Bwthyn Mair
Bwthyn Mair was handpicked by our team to join our portfolio. Here's just a few of the reasons we think you'll love staying in Bwthyn Mair too!
- Recommended by Countryfile May 2019 as a idyllic cottage to stay in for walking holidays
- North Wales 17th-century cottage in picturesque lakeside setting
- Two local pubs within walking distance: The Oakeley Arms and The Grapes
- Log-burner for cosy nights in
- Short drives to Portmeirion (15-mins) and Harlech (20-mins
- Boat available for guests' use on the lake
- Telescope for star-gazing
- WiFi
- Private Parking
- Real Fire
- Rural Location
- Period Cottage
- Cot Available
- Golf Courses Nearby
- Pubs Nearby
Dates chosen are not on a valid changeover day.
Try selecting different dates or call us on 01348 837871, our advisors can help you find a holiday or enquire about these dates.View Cost Summary
Pay Just 1/3 today
Bookings 8 weeks or more in advance only require a deposit to be secured.
Idyllic romantic 17th Century Snowdonia cottage - short breaks available by request
- Set in a most picturesque romantic location at the edge of a pretty lake, this idyllic 17th Century fairy tale cottage is surrounded by ancient oak woodlands.
- Beautifully restored, completely in keeping with its original character, the cottage has thick stone walls, a huge inglenook fireplace and stone turned staircase leading to the bedrooms which are separated by the original elm wooden post and panel partitions.
- Once upon a time it was a small tavern (now Grade II Listed) and it takes little imagination to visualise the local menfolk sitting in the inglenook with their clay pipes whiling away time whilst swapping fireside stories!
- The cosy comfortable lounge is stylish and the adjacent kitchen/dining room has freestanding pine units and an early Victorian pine dresser. Pretty ornaments adorn all the small windows of the cottage from where there are views of the meadow and lake beyond. Stargaze on clear nights - there is a telescope upstairs - no light pollution just myriad stars to enchant!
- Opposite the cottage, a small meadow bounds the lake
where there is a boat for guests use, a note of caution though - the lake is
tranquil but only experienced oarsmen (or women!) should venture out onto the
water! Do remember your life jackets!
- This property is not suitable for children under 10 years (babes in arms only please) - due to proximity to lake, unenclosed grounds and driveway across the front of cottage to 2 adjacent properties.
- Within walking distance of the cottage there are 2
locals, the nearest is The Oakeley Arms' and in the centre of Maentwrog village, The
Grapes,' a 17th century coaching inn, visited by George Borrow, author of 'Wild Wales' published in 1862. A short drive away in Llanfrothen is the Brondanw Arms.
- Lots of activities to enjoy include mountain biking and excellent hill walking in the nearby mountains as well as river, sea and coarse fishing.
- Read about the restoration of Bwthyn Mair on https://www.qualitycottages.co.uk/aroundwales/bwthyn-mair-snowdonia
3 Bedrooms sleeping a maximum of 5 2 Doubles and a single bed in through room between the bedrooms & bathroom. All on 1st floor.
Bathroom with full suite. Telescope for star gazing on 1st floor.
Shower Room with walk in shower and toilet on ground floor.
Kitchen/Dining Room country style with freestanding pine units, gas double oven cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave (no dishwasher or washing machine). Pine early Victorian glass top dresser, table & chairs seating 4.
Lounge large inglenook fireplace with multi fuel stove, 2 seater sofa, 2 easy chairs, radio/CD, no TV (but TV licence). Georgian pine settle containing garden chairs and gazebo.
Grounds
small meadow opposite cottage with access to lake boat available for
guests' use. Wild Swimming in the lake within easy walking distance - at own risk.
NB This property is not suitable for children under 10 years - babes in arms only please - due to proximity to lake, unenclosed grounds and right of way for 2 properties adjacent to Bwthyn Mair.
Additional Information
Short breaks - Yes, excluding peak weeks - 4-night minimum stay
WiFi - Yes (telephone free UK landlines)
Changeover - Saturday
Towels - Yes
Parking - Yes for 2 cars at roadside or just within entrance of private drive (both opposite cottage)
Fuel - Gas central heating inclusive May to September. Outside these dates 30 p/w. Starter pack of logs free
Dogs - No
Travel cot - Yes on request
Highchair - Yes on request
Bed linen - Included as standard
All our reviews are independently handled via Feefo, that means each review is a 100% verified customer visiting Bwthyn Mair.
If you've ever visited a holiday cottage before, you most likely have seen a guestbook in the property for guests to leave a review for others when they arrive. Each of the following comments was lovingly left by people just like you in the guestbook left at Bwthyn Mair.
A lovely old cottage in a great location. We had a fantastic week in this gorgeous cottage. It is extremely characterful and it's great to stay in such a historic building. It is very quirky with wonky floors and original stone stairs but that is part of it's considerable charm. the location is pretty much perfect next to a decent sized lake with a rowing boat available - we made full use of this. The cottage is a 5-minute walk from Tan y Bwlch station on the Ffestiniog Railway and the sound of the steam trains coming along the valley is superb, as is the view of the line from the picnic table at the bottom of the garden by the lake. It's an ideal base for a rail enthusiast amongst others. A couple of things to bear in mind; there is no washing machine but we used an excellent launderette in Porthmadog and it isn't suitable for younger kids due to the unfenced lake but we don't have any so no problem there. All in all, highly recommended we will certainly return.
Excellent cottage. Thank you to the people next door for their assistance. We enjoyed the cottage and its lovely facilities. The use of the boat on the lake was great. Location is second to none.Â
We absolutely love this cottage and will definitely be coming back. The character of the building is stunning and the wonky floor and ancient worn stairs only add to the charm. We made full use of the rowing boat, actually getting quite good at launching through the trees and enjoyed walking through the wood and around the lake. We particularly enjoyed standing in the garden and watching the Ffestiniog trains passing. My son and I are trainspotters.The only problem is, there has been too much to do and too little time. Walking up to Tan y Bwlch station from the cottage and catching the train was a real treat. We also rode the Talyllyn and Fairborne lines. The Barmouth ferry was great fun too. Corris Craft centre is great and we had a day out in Criccieth. Riding an old army lorry around Llechwedd slate mine is really interesting and exhilarating. An eating out tip would be Y Banc Tapas in Porthmadog, fantastic. All in all a superb holiday and we do not want to leave!
We have had a really lovely stay thank you. It is very peaceful and beautiful walks in the woods nearby and around the lake. We enjoyed feeding the birds. Really good spot to get around. We did Zip World and climbed Snowdon. Could easily have stayed another week. The cottage is lovely and clean and it felt like home. Would definitely recommend and would come again. Thank you so much for the Welsh cakes on arrival.Â
We had a brilliant family holiday, staying in this comfortable and cosy cottage for a week before Easter. It has been a while since we have stayed in a holiday cottage, as with young children we have found that camping has allowed them the freedom to let off steam and us as parents to relax. It was with some trepidation that we booked Tafarn Trip and we have to say that we were not disappointed. Communication with the owner was clear and straightforward, and we quickly received responses to our queries and confirmation of our booking. We arrived on the day to a spotlessly clean home and a 'welcome' bottle of wine. Arriving in mid-April we soon had the log fire lit and were snuggling down to discuss plans for the week. Finding the property was straightforward and the Tesco delivery service found us on time too! The setting for the cottage is extremely tranquil, with it's own gated garden and direct access on to the lake, Llyn Mair. There is a short shared drive to the front of the house used for car access by two neighbouring residents, but their use of this is infrequent and did not disturb our stay.
If you would like more information on the local area, please call us on 01348 837871 to speak to one of our friendly team.
The Vale of Ffestiniog
- This is a sublime valley through which the River Dwyryd meanders on its way down to the sea. Ancient oak woodlands cover the valley sides and there are lovely walks from the cottage including an easy stroll around Llyn Mair (Mary's Lake) as well as clearly mapped, easy to follow nature trails through the woods and valley.
Ffestiniog Steam Railway
- A short stroll away from the cottage is Tanybwlch Station on the Ffestiniog Steam Railway - take a ride along the line either up the valley to the slate mines at Blaenau Ffestiniog or down to Porthmadog where it joins the Welsh Highland Steam Railway. This scenic line cuts a swathe through Snowdonia all the way to Caernarfon and Edward I's mighty castle - well worth a visit.
Plas Tanybwlch & Plas Brondanw
- This imposing manor house was built by the Oakeley family, who made their wealth from mining and exporting slate from the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog, and is now an environmental study centre for the Snowdonia National Park with walks through the gardens and woodlands open to the public throughout the year.
- There are courses during the summer covering lots of aspects from environmental, historic and archealogical interests.
- This whole area is a National Nature Reserve and home to a vast array of bird and animal life - redstart, wood warbler, nuthatch , woodpeckers, pied flycatcher, peregrine falcons, buzzards, red kites, rare bats and elusive wild goats.
- Do visit another lovely local garden - home of Clough Williams Ellis, Plas Brondanw, Llanfrothen.
RSPB Osprey Centre
- This is a short drive away from the cottage and guests can follow the nesting colony of Ospreys that spend the summer on the Glaslyn River.
Adventure Activities
- Surf Snowdonia, Bounce Below, Fforest Coaster, Zip World's Zip Wire and Treetop Adventures are just a few of the quality attractions for adventurers of all ages.
Borthygest & Llandanwg
- There is a choice of beautiful beaches nearby - take the train down to Porthmadog and walk to the pretty village of Borthygest where there are plenty of small sandy coves and lovely views across the estuary to Harlech.
- A short car ride takes you to to the tiny intimate bay of LLandanwg. The ancient church in the sand dunes, with views across to Shell Island, is another very popular destination.
Harlech
- The magnificent beach here never gets crowded. Behind its miles of golden sands is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Harlech Castle.
- There are lots of places to eat in Harlech - Castle Cottage has one of Wales's foremost cooks - booking advisable as well as The Plas Caf , Freya's Coffee Shop and an excellent ice cream parlour too.
Royal St David's Golf Course
- This golf course at Harlech is one of Britain's greatest courses, a surprise find in a remote part of Wales but it is known throughout the golfing world and is a challenge to any serious golfer - less demanding are courses at Porthmadog and Criccieth.
Portmeirion
- This Italianate village and beautiful grounds designed by Clough Williams Ellis, is home to the Portmeirion Hotel with its lovely 1930's restaurant, popular at that time with the Prince of Wales, later Duke of Windsor. Legend has it that Noel Coward wrote 'Blithe Spirit' in the grounds. Full of character and well worth a visit as is Castell Duedraeth Restaurant in a Victorian Manor House now part of the Portmeirion Hotel.
Days away... to Anglesey
- Cross Thomas Telford's iconic suspension bridge to visit Wales' largest island. A tranquil patchwork of farm land, rugged coast and glorious unspoiled beaches dotted with remote farmsteads, sleepy villages,tiny harbours and the elegant waterside town of Beaumaris with cafes, galleries, shops, pubs, restaurants, traditional pier, museums and a romantic castle.
Characterful Snowdonia cottage dating back to the 17th century, an ideal base fro exploring the national park at any time of the year.
See below for a selection of pubs, restaurants, and eateries near Bwthyn Mair.
If you would like more information on the local area, please call us on 01348 837871 to speak to one of our friendly team.
Fully licenced cafe serving pizzas, ramblers lunches, fairtrade tea and coffee.
Good beer and good food served in the bar or restaurant. Open all day everyday
The pub serves good home cooked food & real ales inside or in the garden Fine views of Snowdonia.
Hearty breakfasts, light lunches, cakes and teas all homemade - eat inside or alfreco in the garden.
A modern twist on a 50's Hot Rod ice-cream parlour! Ice-cream, waffles, pancakes & coffee.
Dishes are made with seasonal produce and organic when possible sourced form local retailers and farmers ensuring a Welsh flavour. Open for tea, coffee, wine and lunch Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Open for evening meals Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A well-recommended fish & chip shop & restaurant.
Open 7-days a week. Railway-themed venue in an old train shed featuring British fare, local ales & terrace seating.
Delicious Indian Cuisine, loved by locals and visitors alike.
Situated in the historic square of Tremadog, the birthplace of Lawrence of Arabia and gateway to the Lleyn Peninsula. It has a unique cave bar, covered courtyard and converted stable block. New Pasta & Pizzeria now open. Take away service also available
Please choose a category to view activities and attractions near Bwthyn Mair.
If you would like more information on the local area, please call us on 01348 837871 to speak to one of our friendly team.
Photo Gallery
We have 33 pictures of Bwthyn Mair, so why not take a look around?
Don't forget our holiday advisers are available on 01348 837871 if you have any questions!
Like what you see? Ready to book?
Click the button below to check availability or call our helpful team on 01348 837871 and they'll be delighted to assist you.
