Christmas Cottages in Snowdonia

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Tracey - Verified booking

  The good points to this cottage are the area around is a stunning place to stay even over the Christmas period there are things to see and enjoy and places to visit too and people are friendly.

  The cottage is very quaint but had ample space for two people and a furry friend to relax in. It contained everything you would need on your stay and if you are worried that it would be cold there over the winter months there is plenty of heating and hot water available all the time. The WiFi was great and the smart TV was perfect. The negatives for us were on first appearance the cottage seemed very clean but unfortunately on closer inspection some areas of concern was the mice droppings in the kitchen area by the toaster which we decided not to use and by the bins and over the flooring generally by the skirting boards. So we had to put all our food etc into the plate cupboard as there wasn't really anywhere else to store it as the shelves were open style and not ideal to leave any food that could be nibbles at on nor the work tops. As it was Xmas time we had brought along extra treats of biscuits, choccies, nuts and crackers and other nibbles and we didn't want to find any nibbling into them so everything had to be stored away. Unfortunately it meant the first couple of hours were spent cleaning and disinfecting all the work surfaces and brushing up. Also the kitchen floor looked clean but when wiping up a drop of water the paper towel that wiped up the splash of water was really dirty and we had only been in the cottage a couple of hours. And we wore our slippers as requested by the owners and no outdoor shoes. So couldn't understand why the foot was dirty. And unfortunately the shower had someone's black body hair in places and it was the same around the sink also black hair and not really clean which was not nice to see at anytime never mind on our first day. The bedding and pillows and the towels were very clean and smelled really fresh. The sofa wasn't the comfiest to sit on for long periods and as the weather wasn't too good and I had a broken foot we stayed indoors a lot longer than we would normally do so we probably noticed it more as we say on it for longer periods. And it could have done with a couple more plump cushions to lean on ( but that's just an us thing) And the final negative has to be the bed itself....the mattress was the most uncomfortable thing to sleep on as you sank right into it....literally and not in a good way it seemed to sink in the more in the middle you got so kept waking up with more aches as each night passed and the mattress was lower than the frame of the bed so you had to juggle to get onto the mattress without sitting on the frame as you got into bed which was odd. We personally feel that the mattress needs to be replaced or even to put a firmer topper on the mattress at least an option of one. And for these reasons we wouldn't likely return for another stay. Also to note that it is very wet and slippery getting up and around on foot to the cottage and the steps upto the side of the cottage and our onto the field at the rear are very slimy and slippery and we had to put the out door chairs and table against them so our dog wouldn't climb up them and the paving right outside the front door was very slippy too. We are sure this is just a winter time hazard but we think it needs customers to be made aware of if visiting over the damper months.

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• Olivia - Verified booking

  Lovely stay at this cosy house.

  The owner was responsive to initial enquiries and also throughout our stay. The property is in a fairly rural location but just a short drive from Betws-Y-Coed and surrounding areas. The access, which someone else mentioned in a previous review, was a bit bumpy and difficult for our campervan but we managed it and on the last day of our stay the owner was doing lane maintenance so future guests shouldn’t have a problem. The house itself is very cute, with a games room and a spacious living room. It is obviously an old property which comes with its share of quirks and issues, but nothing which detracted from our experience. We had a fire going every evening which kept the place cosy, and the blankets and quilts provided meant we were very warm in the night. The bathrooms were spotless, the showers hot and the kitchen was well stocked with pots and pans and all the utensils you might need. Some constructive criticisms: the second shower (over the bath) should have a shower curtain as you can easily flood the place when using it! The bottom right hob switches itself on continuously even when not in use (as soon as you flip the power switch for the oven and cooker) which is dangerous so should be looked into. The living room fire has quite a small fireguard around it and on one evening sparks flew over the top onto the carpet. We put them out straight away but we were concerned what would have happened if the dog had been lying there. I would suggest putting a higher one in place. Finally, the towels provided - although lovely and soft - were all the same colour and after about 2 days of hanging them on the towel rails to dry we were all mixing them up! I would recommend getting different colours or embroidered towels to help with this. Overall the four of us and our dog really enjoyed our stay. We would recommend staying here and would happily stay again if we were in the area. Thank you Jane for a lovely week!

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• Ann - Verified booking

  This is a very unusual holiday property.

  On arrival we were met by Peter who was just finishing off mowing the grass in the church yard. He was extremely welcoming and very proud to show us around this beautifully preserved church. You are staying in a former church which has been tastefully converted into a beautiful holiday cottage but still retains the original church interior including beautiful stained glass windows, church pews, font and a working church organ. The answer to the first question we were asked on our return " No the church is no longer in use so you don't have to lead the congregation on Sunday. The main living area is in the vestry and comprises of a small but functional kitchen and a comfortable open living and dining area. The two spacious and comfortable bedrooms both have TV's in them as well as additional seating areas. There is WiFi and a landline telephone which is useful as there is no mobile phone signal. Due to planning constrictions there are no clear glass windows to see out of but just step outside as the landscape is magnificent, there are many seating areas in and around the church ideal for viewing the scenery, the lake and the mountains. The area is remote the nearest well stocked shop is approx. 9 miles away in a small seaside town called Tywyn which also has a small cinema called the Magic Lantern. If you like walking there are many places to go and Peter has provided lots of info on the area and maps to help you find your way. We aren't walkers but the area is perfect for both walkers and cyclists. This was a fantastic break after we had had a busy year and I have to say I came home feeling well relaxed. This is a beautiful property and Peter should be congratulated for all of his hard work in keeping this property alive and allowing people the chance to stay in a unique holiday rental in a truly stunning location.

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• Russell - Verified booking

  Sadly...

  .The kitchen was dirty on our arrival, crumbs on worktops & floor..toaster full inside and underneath, mould inside the microwave on rotary plate,dirty oven,very dirty & greasy sink, splash back & bowl. All the utensils were dubious & this caused us to have to eat out instead of self catering, hence adding extra costs to our stay. We had to hoover around the living quarters on arrival & half filled the vac! The accommodation lounge furniture was old & dirty between seat pads, cushions again flat & tired...the room was at times uncomfortable, due to heating not suitable to reach acceptable level... even with the extra heaters. The mezzanine bedroom was FREEZING...despite a convector fire & heater supplied. We tried the Pod bedroom but the bed was far too uncomfortable. The bed covers & pillows were tired, washed out & flat and not of a standard that we would expect when paying the price we paid for this property. The upstairs bed and the duvet inside the bedding were in contrast of good quality & kept us warm and comfortable as long as we stayed beneath the covers. The Eco Toilet was NOT what we expected! This should be shown in more detail in your listing. Even Peter said that my Husband would struggle due to his height. Very unsatisfactory! All this said...St Mary's is a beautiful building with special features lovingly restored & retained. We would struggle to recommend this particular property for the above reasons.

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• David - Verified booking

  What a privilege to stay in such a stunningly beautiful property in an idyllic part of Wales!

  Centuries of history, stained glass windows (look out for the Welsh dragon on the pub sign), gravestones, mist-shrouded mountains with pool, darts and vinyls (great classical selection provided but bring your own non-classical - the Vaccines worked well for us!) to boot - not to mention fairy lights around the altar - what's not to like! OK there's some discussion about the separating toilet - it works fine and is standard in Sweden - embrace the new with the old. Sometimes it was a bit chilly in the main church area but it is a big space and hard to heat - a small price to pay in my opinion. Some tips - put "St Mary's Catholic Church Tywyn" into Google maps and it will get you to the exact spot (avoid using postcode or St Mary's Tal-y-Llyn on Anglesey!) - visibility when exiting from the property in a car is very restricted - there is a mirror over the road which we only realised was there after several days which makes life a lot easier - you can walk to Tyn-y-Cornel for a drink and amazing views from their picnic benches - although they were fully booked for evening meals - the Cross Foxes is further but was very nice - there are lovely independent cinemas at Tywyn (The Magic Lantern) and Borth (Libanus 1877 - with restaurant which was excellent). Enjoy!

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