Glan Dwyryd

Summary

The cottage was built in 1820. It has been ours for 30 years. The back of the house looks out onto a junction of two streams framed on the canvas of ancient woodland. The sound of gently flowing water coupled with the beautiful view creates a feeling of timelessness and peace. Though simple in decor, the cottage provides the necessary essentials for a no frills, comfortable and relaxing holiday.

Accommodation

The place is full of books, DVDs and a few games. The garden is small and slopes down from the road towards the house in the front. The steps leading to the cottage may prove to be steep for some, so it is possible to access the cottage from the side entrance. There are steps with a rail along the outside of the garden wall leading to a gently sloping descent to the house. At the bottom, just above the bank of the stream, there is a balcony made of stones which is perfect for having an afternoon tea or a barbecue in the summer.

Children should not be left in the garden unsupervised. The small stream can become fast and furious on very rainy days (the view can be very dramatic). Most of the time, however, it just flows gently and lulls one to sleep at night.

The house has four bedrooms: two on the ground floor (a double and a single) and two on the top floor (a double and a twin), a kitchen, a conservatory, a bathroom and a living room. There is also a Z bed and a wooden cot plus a foldable one. There are storage heaters throughout the house, plus some movable, plug in electric heaters. There is a heater (not a storage one) in the conservatory which can be switched on/off manually. There is also a wood burner in the living room which makes the place really cosy especially in winter. The name indicates that only wood can be used in it.

The kitchen has an electric cooker with fan oven and an electric hob. There is a microwave, a fridge freezer, an electric kettle, a toaster and plenty of cupboards in which you can keep your provisions. The bathroom has a washing machine, a tumble dryer, a bath and an electric shower. The conservatory is the room where you will want to take your meals, particularly in summer, though the room is usable throughout the year.

We hope you will like our cottage and would be grateful for any comments or suggestions on how to make your stay even more enjoyable.

Visiting Blaenau Ffestiniog & Exploring Gwynedd

The house is situated within Snowdonia National Park, in a little hamlet called Rhyd-y-Sarn (Welsh: the crossing place). We are below the A496 connecting Harlech and Betws-y-Coed. There are a number of excellent walks direct from the cottage without using a car. The nearest shops are in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Porthmadog has a good Tesco store (home deliveries available on request) and local food suppliers. A good bookshop and well stocked charity shops are also worth visiting.

Local attractions include:

Llechwed Slate Coverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog. A must on a rainy day and attractions include: Zip World Titan, Zip World Caverns and Bounce Below.
AnturStiniog mountain biking downhill MTB trails and uplift.
It is a Small World with world crazy indoor golf, 6 lane scalextric track, boating lake and mini car racing track, mini dragster track, model shop and bridge cafe.
Ffestiniog Steam Railway: you can travel from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog and back on this toy like train. Beautiful views on the way.
Welsh Highland Railway: connecting Porthmadog and Caernarfon.
Harlech Castle: the best preserved medieval castle in Wales.
Harlech Beach: miles of golden sand and possible usage of a nearby golf course.
Portmeirion Italian Village: a folly designed by famous architect Clough Ellis and a filming location of the Prisoner.
Bodnant Gardens: a bit further away towards Llandudno for those who like exotic plants and nice gardens.
King Arthur's Labyrinth near Dolgellau: an unusual tour of the underground caverns with a dramatic waterfall. An interesting craft centre nearby.
Falconry Experience Wales: a forge near Machynlleth south of Dolgellau.
Alternative Technology Centre for green minded enthusiasts near Machynlleth, south of Dolgellau.
Snowdon: the highest mountain of Wales can be climbed, walked or travelled by train. Start from Llanberis.
Caernarfon and its castle.
Llanfachreth village and the Precipice Walk near Dolgellau. This is a beautiful village with panoramic views over Wales.

For eating out we recommend the following places:

Kerfoots kitchen cafe in Porthmadog at the bottom of the High Street: lovely coffee, cakes and light lunches.
The Harbour Restaurant at the top of the High Street in Porthmadog opposite Edinburgh Woolen Mill: it has nutritious, simple and homemade food. Closed 2pm to 6pm.
The Grapes pub in Maentwrog: a cosy pub near the picturesque village church offers good food and drink.
Cafe Plas in Harlech: eat and look out over the stunning panorama of Harlech beach and the mountains. A feast to the eye to say the least.

Payment information:

Standard weekly letting is from Saturday 4pm until Saturday 11am. Short breaks are by arrangement and prices per night equal a fifth of the weekly rental. The rental tariff excludes electricity which is to be charged per usage (meters have to be read and numbers sent to the owner for calculation after the stay).

A 30% non refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. Balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to staying in the cottage.

Guests are asked to leave the property in good condition: to return things back to their original places, particularly beds and bedding. Guests must wash up all the used pots and dishes.

We are sorry not to allow smokers in the house but our previous experience has taught us that this is a necessary policy.

For more information please call us on 07514 639733.

Rates: From £250 to £550 per week depending on season.
Maximum of 8 people.
Children welcome.
Garden.
Pets welcome.
Off street parking.
Wi-Fi-/internet access.
Fishing available on site - Personal rod licence required.

Please note that map locations may be approximate.