Guests say
Fro Awel is a well-regarded cottage in Dolgellau, praised for its cleanliness, comfort, and prime location. Guests appreciate the well-maintained property, its proximity to local amenities, and the thoughtful touches provided by the hosts. The garden and river add to the charm, making it a cosy base for exploring Snowdonia.
Guests consistently note the cottage's cleanliness, describing it as 'spotless' and 'tidy'. The high level of cleanliness contributes significantly to the positive experience of the visitors.
The location is highly praised for being central, with easy access to shops, pubs, and walks. The convenience of parking and the proximity to local attractions are frequently mentioned as benefits.
Many reviews highlight the comfort of the cottage, mentioning 'comfy beds' and a 'cosy' environment. However, a few guests noted issues with ventilation and noise, slightly impacting the overall comfort score.
Facilities are generally well-received, with mentions of a well-equipped kitchen and efficient heating. Some minor maintenance issues and suggestions for improvements have been noted, but these do not detract significantly from the overall positive feedback.
Guests have expressed appreciation for the welcome pack and starter pack for the woodburner, indicating a level of thoughtfulness from the hosts. While such gifts are warmly received, they are not guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
This charming, traditional, Welsh vernacular-style cottage is a Grade II listed, 18th century stone cottage with a fascinating history and plenty of stories to tell. Lying at the foothills of the wonderous Cadair Idris Mountain and with views of its peak, Penygader, Fro Awel is ideal for a family or group wanting to explore the Snowdonia National Park. Entering the property, you will find a sitting room with stunning feature solid oak beams and a huge bressumer over the woodburning stove, which fills the space with warmth, with plenty of seating to relax on as you enjoy flicking through your favourite shows on the Smart TV. Prepare your delicious home-cooked meals in the fully fitted and well-equipped kitchen/diner, which sports a washer/dryer and dishwasher for your convenience, and enjoy eating as a group around the large dining table, enjoying good food and good conversation. The charm of the cottage continues upstairs, with three charming bedrooms, complete with low beams and window seats. Guests can choose from either the king-size, double or twin room, each boasting antique furnishings and storage for your belongings. Relax at the end of the day with a soak in the traditional-style clawfoot tub or rejuvenate in the shower, while the marble-effect Victorian-style bathroom furniture blends seamlessly with the imposing beams. Take a stroll outside to the enclosed rear garden,featuring a lawn area, stone patio and to add to the twinkle of the property's charm, there's also a rear barn which formerly housed a candle factory that supplied light to the miners of the Bontddu Gold Mine in the 1800s. The River Arran flows right behind the property, adding a soothing backdrop of trickling water during a summer's day when you’re sat outside. The cottage is in a prime location for those wanting to explore the Snowdonia National Park and surrounding area. With plenty of shops, pubs, bars, and restaurants all within walking distance, guests at Fro Awel will be spoilt for choice and able to access all that Dolgellau has to offer. Dolgellau boasts stunning scenery including Cadair Idris mountain, The Mawddach Trail and Coed-y-Brenin forest, offering keen ramblers and walkers an enticing amount of choice for exploration on foot. Outdoor enthusiasts have mounds of activities to choose from, including exploring the Snowdonia mountains, or mountain biking at Afan Forest Park. Alternatively, visit the sandy beaches at Barmouth, Aberdovey and Fairbourne for a fun filled day at the seaside. Fro Awel is a charming and unique dwelling ready to host an unforgettable experience, set within the Snowdonia National Park.
The market town of Dolgellau is situated between the Cadair Idris mountain range and the sea, just south of Snowdonia. The town boasts various shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries and a wine bar, and is home to over 200 listed buildings. There are dedicated cycle routes all around the area, along with walking trails and mountain biking, whilst nearby beaches include Barmouth, Fairbourne and Aberdovey. Coed y Brenin is nearby, offering a mountain bike trail and opportunities for outdoor activities accompanied by mountains, forests, waterfalls, castles, and beaches.
Accommodation
Sykes Gem Awards 2024 Gold winner for Best for Walking.
Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x double and 1 x twin.
Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen/diner.
Sitting room with woodburning stove
Gas central heating with woodburning stove.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, books, Smart TV with Blu-ray and WiFi.
Fuel, power and starter pack for stove included in rent.
Dining booster seat (suitable for children who can sit up by themselves), travel cot and stairgate.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Off-road parking for two cars.
Garden with lawned area, patio and seating.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
Shop within 0.1 miles, pub within 0.1 miles.
Note: Due to the age of this property it has low ceilings and door frames throughout, please consider this when booking
Reviews (28)
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Janet
We liked: the well-equipped kitchen with a generous supply of crockery; the big comfy sofas and the very efficient heating system. The position, quiet but close to the town centre, was excellent, with the bakery and the lovely deli two minutes away. Dolgellau is a great base for exploring this beautiful part of Wales. Minor niggles: the fixed shower head was fine but the other one kept slipping (so we did a temporary fix with a tie-wrap). Perhaps a deep-clean in the cottageâs nooks and crannies would deal with cobwebs and âgrubby bitsâ. Old houses are tricky, we know. The oven could do with de-greasing too (we only used it for heating croissants etc), but the rest of the kitchen was immaculate. Nice to have off-road parking but beware of the metal posts! Weâd definitely choose this cottage again.
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Gillian
I did not have to use my car at all in my fortnight stay but it was good to have it right outside the house. Dol is also a bus hub. The garden is beautiful even at this time of year and the cottage has a very cozy sitting room. All in all the property was excellent, comfortable and plenty warm enough- even for an old person like me. Do visit the Popytr Dref cake shop- the best cakes in the world, and the several supermarkets are good enough to meet all needs. But nothing beats Cader Idris itself and its secret high valleys which continued to reveal themselves to me during my walking days. A walk to and around Abergwnnant woods along the Mawdach is well worth it and easy walking too. What else to say? I had a wonderful time here. Anyone would.
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Gary
My first stay here and not my last. We had a fantastic stay here everything was great