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27 Guests
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9 Bedrooms
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8 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Ground floor accommodation
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Games Room
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
18 Customer Reviews
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"This was a wonderful stay, spacious and peaceful, and a great place for a large group with lots of children."
The kids loved running everywhere, and adults enjoyed the views, conversations and watching all the children having fun. The views are incredible. We even had snow which added to the beauty. Every window overlooked the beautiful countryside, and that was very relaxing. Owners were very accommodating allowing us a second dog last minute due to unforeseen circumstances, and we arrived to a high chair and cot ready for our littlest. We reported some miner issues at the start and they were grateful that we noted these things for them so they could make sure they sort them ready for the next guests
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"Fabulous, comfortable spacious house."
Ideal for a large family break. Kitchen was a great space to all cook and chat together. Maybe scissors,sharp knives and butter dish could be purchased? Beds really comfy with lovely on suites. Ideal location with fantastic views
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"Brilliant property, superb space for such a large group."
We did just miss having hand soap in the toilets!
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"Lovely and clean however leaky sink that floods kitchen floor, shower doors hanging off, doors don't close, many fixtures hanging off walls, plug missing from a sink and a shower that doesn't turn off."
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"This is a superb country house with maximum slleeping flexibility."
It retains old world charm and is ideal for large family/ or groups of friends. The kitchen facilities are excellent and the overall abience of the house is just wonderfull. We were a a group of 15 very close friends and did many walks, both from the house and afar. We took our own logs and enjoyed sitting and playing live music in the snug room and games in the main sitting room in the evenings. We all came home feeling that Fron Ddrerw is a country house well worth a second visit!.
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"We loved Fron Derw."
Lots of space for our huge family re-union. The ground floor bedroom was perfect for my niece with her 5 month old baby. It was beautifully clean on arrival. It took us a while to master the hot water and we ended up with some scalding showers! The shower in Bala can’t be fully turned off and has no temperature control, has no cover for the drain outlet. One of the white “Ant” chairs collapsed, landing another niece on the floor (un-hurt thankfully). We added that chair to the other chair corpses at the back of the house. But we didn’t mind these quirks, it was just part of a lovely week.
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"Property is in a good location with stunning views."
Ideal location for big family get away. Plenty of pots pans etc for cooking. Enough space to spread out. litter left outside, dirty under beds couches etc. Barbecues full of ash needed good clean. Purchased disposal barbecues to use. Mattresses need replacing. Freezers full of Ice. Taps lose on sinks. Showers continually running thermostat control poor as they just got hotter and hotter. Mice in kitchen. Septic tank overflowing should have been checked and emptied prior to arrival not during stay.
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"19 of us ( adults and children) spent a week at Fron Derw House and had a fabulous holiday at the house which was a 10 minute walk to the village and the lake activities."
There was plenty of room for us all to fit inside and outside the property with a very safe outside space for children and dog to play. The views were fantastic and we had a lovely place to sit and drink coffee or have a glass of wine in the evening. With the amazing weather we had the house and the area it really was a most memorable trip. However as always there were a few issues that could be improved on. It is an old house and of course there will be a problem or two. We would also very much like to thank the key contact person Gemma who was great and responded quickly and efficiently to any problems. We would also like to hope these are constructive comments and like l said it did not detract from our time there. 1. Having ongoing hot water for showers and washing up was an issue and perhaps the system needs upgrading. 2. Installing 2 dishwashers would be useful for managing large amounts of washing up. 2. The one bedroom downstairs was damp and we had to put sheets in the drier most days, that needs looking at. 3. It would make a difference to have a bigger two door fridge to fit in food you need for 19 people. 4. The freezers tended to get blocked with ice making it difficult to open at times. 5.Some of the beds could be upgraded as not all mattresses were comfortable. 6. Dining chairs were not that comfortable...maybe need an upgrade? Not that easy for us to fit 19 around on one big table but we managed it by putting 2 tables end to end diagonally across the room. Again would like to say we had a wonderful time at the house and delighted we got to stay there.
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"Amazing place!"
The cottage looked exactly as in the pictures. We had a wonderful time there and we were a group of 22 people. It is very easy to find, you can easily walk to the lake and town and a bus stop nearby. The only small issue we had was that the hot water ran out after a couple of people took a shower, but you just need to wait a bit for it to refill. Absolutely recommended for large groups.
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"What a brilliant holiday home!"
24 of us (12 adults and 12 children) stayed in this house for a week at the end of May. The pictures illustrate exactly what the house looks like. It was clean and well presented when we arrived. The kitchen was really well equipped to cook for 24 people. There was plenty of space for people to have their own quiet time, for children to enjoy themselves in the games room and tv room and an amazing outdoor space. The firepit was great for toasting marshmallows one night. There are lots of midgies so bring a citronella candle. The bins are at the bottom of the drive. They were full when we arrived so we just put our bin bags next to the big bins. They were emptied on Thursday. Bala centre and Bala lake are a 10 minute stroll down the hill. Thankyou for a brilliant holiday - we'd love to come again next year!
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"Fabulous house for my brothers 60th."
Loads of room and bedrooms for 20 of us. Perfect location looking down on the lake. Just be carefull taking a dog. There is a fiels attached with sheep. There is a fence but where the grass cuttings had been put it made a part of the fence very easy for the dog to jump. The farmer was very understanding but we were unable to let the out. But other than that i would highly recommend it.
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"The photos on the listing are not representative of the property itself."
The overall cleanliness and finish of the property in reality is a much lower standard than you are led to believe from the photos. The beds listed as king size are not king size and the bunk beds listed as appropriate for adults are not big enough for adults. Many of the beds were squeaky and uncomfortable. The house is clearly not cleaned and tidied properly between stays, for example the bins were dirty when we arrived. There was damage such as a spindle of the bannister was hanging out of place, and curtain poles hanging out of the wall. You are met with a musty damp smell as soon as you enter the property. On top of all of this, there is a major problem with leaks and damp throughout the property. I was made aware prior to my stay that there had been and issue with damage to the ceiling in the main living room, it was difficult getting further information from Sykes about this ahead of the stay, eventually I received an image of the work half done and that was just a few hours prior to check in, this was stressful as I was co-ordinating a large group trip. When we arrived at the property, the problem with the ceiling repaired, but it hadn’t been painted and there was exposed plaster which was still drying, this made the main lounge feel very dark and depressing. I was not offered any apology for this inconvenience or any compensation. On top of this, there were several leaks and widespread damp in the property. In most bedrooms there is visible evidence of this with wallpaper hanging of walls, water stain marks all over paint work, and in some place water dripping onto carpets. Further, when we went to leave the property the bin at the end of the drive was full, there were no instructions on alternative on where to leave the rubbish so we made the decision to leave our bin bags tied up and neatly in the pantry of the property rather than the roadside where it could have posed an environmental risk. I informed the property manager of this when we left, and was asked to return to the property and leave them on the roadside. When I challenged this and said I was not happy to return, especially given the other issues we had faced with the property, I was told by the property manager that we were ‘lucky we had been able to use the main lounge’ !!! I do not feel ‘lucky’ about any part of this stay. The listing for this property should be considered false advertising because the quality of the property does not even come close to the reality, and the major maintenance issues leave much to be desired. I will be pursuing a refund for this stay.
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"What a stay we had at this lovely house!"
Booked for a group of us to celebrate my partners 40th. Great location short walk into Bala. House itself is lovely and there are towels on all the beds, the beds are very comfy. Kitchen fully stocked with all the plates and pots you can imagine! The only thing I’d say is make sure you bring some extra toilet roll, shower gel and cleaning products.
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"Gorgeous property in a great location."
The rooms are beautifully proportioned and furnished. The layout works so well for a large group with the games room and the snug allowing space for all. The number and standard of bedrooms and bathrooms was excellent. Would love to return in the summer to make the most of the outside space.
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"2.visit great house lots of room and amenities, this time we missed the Xmas decorations but never mind we will be back, thank you"
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"The ground floor bedroom is not exactly ground floor."
I was lead to believe there was only two steps to get into the bedroom. This was not true as there was four high steps. This was an issue is my husband is wheelchair bound so I was unable to get my husband in the bedroom or to any toilet shower facilities. Beside this issue we did have an amazing time.
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"Wow! What an amazing house."
We have just returned from celebrating my sisters 60th with 16 adults and 9 children. There was plenty of space for everyone to celebrate together but also to have their own space. The outside space is amazing and the children loved the tree swings and had an amazing evening around the fire pit. We will definitely be back
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"There was water blockage in every single bathroom except two, couldn’t use bathroom."
We were 20 people so we were in big trouble due to only two bathrooms in use. There was a mouse in the house. Seems like it was nightmare for us.
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Summary
- Nine bedrooms: 2 x king-size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 3 x double with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x family room with double and 2x single with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x family room with king-size and bunk with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x family room with two bunks and single, 1 x bunk
- Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC
- Cloakroom with basin, heated towel rail and WC
- Kitchen/diner
- Utility
- Dining room with woodburning stove
- Sitting room with woodburning stove
- Snug with woodburning stove
- Games room with woodburning stove
- Central heating
- 2 x electric Range cooker with oven and hob, microwave, large freestanding fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher
- 2 x Smart TVs and WiFi, Xbox, selection of books and games, arcade games
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Highchair and travel cot available
- Private driveway for 5 cars
- Large, multi-level garden with lawn, patio, furniture and barbecue
- External fire pit area
- One well-behaved dog welcome (£25 per dog per stay)
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop, pub and lake, 0.6 miles
- Note: Check-in from 4pm, check-out by 10am Note: Internal steps are present.
The property
Tucked away on the rural outskirts of Bala, a bustling town in the heart of Gwynedd, lies this outstanding, nine-bedroom holiday home, Fron Dderw.
A large, manor-style house, boasting off-road parking, pristine lawned gardens, and magnificent views that gaze out upon Bala Lake and the surrounding Welsh countryside, this marvellous stay welcomes large families looking for a relaxing, self-catered escape within the beautiful setting of the Eryri National Park.
Park up and step into your fabulous new home-from-home, where you'll discover a plethora of tastefully-presented living spaces.
A sleek kitchen/diner awaits eager chefs who will find all the appliances they'll need to whip up delicious feasts for the whole family to enjoy across the two dining tables in the dining room.
When your bellies are full, branch out and find a spot within the home to kick back and unwind.
A plush sitting room with a Smart TV and woodburning stove awaits those looking for a chilled film night, whilst a cute snug with its very own TV, woodburning stove and ample seating offers a chance to escape and get lost within a book or partake in a boardgame with your loved ones; the games room is also available for those feeling competitive.
On longer days in warmer months, the huge, multi-level garden serves as the perfect spot for the whole group to gather to enjoy some alfresco dining with the help of a barbecue, or even just chill with a glass of your favourite tipple.
When sleep calls, you'll be spoilt for choice as nine inviting bedrooms, seven of which come with an en-suite bath or shower, await to whisk you and the family for a night of much-needed rest.
When you fancy exploring your local area, head into Bala where you'll find plenty to do and see.
Stock up on essentials at the Co-op Food, pick up some fresh meat for the barbecue from Cigydd Bala Butcher, and sit down for hearty pub lunch at The Bull's Head or Plas Yn Dre.
During your stay in town, be sure to head out onto the water by hiring a kayak from the Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre, or even embark on a scenic walk or bike ride along the many pathways and cycle trails that traverse the awe-inspiring mountain ranges of Aran and Arenig.
For the ultimate family getaway in North Wales, look no further than Fron Dderw.
Note: Dog Charge £25 per dog per stay
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £400.
About the location
BALA
Corwen 11 miles; Dolgellau 18 miles; Llangollen 22 miles; Betws-y-Coed 29 miles.
The bustling market town of Bala lies within the beautiful Snowdonia National Park and is located at the head of Llyn Tegid, Bala’s famous lake, which is the largest natural lake in Wales and home to a unique fish called the Gwyniad, a relic of the Ice Age. Renowned as a centre for great watersports including fishing, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and whitewater rafting, Bala is also the headquarters of the narrow gauge Bala Lake Railway. The town itself is steeped in history and has a range of interesting shops, inns and restaurants, and an historical Town Walk. Surrounded by the wonderful Berwyn Mountains on one side and the beautiful Snowdonia Mountain Range on the other, this is a mecca for climbing, walking, mountain biking and many other outdoor activities. An ideal location for touring all of North and Mid Wales including the stunning Cambrian Bay Coast with the six-mile long Harlech Beach, overlooked by its majestic medieval castle. A truly wonderful part of Wales catering for all interests.
View more holiday cottages in Bala
Note: Internal steps are present; 3 steps up to the ground floor bedroom, one step up to the kitchen from the main hall and lounge area, one step up out of the kitchen into the boot room, one step into the back snug and one step up into the downstairs toilet.
Note: Dog Charge £25 per dog per stay
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas