Hafod, Bryn Hall

Stunning two bedroom cottage situated at 935ft above sea level within Snowdonia National Park. Fantastic sea views, incredibly quiet mountain location in one wing of a historic quarry owner's house & former youth hostel. Perfectly situated for exploring the mountains & coastline of N. Wales, you will be genuinely amazed at our location nestled high in the mountains but so close to the sea. Fully renovated in late 2016 - clean, modern & well appointed. Ample parking, games room with pool table. Hafod is a two bedroomed stone built cottage forming part of Bryn Hall. Its location gives it spectacular views whilst snuggling just under Moel Wnion (a 1900 foot mountain in the Carneddau Range). The cottage has many original features including a stunning inglenook fireplace and exposed stonework. We bought Bryn Hall in December 2015 and are currently restoring it to its former glory; it was once the summer house and hunting lodge of Lord Penrhyn and family (of Penrhyn Castle - just down the road and visible from the house) and is a fairly grand old house of unusual proportions for this area. Our location makes us really quite special; we are just a few minutes drive from the A55, the A5 and Bangor (including the train station) yet we are totally secluded, 935 feet above sea level and within Snowdonia National Park. To top it off we are also only a couple of miles away from the Menai Straits with lovely sea views down to Penmon Point and much further away to the English Coast and even the Isle of Man. Bryn Hall was once the Quarry Owner's house for the adjacent slate quarry - Bryn Hafod y Wern. Our access road brings you up steeply through the quarry waste tips and past the deep quarry pool. This rather stark industrial landscape opens out to a plateau at the foot of Moel Wnion where Bryn Hall is contained within a high stone and slate wall. The word hafod is Welsh for 'summer dwelling' or 'farm', and refers to the seasonal movement of livestock and people from a lowland winter pasture at the main residence (Welsh - hendre) to a higher summer pasture from roughly May through October. But don't think that Hafod, Bryn Hall is not suitable for year round use - it has central heating as well as an efficient, modern wood burner - it is warm and cosy. We have a games barn for guest use (within the courtyard) housing a pool table and table tennis. Hafod is entirely separate from Bryn Hall (the house in which we live) - semi-detached, with its own front door. You will have a dining table and chairs outside Hafod in our walled courtyard (and a small lawn by the pond on the central island / roundabout), but at the moment will not be able to access our garden as it still needs a lot of work to re-tame it. Generally we will be around during your stay as we live there. If we will be away we will make arrangements for someone else to be on hand and we will always be contactable. We really want you to enjoy your stay at Bryn Hall and ask that you let us know if there is anything you need or if you have any problems or issues. We will do our best to help! We are perfectly situated - very accessible from both of the main roads (A55 & A5) yet totally wild and secluded. We have no immediate neighbours and the sense of space up here is incredible. The way we sit between the mountains and the sea is breathtakingly beautiful, you have to see it to believe it. The walks immediately out of our gate are incredible - straight up an easily conquered mountain with far reaching views. There's ample parking at Bryn Hall. The old quarry track to our house is a bit bumpy in places and has steep sections; it is absolutely fine in a normal car. If you are coming in anything larger than a transit sized van please get in touch to discuss this as we have an arched gateway to access the property and we can check that you will fit through OK! There are bits of our house and land that we have not yet started to renovate, or are in the process of doing so. This will not impact on you in any way but there may be evidence of building work or unfinished bits in other areas. Hafod is fully renovated, redecorated and finished.