dismiss this one if you’re a smaller group. The largest bedroom is en-suite and also benefits from a small kitchenette and sitting area. Two more bedrooms lead off from the lounge but I think my favorite bedroom was the one up in the eaves of the barn. Low ceilings, exposed beams and a perfect little cottage window will mean the children will all be rushing to grab this room first.

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Location

On the outskirts of the charming little village of Llanbedr, Gilfach Goch sits tucked up into a small hill, overlooking the Cambrian plane and its beautiful coastline. The sunsets over the Llyn Peninsula are truly spectacular and this cottage is the perfect place to sit and enjoy them. There’s a long private drive to the cottage so no passing traffic to bother you, just the odd stubborn sheep that may need nudging from the lane. (Don’t worry they don’t bite!)

There are a couple of pubs in the village, a butchers, post office and grocery store. Ten minutes away by car, the towns of Harlech and Barmouth offer a larger choice of restaurants and shops. Lot’s of adventure type activities around, including white water rafting, mountain biking, pony trekking etc. Others will enjoy the prehistoric stone circles, medieval castles and narrow gage railways that dot a landscape steeped in history.

A lot of guests will flock to the cottage for a traditional beach holiday of course. But I’d encourage everyone to explore the mountains behind the house. The Rhinog Mountains and Cwm Nantcol remains one of the UK’s true wildernesses. The mountains here are arguably every bit as spectacular as their more famous sister Snowdon, but benefit from being a bit more undiscovered. At the moment at least.

Luxury Holiday Cottage
Panoramic Views
A True Wilderness

Stabal-Ymlwch has been recently converted from what was a genuine working stable into some attractive and comfortable accommodation for guests wanting to explore Snowdonia. And it’s been done very well. The slate floors, original exposed beams and exposed stonework ensure ensures that the character of this building remains. There are modern features of course. The slate floor is gently warmed by under-floor heating, there’s a newly fitted kitchen, en-suite bathrooms with power-shower etc. And don’t worry, I was reliably informed, that the horses have been found suitable alternative accommodation.

The property can sleep a maximum of 6. But can be booked in conjunction with Stabal-Ymlwch next door which can sleep an additional 5. Perfect for groups or extended families. The master bedroom has one double bed and one single bed. It also has an en-suite shower, sink and wc but it’s best feature is the full length window with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. There’s also a smaller double bedroom and a third single bedroom. One more bathroom upstairs with bath, sink and wc.
Downstairs there’s a spacious kitchen dinner with all the facilities you would need and a wonderful lounge with the all important log burner. Perfect if you’re considering a winter break in the mountains.

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Location

The first thing that everybody writes in the guest book is ‘Fantastic Views!’. And they’re right of course. Stabal-Ymlwch together with Beudy-Ymlwch next door looks out onto some of the most beautiful mountain scenery you could ever wish for. It’s sure to inspire even the most ardent couch potato.
As well as the mountains of Snowdonia the cottage is also ideally suited to explore the seaside villages of the Llyn Peninsula. Criccieth, 3 miles away, is one of those hidden gems of the North Wales coastline. It has, of course, its world famous ‘Cadwaledrs’ ice cream and the usual cafés and fish and chip shops but, for a small village, it boast’s some really quite nice restaurants. The ever popular  market town of Pwllheli and fashionable Abersoch are a little further along the coast. The nearest town with supermarket etc is Porthmadog, some 5 miles away.

Heated slate flooring
A stylish barn conversion
Perfect for groups or extended families

Beudy Ymlwch is a tasteful conversion with some nice modern features like under floor heating and a contemporary fitted kitchen. Two bedrooms in total, all on the ground floor. One double room and one family room with a double and a single bed. The double room boasts an en-suite wet-room and French windows leading out onto the patio. Very cosmopolitan for North Wales don’t you think? At this point you need to picture yourself stepping out onto the patio in your PJ’s with a mug of coffee freshly made by your partner. The morning sun warming your face as you look out onto the mountains of Snowdonia. Have I sold it to you yet?

Anyway, there’s also a large bathroom with bath and shower over, sink, wc etc. The nicest space in the cottage however, apart from outside maybe, is the living area. The lounge, kitchen and dinning have been combined into a large open plan room. Discerning furniture combined with the slate floors, log burner and lofted ceilings give this space a wonderful feel.

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Location

The first thing that everybody writes in the guest book is ‘Fantastic Views!’. And they’re right of course. Beudy-Ymlwch together with Stabal-Ymlwch next door looks out onto some of the most beautiful mountain scenery you could ever wish for. It’s sure to inspire even the most ardent couch potato.

As well as the mountains of Snowdonia the cottage is also ideally suited to explore the seaside villages of the Llyn Peninsula. Criccieth, 3 miles away, is one of those hidden gems of the North Wales coastline. It has, of course, its world famous ‘Cadwaledrs’ ice cream and the usual cafés and fish and chip shops but, for a small village, it boast’s some really quite nice restaurants. The ever popular  market town of Pwllheli and fashionable Abersoch are a little further along the coast. The nearest town with supermarket etc is Porthmadog, some 5 miles away.

Spectacular views
Stay on a working welsh hill farm
Log burner

Pant-Golau is Welsh for sunny or bright valley. And it certainly was the day we visited. This newly refurbished house is on the end of a charming little row of three cottages in a little hamlet called Pensarn. But the country setting belies what is quite a posh and modern property inside. Chic, I think, would be the right word. There’s a thoroughly modern kitchen-diner with all the facilities you would expect. But character is added by an exposed stone wall and the oak lintels which sit above two large windows. With sea views of course.

Plenty of room in the lounge too. Three huge sofas face onto a traditional cast iron log burner (for the romantically inclined) and quite a large flat screen TV just off to the left (for the not so romantic). And the sense of style continues with large hanging prints complementing the soft furnishings and décor. Sea views again of course.

Four bedrooms upstairs. Two doubles and two twins, perfect for a large family or two smaller families. Everything’s brand new, so as you’d expect, the beds are comfy and the linen is all clean and crisp. And all the other boxes have been ticked, bed side lamps, large wardrobes, luxurious carpet, tasteful curtains etc. Oh, and the sea views are even better up here.

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Location

As mentioned, Pant-Golau is one of a small collection of houses in Pensarn which is a mile or so to the north of the charming little village of Llanbedr. Just about walking distance to the pub but maybe a car journey if you’re carrying shopping back from the shop. Both pubs in the village serve food. The Victoria Inn has a fantastic beer garden and the ‘Ty Mawr’ has a selection of real ales and a fantastic atmosphere especially when there’s rugby on the TV.

Harlech with its famous castle and 18hole links golf course is five minutes away by car and the larger seaside town of Barmouth is about ten minutes away in the opposite direction. So plenty of other restaurants and shops within easy reach.

The cottage itself overlooks the Artro river estuary and the famous Shell Island. Fantastic blue flag beaches are dotted all along this coastline but one of our favorites was Llandanwg beach just a mile up the coast. We ordered a pizza from the small café there before sitting on the beach with a glass of chilled white wine and watched the sun dipping down over the mountains of the Llyn peninsula. Idyllic.

The little lane leading to the cottage eventually leads up towards Cwm Nantcol and the lake at Cwm Bychan. So the cottage provides a great base for walking, cycling and fishing. The lake holds brown trout and a fish known locally as “the red bellied char”.

Chic modern property
Country Location
Panoramic Views

My happy childhood holiday memories of sandy chips and wooden forks meant I really liked Aberdyfi from the minute we arrived. The wooden forks have been replaced by blue plastic ones but my chips drenched in vinegar tasted every bit as good. Add the harbour sounds and fresh sea and we all got that real ‘holiday’ feeling straight away.

I should talk about the house. First of all, it’s in a great position. Right on the sea front and walking distance to the pub and shops. It’s a big 3 storey house, typical Victorian architecture I guess. The huge bay windows at the front meant we had a great view across the estuary and out to the distant Cambrian Mountains.

Inside the kitchen is well equipped and has large double doors opening onto the dining room which meant I didn’t feel left out when cooking breakfast. There’s a lounge next door and four bedrooms in total. Two of which are en-suite and plus another two bathrooms. Glenn and Rachel, the owners, have only just bought the house so everything is newly decorated and gleaming. Rachel has great taste and has furnished the house to a really high standard. Glenn’s included all the necessary boys’ toys, LCD Digital TV, DVD, MP3 etc.

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Location

Aberdyfi is a very fashionable town with some fantastic pubs and restaurants, as well as all the usual shops. The town, somehow, remains untarnished from the neon commercialism that has spoilt a lot of British seaside resorts. We enjoyed an afternoon crab fishing on the old wharf and we must have built hundreds of sand castles on what is a fantastically clean beach. I’m told that the yacht club is very active and that the links golf course is among the best in Wales.

The more energetic out there also have plenty to chose from. Kite surfing, white water rafting, sea kayaking and mountain biking are all available. Tywyn and the famous Tal Y Llyn steam railway is 10 minutes to the north and the city of Aberystwyth is about 30 minutes to the south. So, in conclusion, if you decide to stay at Aweldyfi I’m confident you’ll have a nice time, but drop us an email or give us a ring if you have any questions.

Beautiful Coastline
Fashionable Seaside Town
Golf, Sailing, Fishing, Kite Surfing…

Nant, which means brook or spring in welsh and refers to the small brook that runs past this cottage, is a two bedroom barn conversion in Dyffryn Ardudwy. Its difficult for me to be objective when describing Nant as its the larger of the two self catering cottages that we let out ourselves here on the farm. But I hope you’ll agree when I say they’re nicely furnished and decorated.

Using local craftsmen to completly 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 structrual work including laying the natural slate tiles on our heated floor. Mike, a carpenter from the village, hand carved the oak trussees 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 unskilled but backbreaking work of fetching the stones from the fields)

The cottage comprises a ground floor twin bedroom in addition to a kingzize double in the ‘grogloft’ or eves of the barn. The living area downstairs has a small kitchen where we’ve tried to include everything you’ll need including a combination oven, hob and dishwasher. The oak folding doors which span the south facing gable end of the cottage can be opened up completly to make the most of the view of the fields and mountains on the far side of the brook. The underfloor heating provides more than enough heat but we’ve also installed a cast iron log burner to help create that romatic atmosphere.

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

We’ve tried to by the best fixtures and fittings possible. Including hand made brass lamps, oak furniture and real leather sofas. The bathroom too has been kitted out with a powerfull 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, makeing the curtains by hand, restoring some old furniture bought at our local auction and buying some nice ornaments made by friends and neighbours.

Nant 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 a lot of our guest. 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.

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Location

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..