Hafod Cottage

Self catering cottage

Sleeps 5-6

AVAILABLE ALL YEAR well behaved dogs welcome

Hafod is a large stone cottage in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. It is nestled in 30 acres of privately owned woodland in the hills above the village of Maentwrog. The woodland is a mixture of ancient oak (including sites of scientific interest), pasture and young broad leaved trees. It is surrounded by hundreds of acres of managed forestry and protected woodland. There are superb walks from the front door, along a network of paths and tracks which take you through woodland, hills and lakes. It is an excellent area for walking, bird watching, mountain bike riding and swimming.

Hafod cottage

Living room

Dining area

Bedroom

The cottage has been sympathetically renovated and furnished. It has wooden and slate floors throughout, and a wood burning stove in the main living area. It is surrounded by a large area of private garden with a table and benches for eating outside.

Hafod cottage is powered by mains electricity and electricity generated by wind and solar. A wind generator and photo-voltaic cells charge batteries which power 12 volt DC high, efficiency lights and small appliances. Vacuum-tube solar collectors supply domestic hot water for most of the year. It is energy efficient: the roof, walls and floors are well insulated, and the windows double glazed, making it easy to heat and cosy in the winter. Mains electricity provides power for items which are difficult to power by alternative means, such as a larder fridge with icebox, washing machine and immersion heater for domestic hot water.

Please note: there are steps down to the cottage, please contact us to discuss suitability if you have any concerns.

Accommodation:

Ground floor

Large living room with sofa and chairs. Woodburning stove which provides central heating and hot water
Kitchen well equiped area with propane gas cooker, larder fridge with icebox.
Dining area with large wooden table and chairs to seat six.
Bedroom with single bed and door to its own small walled garden.
Large bathroom with shower, handbasin WC.

First floor

Bedroom with double bed.
Bedroom with small double bed and single bed

Duvets and pillows are provided without bedlinen (supplied at extra charge)
Washing machine, electric heater, stair gate, iron, ironing board, radio/cassette/CD player provided.
Gas and limited supply of wood or coal is included in the tariff.
Electricity is charged at 15p per unit
Well behaved dogs are welcome.

"We have spent many happy family holidays at Hafod cottage – at different times of the year. The cottage being situated in its own woods, away from the beaten track, enables us to truly get away from it all. The sound of the Ffestiniog Railway trundling past in the distance is sometimes the only sound of the outside world. A five minute walk to Plas Halt, where you can hail the train, enables us to travel further afield to Porthmadog or up to Ffestiniog. The woods around the cottage provided a very safe environment for our young children to go and explore on their own, to build dens and camp out, enjoying old-fashioned freedom. They have such happy memories of holidays at Hafod.

There are many lovely walks (or bike rides!) from the door. Each season brings something different: swimming in the lake in the woods to cool down in summer, walking through bluebells in May, enjoying the autumn foliage on the ancient trees later in the year. We have returned many times over the years and the excitement of driving up the forest tracks and getting the first glimpse of the cottage, with a whisp of smoke from the chimney, never fails to excite!

The cottage itself is well equipped. Comfortable beds, a shower room and good kitchen facilities, a washing machine and fridge with small freezer mean that family life is easy at the cottage. The wood burning stove is the heart of the cottage and coming home from a long walk to a roaring fire, a hot shower and hot chocolate is an enduring memory! It is good to get away from having a TV and a telephone. We read, sew, do craft things, play games and talk. We eat outside when we can – barbecue sometimes - and enjoy the tranquillity.

If you want somewhere to truly relax and escape from the hurly burly of modern life, Hafod is the place for you."

Heather Duffin

"The lovely Hafod cottage is the perfect getaway, it offers a tranquil and secluded setting in what seems to be your own woodland. There is plenty to explore - particular highlights were the steam train with its request stop a few minutes from the cottage and a secluded lake where we spent the most relaxing afternoons.

I came here as a child and returned as an adult this summer! If you want to get away from everything, explore Wales or just chill in your own private space, then Hafod cottage is perfect!"

Ben Bowen