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"I have very mixed feelings about this property."
We’ve had a lovely stay in a lovely part of Wales. The barn is lovely, previous negative reviews about a lack of glasses or crockery have obviously been addressed and there is plenty of everything. The outdoor facilities are excellent, there is a walk through the woods, electric gates, a full recycling area, and lots that really makes this barn and the stay special.
The draw back for me, is it feels very much like business, with no home touches to make you feel at home. We’ve gone away twice a year as a family for about 10 years, and this is the first time there’s been nothing in the house when you get in, no pint of milk in the fridge, no salt or pepper at all, no welcome pack, limited information pack (we didn’t know where the bins were till we were leaving and had all our recycling stacked up on a worktop), absolutely no check out instructions leaving us unsure what was expected of us on the last day. These little things would genuinely make it a 10/10 stay, as the facilities and the barn are lovely.
The cleanliness was adequate, the barn felt very clean and tidy when we arrived, however some of the linen and towels were stained, a lot of the glasses were dirty (may have been the fault of the previous tenant) and the outdoor lights weren’t working, although this was fixed on our final evening.
All in all, we’ve had a great week, and I would love to come back again. We would just have a much better stay with a little more information and a couple of basic home comforts on hand.
Reviewed by Allan3.8★Oct 2024
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"Fantastic stay with all of the family ages from 7-82 ."
Everybody loved the Barn and its beautiful surroundings . All bedrooms were perfect and the bathrooms beautiful with great showers .
A truly well kept holiday cottage with under floor heating and the added bonus of a hot tub . We hope return .
Reviewed by Gill5.0★Oct 2024
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"We had the best weekend at the property."
On arrival barn was super clean and we found everything we needed for our stay. So much space at the property, and the garden is beautiful. Plenty of wood supplied for our stay (which we purchased within the cost of booking) The only thing that stressed us out a little was the sheer anxiety of the single track lanes, could do with just a little more signage, we took a wrong turn twice! Would definitely return again in the future! simply perfect!
Reviewed by Anna5.0★Sep 2024
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"8 of us stayed at Drover's Barn on the weekend and absolutely loved it."
Property itself was immaculate when we arrived and arrival instructions were clearly communicated in advance. The owners are extremely helpful and always responded to queries raised in a timely manner. The grounds of the barn are perfect for families and/or groups. We can't wait to go back already.
Reviewed by Jack5.0★Sep 2024
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"The views and area are absolutely stunning and just what we were looking for."
Most bedrooms were comfortable and the kitchen was well stocked. However I would not describe this property as luxury. The towels were frayed and were ‘grey’, no longer white.The soap-dispensers are more suited to a hostel type environment. The garden was covered in weeds and not maintained at all! The freezer needs defrosting (we chipped away the ice as best we could) and the dishwasher needs rinse aid. We were 4 single adults so the three ensuite rooms worked well, but the twin room is a considerable distant from a bathroom which meant we had to use the child’s room with a bed not designed for an adult. Overall the property is soulless - no throws, no design, no nice touches and a huge sofa facing a blank wall with a TV. Why not have seating looking out of the windows with a table by the walls.and convert the dining room to an en-suite bedroom? We moved the small chairs to face the window but found one to be broken so had to use a dining room chair. Also I have never stayed at a ‘luxury’ property that does not provide a welcome pack. The property is remote and because of the walks around it I would have thought is more suited to adult stays. We were seeking a bit of luxury with fabulous views and walks; we did get two out of three.
Reviewed by Anne-marie3.4★Sep 2024
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"We have stayed at several Sykes Cottages in the past and have found them to be delightful."
As a family of 10 (3 generations) we were excited to be having a holiday together, but we were disappointed by several aspects of Drovers Barn. It is clearly a “Business “ without any personal touches, unlike other cottages we have rented from you. Presumably because there is only a 6 hour gap between occupancy, checking equipment and facilities were not done. Main bathroom no soap in dispenser, cords of both blinds in dining room were broken, one dining room chair was broken, the freezer urgently needs defrosting, broken drying rack ( what’s the point of a washing machine if there’s nowhere to dry?) ,25 wine glasses and only 9 water glasses, hot tub used a huge amount of wood ( the crates of wood purchased from you were quite mean).You advertise “Games”.. there were none. No long pole to open high Velux windows.
The dining and outdoor tables were great.. easily accommodating all of us.
All in all we feel that for the huge cost of this property, it really did not meet our expectations.
Reviewed by Sally3.1★Aug 2024
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"What a fantastic time we had at Drovers Barn from the 14th-17th June it was ..."
What a fantastic time we had at Drovers Barn from the 14th-17th June it was all and more than we expected we went as a family of 11 to celebrate my Daughters 40th Birthday everything from the barn to the amazing views was outstanding thanks to the owners for making sure everything we needed was there would definitely recommend and we know were to go next time we have a family get together
Thank you. Drovers Barn is a great property for get togethers with friends & family & we are glad everything was perfect for you.
We hope to see you again.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Denise5.0★Jun 2024
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"We have just returned from a weekend stay at Drovers Barn and we had the best time."
The barn was immaculate, well equipped with everything we needed, warm and comfortable, idilic and breathtaking views. The hot tub was incredible and such a luxury. The owner was on hand to help with anything. We were impressed with the drinks fridge, wine cooler and 2x fridges as well as the incredible showers and bathrooms. I’m so happy that there was a Bluetooth speaker on hand to use as mine decided to break last minute! It was the best weekend and we all can’t stop talking about how gorgeous the barn is. We all wanted to rent it out and live there and we will certainly be recommending Drovers Barn and all lodges at the Hidden Meadow to anyone and everyone we know!!
Thank you so much! - you made our girls weekend a very special one.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are pleased you had a great weekend.
Thank you for the recommendations.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Bethany5.0★Jun 2024
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"A lovely barn that we enjoyed staying in."
A few minor niggles not worth mentioning although if you have mobility issues Drovers Barn is probably not for you. Our main complaint is directed at Sykes Cottages and their appalling customer service. I would NOT recommend anyone use this company. A window smashed whilst we were staying here, we were nowhere near it and hadn't been home all day. Sykes took £405.00 from my account and refused any discussion. Sykes have been disgusting in dealing with our complaint, continually sending generic useless emails. Getting hold of anyone is near on impossible, when you do the phone is put down on you. The owners are very pleasant and a compromise has been achieved, which although not happy with we will accept. DO NOT USE SYKES!
Reviewed by Allison4.7★May 2024
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"We totally enjoyed our stay here, the property is immaculate and very well appointed."
The space is well thought out and was comfortable for all of us.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Mark5.0★Apr 2024
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"We had a four night stay at Drovers barn - six adults and three teenagers."
The barn itself is stunning, lovely bedrooms with comfortable beds, plenty of bathrooms and a comfortable living room space and good sized kitchen. The hot tub is lovely (once you get the hang of firing up the heat). I would recommend that you ask for it to be lit on arrival (ours sadly wasn’t but we believe this was a communication error from Sykes to the owner). The barn was mostly spotless but there is some attention to detail that is needed - cobwebs etc. The kitchen is desperately in need of a restock of glasses/tumblers we had to take it in turns to use them (we had a laugh about it in the end, but this does need addressing). All in all this is a stunning property that had the added bonus of being in a lovely remote spot of mid Wales. I can imagine this is a gorgeous place to be in the summer months. I would 100% recommend a visit to dreamy drovers barn (let’s just hope they provide the next visitors with something to drink out of).
Thank you for your feedback and we are extremely sorry there were not enough glasses, as these should have been replenished by our cleaning staff. It is a shame you did not contact us as we could have provided further asap if we were aware.
Thank you for your lovely feedback re our barn :)
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lisa4.4★Jan 2024
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"Fabulous place just a hit too far out for my liking but if you want to get away ..."
Fabulous place just a hit too far out for my liking but if you want to get away from civilisation completely great place not good for people with prams or disabilities on getting around anywhere outside total incline so coming back would just be impossible one pub at least an hours walk away but if that’s what you like that’s fine but the actual Barn itself couldn’t fault it apart from our shower was cold others were fine
Thank you; and we apologise there was an issue with your shower.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Janet5.0★Dec 2023
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"Had a really good week, location whilst remote is fantastic."
Accommodation was as expected. Disappointed with overall cleanliness, house was full of flies, only took me a few minutes to locate the reason why and resolve it. Corners of rooms at ceiling and ground level lots of cobwebs. Bedroom bins above dining room had not been emptied. Toilet seat next to kitchen fitted incorrectly, again, I fixed this fairly easily. Televisions in most rooms not working, internal aerial reconnected to upstairs bedroom, appreciate the house is probably in a bad reception area, but smart tvs are affordable especially considering the rental cost. Would like to have access to an ice maker in the freezer, and there was no potato masher. On a positive note, nice to have a few provisions for the kitchen, along with a supply of toilet paper. Overall we enjoyed our family holiday, the underfloor heating is a bonus, nice touch with the Xmas tree and oodles of space for a family gathering. Would be good if you could remove the swim shorts from the bush near the hot tub that someone has kindly thrown there. Hot tub once heated is easy to keep warm although it does take at least 2 crates to heat the water. We used 7 crates for a 6 day stay, which when paying extra needs to be factored in to the overall cost of the property.
Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologise that the cleaning was not up to our expected high standards. We have since spoken with our cleaning team and highlighted the issues you have raised.
We will take your feedback on board re the TV’s.
We are you enjoyed your stay.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Christopher3.4★Dec 2023
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"Had a girls weekend away and we loved every minute of it!"
The owners were welcoming and the house & view was just beautiful.
Definitely would recommend!
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay!
Property Owner
Reviewed by Faith5.0★Nov 2023
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"The barn is absolutely beautiful but considering it is 5 star I would have expected a little more."
The bedding and towels were grubby. Ripped pillowcases, of white tired looking bedding. The whole place felt like it could do with a good clean, lots of cobwebs, fluff and dust.
The hot tub was amazing and the setting stunning.
Thank you for your feedback. We apologise that the cleanliness was not up to our high expectations, and have since liaised with our cleaning staff regarding this.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Victoria4.1★Oct 2023
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"Lovely property!"
Absolutely stunning. The underfloor heating was amazing! So spacious and comfortably. Hot tub is brilliant, just to make anyone aware it will take upto 5 hours to heat the tub but then it stayed warm the whole stay, we just kept topping up the wood. The only things I would like to highlight is the twin room. The TV in the twin room wasn't working as the aerial lead was damaged. Also one of the twin beds in the same room had dirty sheets on it. However every other room was perfect and clean. The toilet seat in the WC just of the kitchen area doesn't fit the toilet and was loose. But this didn't take away from our experience and I will be happy to return in the future.
Thank you for your constructive feedback, and we are so glad you enjoyed your stay! If you return, please take up our free hot tub lighting service so it can be at temperature prior to your arrival. It shouldn’t take longer than 2hours to heat up if the fire is kept raging.
We apologise for the dirty sheets and have liaised with our cleaning staff. The TV has since been repaired.
We hope to see you again soon :)
Property Owner
Reviewed by Louise4.4★Oct 2023
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"Property was superb and as described."
Well off the beaten track and would love to have spent more Tom there. Only criticism was that the tv's all needed new batteries in the remote controls
Thank you for your feedback; and glad you enjoyed your stay :).
We will ensure we check the controllers more frequently. Apologies for them not working.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Geoff4.7★Sep 2023
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"A wonderful property, lovely rural location."
Comfortable, clean rooms and beds. Would definitely stay again.
Thank you and we hope to see you again! :)
Property Owner
Reviewed by Carolyn5.0★Aug 2023
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"All the Tv’s in every room didn’t work and had to connect to the Wi-Fi to use our own log in for basic tv programs."
No hot water in kitchen and No washing up bowl. Basic kitchen utensils but no masher for potatoes. Hot tub water was cloudy, we emptied and refilled to get rid of old water” smell in the water. Maintenance was aware and came out but didn’t resolve these issues. House and area was amazing but little awkward when 9 people in house and 3 of them had no hot water for shower.
Reviewed by Anthony4.4★Aug 2023
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"Cottage had all the facilities that were needed and more."
Location was soo peaceful and relaxing. However we had an issue with the hot water on one side of the property, which wasn't resolved at all. Hence the 4 stars
Reviewed by Mohammed4.4★Aug 2023
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"Had an amazing stay at Drovers Barn."
It was perfect for a large group and beautifully decorated etc. Close to Zipworld and Llangollen / Betws-y-coed which was super handy. Really quick responses from owners on anything we needed. The only one thing I would say is just ask for the hot tub to be lit as we struggled with it a bit with it being a log fire one! Thanks for everything and would definitely stay again :)
Reviewed by Hannah5.0★Jul 2023
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"We visited last weekend for my 40th Birthday and it was nothing short of amazing from start to finish we all had a brilliant time, there were just a few things we thought could have been advertised better or added to the listings to make it perfect."
Camping chairs are included - we took 10 with us that we didn't need to.
Fans for the upstairs bedrooms - it got hot real quick especially once we were all getting ready for the evening.
Flies - were a nightmare, however we put this down to the heat but maybe invest in something to keep them under control.
BBQ - either offer people the opportunity to buy coals for the BBQ or advise them to bring their own.
Since being home we have recommended this to other people and we will definitely look to return it was beautiful, only wish we'd have booked longer.
Reviewed by Lucie4.1★Jun 2023
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"The property is lovely but located about 1 mile up a single track road which can be scary when you meet another vehicle."
The sofa is in need of replacing as it moves when you sit back on it and we were afraid it was going to break. The floors were dirty as were some of the glasses in the cupboard. A first aid box could be an addition as we had a small accident and needed plasters. Maybe a welcome pack could be provided with milk for a cup of tea on arrival as nearest supermarket is a drive away. The hot tub and views are great
Reviewed by Susan3.1★May 2023
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"The Barn was beautiful and everything you needed was provided."
The country setting added to the beauty of the place. The sofa was starting to show wear and tear and was not very comfy.
Reviewed by Julie4.7★Mar 2023
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"Fabulous!!
Beautiful house"
.. spotlessly clean. A little off the beaten track but once on the road up it is well signed. Heavy snow when we went which made the views amazing and the owner made sure the track was safe for us to get up to. The hot tub was fab in the snow.. but it did take a while to heat up was -7 outside though!!
Would highly recommend
Reviewed by Elaine5.0★Mar 2023
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"Amazing Cottage!"
Its hard to please 11 females but not one of us had anything bad to say! We are already looking for next year.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are so pleased to hear you are planning on returning next year
Property Owner
Reviewed by Megan5.0★Jan 2023
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"We had an enjoyable stay here."
Excellent location, quiet, remote. The house was spacious, well equipped. A special mention to Dave, the friendly caretaker, who helped us out so much with a few things. He went out of his way, and we were particularly grateful.
The only thing I think is unfair is the 4pm check in and 10am check out. It means the customer misses out on a day which isn't right when we're paying a fair price.
Thank you for your feedback. We agree that Dave is amazing! We appreciate your feedback re the arrival / departure times. Unfortunately this is difficult to adjust to allow all properties to be cleaned to a high standard ready for the following guests.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lisa4.7★Nov 2022
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"Amazing stay, we have really enjoyed."
10 out of 10
We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for your 10/10 rating. We hope to see you again
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lucia5.0★Nov 2022
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"Great location for walkers."
Clean, comfortable, warm, quiet and amazing views. Plenty of space for 10 of us. The hot tub was great. Two domestic ovens, two fridges and two wine coolers plus plenty of cupboards to store food meant self catering was easy. Could do with more racks / hanging space for wet towels and clothes. And somewhere to store muddy boots. Other than that it was pretty perfect.
We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay; and thank you for your positive feedback. We are planning to build a porch in 2023 to allow storage for muddy boots and wet coats
Property Owner
Reviewed by Jane5.0★Oct 2022
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"Drovers barn is beautiful and in the most gorgeous setting with phenomenal views."
We had the most fabulous weekend celebrating her 30th birthday. We made good use of the hot tub however, we used most of our wood on this alone and had to order more. This was delivered very promptly but we spent £55 in all just mainly heating the hot tub, therefore the hot tub is only a facility if you're prepared to pay to heat it.
My only other issue was the cleanliness, mainly of the crockery; most of the mugs had coffee/tea stains and had to be washed before use and a few of the plates were unclean, one in particular appeared to have been put in the cupboard without even being washed. I would suggest this is checked between bookings as they were the first things I came across when we arrived and made me feel uneasy about the general cleanliness, I was quite shocked considering the cost of the accomodation and especially with the in-house booklet asking us to strip beds etc in line with COVID regulations I would have expected everything to be spotless. The settee and chairs in the lounge and dining room had some staining as did our quilt, which I noticed after I stripped the bed.
However, the barn and it's position was delightful.
Reviewed by Nicola4.4★Sep 2022
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"Lovely property, only a few things would make it outstanding."
Better kitchen equipment, ie sharp kitchen knifes, more bowls for serving food in, kitchen draining board and also a ash bucket for the hot tub and fire.
Otherwise a lovely property with great views.
As this property can cater for up to 11 people, so you are more likely to cook at home rather go out.
Reviewed by Sarah4.7★Jul 2022
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"First class property in an excellent location."
Very clean with excellent amenities. Our family group of five adults and four children thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Two very minor issues:
The wood-fired hot tub was OK but slow to reach temperature and a bit of a chore after a full day out - would much prefer the electric type.
Barrier mats at the entrance doors would have been useful as a place to remove wet shoes.
Reviewed by John5.0★May 2022
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"Beautiful cottage with stunning views we really enjoyed our stay"
Reviewed by Beverley5.0★May 2022
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"Fantastic cottage with everything you need in a stunning location."
We had a wonderful time and the hot tub was a hit with all. We will definitely be back.
Reviewed by Joanne5.0★Apr 2022
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"Lovely cottage."
The downside is that it’s quite isolated and the hot tub was a pain (and fuelled at our expense). It was difficult to regulate so could get scalding hot. The cottage itself was well laid out and very clean with great facilities.
Reviewed by Claire5.0★Apr 2022
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"Very good and cozy would stay here again."
Reviewed by Virgilijus5.0★Mar 2022
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"The cottage was beautiful and I would definitely stay there again."
However I had a problem with the hot water to the cottage, the 2nd and 3rd day of our stay we had none in the evening even with the booster to the hot water system being activated.
A couple of items added to the kitchen would have been good, these were sharp knives, pizza cutter and a larger teapot.
Loved the cottage and grounds, the whole family really enjoyed themselves.
Thanks.
Reviewed by Tony4.1★Feb 2022
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"A superb facility."
We enjoyed a family Christmas there very much. We got to grips with the wood fired hot-tub quite easily. The only drawback was the lounge furniture. The L shaped sofa is extremely uncomfortable and the small two seater settee and two single chairs are not fit for purpose. We were nine in total and when the outside weather is wet and cold you need a comfortable lounge. This would be enough for us not to book another stay at Drovers Barn which would be such a shame.
Clean, warm and very well presented. Thank you.
Reviewed by Margaret4.4★Dec 2021
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"Wow what a time we had."
The stay was amazing from start to finish. I couldn’t fault the place however to make things that extra bit better. It’s a 11 person place so only one iron and ironing board was a bit of a pain. The hot tub although lovely was a pain trying to get hot and then the amount of wood it requires can become really expensive.
Also maybe more then one towel each. The whole place has underfloor heating so it’s hard to get your towel dry.
However we had a amazing time and have decided to make this a twice yearly trip with all our friends.
Reviewed by Joseph4.7★Nov 2021
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"Fabulous haven in the middle of nowhere - had everything we needed , however would have been good to maybe leave a couple of dishwasher tablets for people who forgot them like us ."
Would highly recommend
Reviewed by Michelle5.0★Oct 2021
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"Beautiful accommodation in a lovely setting."
Facilities great and everything there that you need.
Reviewed by Lynsey4.7★Oct 2021
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"The barn itself and views were amazing."
The down side was the hot tub - there isn’t a temperature control on it making it hard to judge it’s heat. In addition, chlorine tablets had been left in but the device didn’t seem to be working as they were still in it at end of week. The owners didn’t come to check it daily which is what we are used to from previous experiences and we couldn’t top it up. Previous people who had used the toasting machine hadn’t cleaned it which meant we had to do that before using it. This should have been checked. This all stated we did enjoy our stay. These are things they could be improved on.
Reviewed by Karen3.4★Aug 2021
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"A lovely barn conversation in beautiful countryside."
We enjoyed the hot tub but a wood fired tub is certainly quite challenging to manage. Beautiful inside with very comfortable beds, however, it does lack space for muddy shoes and wet coats and no tumble drier for wet towels. Also although garden is enclosed, there is only a low wall on one side, no match for our cockapoo! Small details only, we had a lovely stay and fortunately lovely weather.
Reviewed by Sue4.7★Aug 2021
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"The whole place was beautiful however the hot tub was quite awkward to heat up."
However it was a great stay abs would defo go again!
Reviewed by Chloe4.7★Jul 2021
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"This is a fantastic barn conversion in an excellent location to explore Wales."
I would recommend this property to anyone wishing to visit Snowdonia, Anglesey and the surrounding area. The house is clean, modern, well equipped and thoughtfully designed.
Please don’t get a takeaway from Abuls Indian Restaurant in Corwen. I have never had such a dreadful Indian meal.
Reviewed by Nicola5.0★Jun 2021
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"Excellent cottage - specced out really well."
Owners didn't hesitate to splash out on the property - everything was to a high standard. The only issue was the Internet however even then I feel bad mentioning it because you are in a remote area away from the rest of the world, however I was unable to do my work based on the Internet quality and also it being unsecured without any registration requirements did raise a concern to me- maybe add a password to the Internet connection or even a registration requirement? Overall, the property was amazing with plenty of space and rooms to enjoy!
Reviewed by Mohammed4.7★May 2021
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"Me and my friends stayed here as a group of 6 for my partners birthday."
we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, very clean and modern barn with underfloor heating and en-suites in all king rooms! the hot tub was lovely although it took a while to heat, outside area was great as well. coded gate to get in so felt very safe at all times and such a quiet and peaceful location with brill views. 10/10 would recommend anyone to go there that would like to visit north wales
Reviewed by Holly5.0★May 2021
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"The place looked great and was."
We used as a base for various trips around the area.
Lovely quiet location. Really nice house.
Reviewed by Paul4.7★May 2021
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