Hafotty Ganol sits amongst tranquil hills on the eastern flanks of the Berwyn Mountains in mid-Wales. The self-contained holiday cottage is attached to the owners’ home and looks out on a garden and woods full of birdlife. This is a wonderful place to slow down, relax and enjoy nature.
The guest cottage has a light airy sunroom cum dining room, leading into a sitting room and a fully equipped kitchen. The quarry tiles with underfloor heating keep the cottage warm on chilly days. Upstairs is a bedroom with a king size bed and a shower room. All linens and towels are provided. There is a washer/dryer, a dishwasher and a television and DVD player. We have no television reception but if you bring a laptop you can access your unmissable TV programs via Wifi. We have a wide selection of DVDs, books, games and jigsaw puzzles for evening entertainment. A fold out bed is available, suitable for a child.
There is an enclosed lawned garden with sitting-out area and garden furniture, beyond which is 2.5 acres of natural grounds (shared with the owners). Please note if you have small children that a small stream runs just beyond the fenced garden.
This is a No Smoking cottage.
We welcome up to two well-behaved pets. In the past we have had Yorkshire Terriers to Giant Poodles and two delightful cats that went for walks on leads with their owners. Our Cocker Spaniel, Cadi, loves four legged visitors though the older ones don’t always want to play with her!
The owners, Bridget and Will, run a smallholding with chickens, geese and bees that forage in the orchard and woods. On the opposite side of the lane there is the beginnings of a community woodland and nature reserve with sheep-free (much of the year) fields to walk dogs and enjoy the panoramic views. There are several other walks from the house (some through sheep pasture so dogs need to be on leads in these) and others only a short drive away.
Historic attractions are in abundance in this part of Wales, with Harlech and Caernarvon Castles to the west, Powys and Chirk Castles and Erddig Country House to the east. The area has several interesting and beautiful churches such as Melangell and Llanyblodwel and there are the remains of Iron Age settlements and monuments for those interested in archaeology. One of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’ is nearby – Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall, which at 80ft is the UK’s highest single drop waterfall. Also close by is the impressive Lake Vyrnway, with its enormous Victorian dam. Here you can spend the day walking around the perimeter of the lake or hire a bike, visit the RSPB hides, or enjoy lunch in one of the cafés. At Welshpool, visit Powys Castle (National Trust) and its stunning gardens, or take a trip on the Welshpool & Llanfair steam railway. To the west lies Bala, offering water sports at Lake Bala (the largest natural lake in Wales) and at the White Water Rafting Centre.
A little further afield, the latest adrenaline attractions of Zip World and Bounce Below at Blaenau Ffestiniog are within easy reach. The stunning scenery of the Snowdonia National Park is just a short drive away and beckons you temptingly over towards the glorious sandy beaches around Barmouth.
The local villages provide all the basics you will need but if you want more shopping facilities, Oswestry and Welshpool are not far. Llanfyllin, four miles down the road, has a weekly Farmers Market on a Thursday morning. There are several pubs in the area serving good beer and meals.
Green Credentials: We work hard to approach a zero Carbon lifestyle and would appreciate our guests helping us with this by recycling and minimising single use plastic. There are many local food products that we would be glad to have in stock for guests if requested. These include:
Eggs, honey, milk, bread, sausages, bacon, lamb, beef, jams and chutneys, seasonal fruit and vegetables, apple and pear juice, hedgerow liqueurs. Please ask for a detailed list of availability and prices. We also produce various beeswax products on our smallholding such as candles and polish.
Directions
From Llanfyllin: Head west on the A490 which becomes the B4391 just west of Llanfyllin. Follow this up a long hill (about two miles), near the top of which is a junction with the B4580. Stay on the main road for 1 mile and turn left on a small lane by a cluster of evergreen trees. (If you start going down a long hill on the main road you have missed the turn.) Hafotty Ganol is about 0.9 miles along the lane on the left. The cottage backs onto the lane.
From Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant and the B4396: Follow the B4396 west to the T-junction with the B4391. Turn left towards Llanfyllin. You will shortly enter the village of Penygarnedd. The main road bends sharply to the right and then the left. At the left bend is an old chapel on the right and a lane going up the hill in front of you. Head up this lane for about ¾ mile and take the first left. Hafotty Ganol is ¾ mile along this lane on the right. The cottage backs onto the lane.
From Bala: Head east on the B4391 and cross over the Berwyn mountains (it is a beautiful drive). On the east side of the mountains you will go through Llangynog and Penybontfawr. Shortly after Penybontfawr you will enter Penygarnedd. Then follow the instructions immediately above.
For all booking enquiries please email Will at: WillDenne@icloud.com