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"I wanted a traditional stone cottage overlooking a great view of Snowdonia, and this place promised to tick all my boxes."
Out of the 3 Cyffdy cottages we chose Arenig because the kids wanted the bunk beds. It's a lovely cottage with original features, log burner, comfy beds, and supplied blankets, hot water bottles, games, books. Kids loved the trampoline on the driveway green, and donkeys came to the gate.
On the downside, the cottage receives no natural light, and half of the lights are blue-temp LED. I would strongly suggest to the owner to change all the lights to warm temperature. The blue light in the bedrooms and kitchen feels like an office. :(
After reading the other reviews I admit I was a little dismayed not to receive any gifts on my arrival. A couple of welcome items always warms the guest to be on your side, especially if you're leaving a letter apologising for broken things (that didn't affect us, e.g. no shelves inside fridge door).
The shower drips water down the bath tub sides and all over the floor. I wondered if the owners had even tested it out. I texted the owner, they just apologised and advised to mop up with the bathmats. I would suggest a longer shower shield window, or changing the whole bath to a walk-in shower, before the bathroom gets mould rot from the constant water.
Heating only comes on certain hours, so we arrived at a cold cottage. But there was a plentiful supply of wood for our whole stay, and a burner that kicks out plenty heat. When the central heating does crank up (we had to bleed one radiator) it gets so hot you have to open the windows to breathe. We managed the balance in the end.
The TV was slow and hard to work, but we managed to watch programmes fine - something that I don't take for granted in rental stays! The kitchen has good provisions generally; crockery and a few other bits like teabags, but I felt it missed a cupboard of condiments like salt and oil, the things I didn't want to travel with.
All in all, it was a beautiful cottage for a good price stay, close to Lynn Tegid (the lake in Bala), and Bala village with a Co-op, Spar, baker, butcher. But I think our next Snowdonia stay would be somewhere more like Betws-y-Coed where there is more action going on.
Reviewed by Natalie3.4★Nov 2024
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"This is a great dog friendly cottage, comfortable and well provisioned with kitchen equipment and extras like hot water bottles."
The cottage was warm and there is loads of hot water. Wi-Fi good. The views and location are great. Owner helpful and provided extra towels for an additional guest when requested. Some wear and tear to white goods which owner made us aware of. Overall a great place to stay.
Reviewed by Sarah4.1★Sep 2024
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"A superbly equipped cottage in a lovely and peaceful setting."
Reviewed by Mike5.0★Aug 2024
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"The cottage was beautiful so well equipped and the views from the windows and garden were simply stunning."
The cottage itself was dressed for Christmas, including a lovely basket filled with goodies and a Christmas card from the owner, which was a lovely touch following are long journey from London.
I loved the layout and size of cottage it felt so roomy, and the log burner at Christmas time was simply wonderful. I could not recommend this cottage highly enough and hope to return in the summer….
Reviewed by Susan5.0★Dec 2023
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"We have had a lovely 7 night stay at Arenig."
Since our last visit 3 and a half years ago Arenig has been updated with a new Kitchen, bigger TV & excellent New seating in the lounge. Excellent weather for October - we were able to eat several meals outside on the Decking. It’s lovely to wake up in a place where some mornings you are greeted by cows over the garden fence and other days sheep. If I was to make one change to Arenig it would be to update the Bathroom & put a large walk in shower rather than have the bath tub set up but that’s just personal preference. We will for sure stay here again - Thank you Very Much.
Reviewed by Dylan4.7★Oct 2023
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"We loved this cottage and North Wales!"
! Lots of little extras to make sure we had everything we needed, the service was fantastic when the hoover stopped working! Top class cottage and 5* customer service. Thank you for making our week so special.
Reviewed by Lisa5.0★Aug 2023
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"Well we were pleasantly surprised and delighted when we arrived at Arenig cottage."
You could not ask for a better location.Once inside it just got better the owner had thought of everything, if needed extra blankets and hot water bottles, even an umbrella if needed.Table games and books were plentiful, as I say everything was thought of.The rear garden had raised decking from where the views of the mountains were stunning.A barbecue is available to use.( The neighbours kept shouting for their mums which amused our little dog - he was fascinated ).The property was spotless.We fell in love with this bit of heaven and definitely will be back later in the year. If you want a relaxing break you need not look any further than Cyffdy Cottage - Arenig.I would highly recommend this property. (p.s. the neighbours were lambs.)
Reviewed by Robert5.0★Jun 2023
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"We have had such a lovely week!"
The cottage is ideal with beautiful views, and perfectly located. Our 2 year old especially loved the trampoline and going to visit the cows each morning in the neighbouring field. The cottage is well equipped with everything you need, and extremely clean and comfortable. I am sure we will be back!
Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★May 2023
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"The cottage was absolutely gorgeous."
However I would add that it was challenging with the amount of steps inside and outside the property. A large decking became very slippery when wet and the lawn area very steep. I would not recommend the cottage to older people or anyone that finds difficulty with walking.
Reviewed by Yvonne5.0★May 2023
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"The most wonderful stay everything about it exceeded our expectations"
Reviewed by Claire5.0★Apr 2023
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"We really enjoyed our stay at this beautiful cottage over the new year."
The cottage is really comfortable and warm. It has a fully kitted out kitchen. We were able to cook a roast dinner with no problems. There is a stunning private garden which I imagine would be beautiful in the summer and incredible views over the Welsh hills. Even though it was cold and wet outside we were always nice and warm inside. The heating goes off at 10pm but there's a log burner and plenty of logs if you get cold. We were a family of 2 adults and 2 kids but on NYE my parents come over. The living is large enough for 6 people to sit comfortably. The addition of lots of board games provided by the host was brilliant. This kept us busy and having a laugh for hours.
Bala is about a 5 minute drive away where there is lots of pubs and a couple of restaurants. There also an award winning butchers which we would certainly recommend. The pubs are ok but the food is terrible so I would advise either cooking in or ordering a take away. There is plenty of walks near by. Also Bala lake in the summer gets very busy with lots of water sport activities available.
Thanks for our stay!
Reviewed by John5.0★Dec 2022
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"Everything was on spot"
Reviewed by Ajay5.0★Dec 2022
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"The property was clean and just as described."
With throws, blankets and hot water bottles to keep us toasty. But the heating and insulation of the cottage was incredible and even thought the weather was wild we were all very snug. Stephanie was really helpful on the couple of time I contacted her during the stay. The views are immense and the trampoline and footie goals kept the kids entertained for hours. Would highly recommend.
Reviewed by Lucy5.0★Oct 2022
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"We had a great time staying!"
! Perfect for our dog as well! Thank you :-)
Reviewed by Callum5.0★Sep 2022
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"Had a nice stay here Cyffdy cottage- Arenig but there were some negatives."
On arrival key collection was straight forward, first entering the cottage the overall cleanliness of the cottage was not to a high standard, splatted dead spiders on walls, bathroom was mouldy, a damp smell throughout. All rooms could do with some TLC. No scissors within the cottage. Heating did not come on as stated but luckily wasn’t to cold. Double bed was not comfortable but that is just a personal opinion.
I am saddened by the fact that you weren't entirely happy with your stay at Cyffdy Cottages. We take great pride in the cleanliness of all our cottages and work hard on each changeover to make sure that the cottages are cleaned to a high standard. With regards to the spiders we make sure to hoover them up when cleaning to remove them from the cottage and would never intentionally splatter them on the walls. I can only apologize that some were missed. In regards to the cottage needing TLC we have had a very busy 6 months with bookings in the cottage and as soon as we have some down time will make sure we touch up some paint and address some of your points. We would have appreciated you contact us directly with these points and would have been more than happy to discuss these with you during your stay to see if we could have made your stay a better one.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Jane2.8★Aug 2022
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"Beautiful cottage in a spectacular location."
It was clean and well equipped with both fans and hot water bottles to cater for different weather conditions. The lake is nearby which was ideal for us. The 2 mile single track drive to the cottage was a little nerve wracking at times so not for the timid driver.
All instructions were accurate from Sykes and followed up by texts from the owner. I didn’t want to leave!!
Reviewed by Julia5.0★Aug 2022
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"Another lovely stay in lovely cottage in brilliant setting."
We even got some sun.
Reviewed by Colin5.0★Jul 2022
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"Location was great."
Tidy and clean. Very impressive view. Only comment was that there were quite a lot of spiders which we hoovered up.
Reviewed by Omar4.4★Jun 2022
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"Beautiful location and the cottage was really nice with plenty of room indoors and outdoors for us and the kids to enjoy."
well equipped for any kind of weather. The owner was very engaging and polite. We had a really lovely time.
Reviewed by Georgios4.4★Apr 2022
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"Stayed at Cyffdy twice now, best place we have ever stayed at will definitely be back soon!"
Thank you for your great feedback and we are so pleased you enjoyed your second stay here at Cyffdy Cottages. We look forward to having you back here to stay again in the future.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Mitchell5.0★Mar 2022
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"What a great cottage."
Perfect rural location but only a short drive or walk into Bala.
Cottage is great for 6 people, plenty of room and so clean
We will be booking again to stay,
Can’t recommend this cottage enough
Reviewed by Lee5.0★Feb 2022
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"Cottage was lovely, owner friendly and helpful."
lovely location.
on day 5 of our one week stay the owners informed us of the power cuts caused by storm Arwen and that the restoration of power could be a long way off........so sadly we had to cut stay short by two days and head home.
we were very grateful that the owners were so prompt and direct in informing us of the problems caused by the storm.it was clearly out of their hands.
on another matter ( nothing to do with the owners ) we were upset that Sykes tried to charge us a booking fee that was £50 higher than stated when we booked. we complained and, after several e mails and phone calls the extra, unexplained, £50 was retracted. it felt like someone was conning us. not a pleasant experience, making us unlikely to use Sykes again in the future
Reviewed by Jim5.0★Nov 2021
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"Arenig was much better than expected, and the views are amazing."
We stayed as 4 adults and 2 young children and there was plenty of space for us all and the beds are very comfortable. The kitchen has everything you could need and the whole place was lovely and warm once the heating came on; very cosy with the fire
on too.
The outdoor facilities were great for the children and the little garden was great too for an evening sit with a glass of wine.
The only improvement I can see is that the shower holder doesn’t allow for the shower head to be moved lower without holding it and as a short person I got a face full of water each time and the bathroom got rather wet but that is more personal preference than anything else.
We loved our stay and it was a great location for lots of activities and the lake.
Don’t hesitate to book, you’ll have a great time.
Reviewed by Katie4.7★Sep 2021
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"Quiet great location not far from town, beautiful property and garden was ..."
Quiet great location not far from town, beautiful property and garden was lovely, I would have no hesitation on booking this cottage again, owners very nice and on hand if needed
Reviewed by R4.7★Sep 2021
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"Such a beautiful place and so peaceful"
Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Aug 2021
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"Arenig so exceeded our expectations on arrival."
What a wonderful immaculate cottage on beautifully kept grounds with stunning views in every direction.The cottage was full of character and had everything to make you feel at home.A new log burner was lit every night to make the living room lovely and cosy.A brand new modern kitchen was a great space to cook in and a lovely decking patio area was a great feature to enjoy the amazing views and to listen to the lambs in the fields.We loved it hear and can't wait to return ,,the grounds are a credit to the owners
Reviewed by Paul5.0★Apr 2021
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"Just a couple of minor things to mention :-
A couple of hooks on the back of the door in the bathroom would be useful
It's a shame the heating programme was pre-set as there were times when we would have liked to have some heating different to the timer (especially as the fire in the lounge wasn't working)."
It wasn't a major problem but to have a choice would have been nice
Nevertheless, a very enjoyable break
Reviewed by Wendy5.0★Sep 2020
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"Lovely cottage with fantastic space and views."
The cottage was well cleaned and had a great range of facilities and well equipped. I would definitely return and not hesitate to recommend it :)
Reviewed by Lisa4.4★Sep 2020
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"Amazing views, fantastic location the peace was just what we all needed."
The girls aged 3 and 7 loved playing in the garden and sitting out in the garden watching them was a joy. The cottage had all the equipment that we needed.
The major problem we had was the damp. The bunk room where the girls slept you could smell the mustness and there bedding always felt damp to the touch, the main bedroom had a similar problem but not as bad as the bunk room. Our oldest child has health issues regarding infections and we wouldn't have booked if we had known that there was a problem like this.
Reviewed by Claire3.1★Aug 2020
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"You need to have more photos of the views / surroundings - which were just perfect for what we were looking for - stunning and so peaceful/quiet."
Everything was easy / as it was described.
Reviewed by Melanie4.7★Jul 2020
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"Stephanie and family were really helpful during our stay."
The cottage was incredibly cosy and we had a really relaxing week, the weather was atrocious however still enjoyed this beautiful location.
Reviewed by Johanna5.0★Feb 2020
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"The pictures on the advert are not reflecting the reality."
This place is amaizing, there are no words for the surrounding. If you'd like to get away from the noise of the city this is the place for you.
Reviewed by Akos5.0★Jan 2020
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"The only fault was it was advertised as having internet."
I think the router was in another cottage which left ours very sketchy. My husband was meant to work from home over the holiday and was unable too which was very very frustrating. I think it would be best to advertise no WiFi. However everything else was exceptional We would visit again but ensure we didn’t have the expectation of being able to use the internet
Reviewed by Samantha4.4★Dec 2019
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"Arenig is a beautiful cottage in an extremely idyllic part of Wales."
We felt at home immediately. It was very well equipped, very clean, lovely and warm, outside it has a lovely garden and deck area which made it ideal to sit out on even the cold evenings listening to the wildlife [so secluded that is all you can hear] We had an amazing week and would recommend it to anyone. Ps.We are definitely going back. Nick & Caz November 2019
Reviewed by Nick5.0★Nov 2019
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"A lovely cottage, well equipped and very comfortable, Great location to explore the Bala area and wider Snowdonia National Park."
Reviewed by Ralph5.0★Oct 2019
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"The cottage was very beautiful, clean, cosy and comfortable."
We found everything we needed at the cottage. The outside area and views of the surrounding countryside were lovely. We would happily recommend Arenig at Cyffdy Cottages.
Reviewed by Anna5.0★Oct 2019
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"The Cottage and surrounding area was lovely made all very relaxed and the people ..."
The Cottage and surrounding area was lovely made all very relaxed and the people we met were very friendly we enjoyed our stay
Reviewed by Kathryn5.0★Aug 2019
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"Great roomy cottage with lovely outdoor space, fab views and a superb location."
Highly recommended, great for motorbike trips (what we booked it for), walkers, cyclists, water sports and just getting away. Lovely warm reception from Stephanie who lives next door so help is always on hand should you need any.
Great place, would definitely book again.
Rob & the bikers!
Reviewed by Rob5.0★Jul 2019
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"Absolutely fantastic weekend!"
The cottage exceeded all expectations, facilities were fabulous and excellent value for money.
The only problem was that the heating was a little intermittent and we couldn't get the fire to work, everything else was perfect.
Reviewed by Carly5.0★May 2019
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"Fabulous cottage with everything that was needed for a wonderful holiday."
Well maintained and full of character.
Lovely enclosed garden and patio area that was secure for our dog. Care needed with our two year old due to sloping garden and steep steps but this did not detract from such a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Watching the sheep peeping into the garden was a delight.
Beautiful area and such nice places to visit.
Definetly recommend and would love to return for another holiday
Reviewed by Sue5.0★Mar 2019
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"The cottage was perfectly located and easy to access everything in the Snowdonia N."
P. The cottage itself was so cosy and had everything we needed. Felt like a home away from home. And The people that owned it were super friendly and helpful.
Reviewed by Stacey5.0★Mar 2019
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"Such a lovely warm cozy cottage."
We had a lovely stay and would most definitely go back. Very friendly owner...
Reviewed by Georgina5.0★Feb 2019
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"Lovely Cottage in a very good location to explore Snowdonia, equipt with everything needed to enjoy time away from home."
Reviewed by Libby4.7★Nov 2018
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"Would benefit from a radio in the kitchen"
Reviewed by Kate5.0★Oct 2018
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"Cottage was in a lovely setting and in a good position for us to explore North Wales."
Reviewed by Jelena4.7★Sep 2018
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"It was a great base to explore this great part of the world."
We explicitly wanted an adventure holiday and Wales provided experiences beyond our expectations. Cwffdy provided a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing base from which to explore. Already planning our next trip.
Reviewed by Katie4.4★Aug 2018
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"The cottage was perfect for our stay in Wales and was exactly as described."
The garden was perfect for Alfie (the dog) and our two boys really enjoyed the football net. Stephanie the host was excellent and responded really quickly to any query that we had. The views from the cottage were beautiful and we had an excellent week (despite some rain we had). The highlight of the holiday was definitely the climb up Mt Snowdon and the zipline.
Reviewed by Simon5.0★Jul 2018
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"We spent a week in this wonderful location,the Arenig House was amazing,it's the stuff that you see in magazines only !"
It was quite close to Bala,where you can find shops,restaurants,and a nice lake to enjoy. There are 2 access roads,no potholes at all,Mrs Stephanie is a very welcoming host and a lovely person,and the location was so quiet i could not believe it.
Inside the house yo can find anything you need-fridge,washing machine,dishwasher,ironing machine,hot water,microwave oven,electric oven and so on...
Snowdon Mountain is close by,Barmouth Beach is within easy reach,and Anglesey was lovely to visit.
The internet was a bit "temperamental",but considering where the location is,i was surprised it was available at all.
I would definely come back if i get the time.
Reviewed by Cristian5.0★Jul 2018
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"The cottage is in an excellent location for a very relaxing holiday."
It is very well appointed and very comfortable. We had a lovely week here and our miniature daschund was in her element in the safely enclosed garden. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Jun 2018
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"Great comfortable cottage with everything needed for our stay."
Quiet, warm and inviting, quite easy to find even for overseas travellers. Good communication with property manager Steph. While there is WiFi the connection is not great which was explained to us it wasn't too much of an issue for us but if relying on Wi-Fi while there it's not great, that being said it wouldn't stop us staying there again.
Reviewed by Sandra4.4★Jun 2018
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"Good location with beautiful views."
House well equipped with everything we needed, including a well appointed patio area looking over the mountains. A few steps between longe/main floor and kitchen so worth bearing in mind for anyone not good on their feet. Quiet location with only the sound of distant sheep and chickens to 'disturb' you!
Reviewed by Judith5.0★Jun 2018
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"The location of the property was superb and views were amazing."
The property has been skilfully finished without losing its character and warmth. The views from the garden were superb helped by great weather. The owners met us on arrival and were very helpful and pleasant. As we are a family of five and Labrador it can been challenging finding good properties but this ticked every box. The only issue was we did not stay long enough but we will be back!!
Reviewed by Neil5.0★May 2018
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"This was the best place I've ever stayed."
Super comfy and clean. Felt like at home :)
Reviewed by Monika5.0★Apr 2018
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"Very nice cottage situated close to Bala."
We really enjoyed the location being right next to the sheep and lambs. Steph was very accommodating with us and attentive to all our needs. we would happily recommend this cottage to others wanting to visit the Snowdonia area.
Reviewed by James4.4★Apr 2018
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