Reviews


COTTAGE REVIEWS, scroll down until you are at the cottage you are interested in.
I’m just taking a block of a couple of months of reviews from Airbnb, they are all on there still, booking is much cheaper directly through us though.

PIGSTY REVIEWS: –
Katie October 2020
What can we say but “WOW”. This place is a true gem. We had been trying to book the pig sty for over 18 months. But with it being so popular, proved difficult. But we managed to get a weekend. It was far better than we imagined. The sauna and projector was a bonus, with an array of dvd’s to choose from. Toby and Stephanie were the perfect host’s with their wonderful dogs. The dogs took us down to the lake on the land and Staphanie let us have a nosey round the little, quaint cottage that was down there. We can’t wait to come back and stay again.

Andrew October 2020
Come and stay at the pigsty it is truly an amazing little hideaway, the hosts are fantastic and very helpful.

Sara October 2020
Excellent location, fabulous hosts, wecoming, peaceful, cosy and magical! The most breathtaking night sky I have seen in many years! Restorative and peaceful! Couldnt reccomend this place more highly!

Sally October 2020
Trip no 8 (I think possibly 9) to the wonderful little pigsty. Lovely location, cozy accommodation with a sauna and big screen projector for watching movies of an evening, like your own cinema! Favourite for us is walking the dogs, Polly and Tilly, you rarely see a soul out walking and we love that! We visit year on year so I guess that says it all.

Megan October 2020
This place is truly special, a sanctuary. The garden, the lake, the dogs – it’s such a fantastic place. I loved the addition of the hammock swing by the trampoline! Cannot wait to visit again!

Harry September 2020
We were warmly greeted by Toby on arrival with Polly and Tilly (2 delightful resident Welsh Springer Spaniels) in tow. It felt like we had returned after many years to visit old family friends! Freshly baked bread, a fresh batch of eggs, a colourful bowl of jellybeans and an assortment of Nespresso pods were just some of the thoughtful touches awaiting us inside. The Pigsty itself is a beautiful, cosy space with absolutely everything you need for a country getaway. The sky views from the loft bed are gorgeous in the morning and evening. It’s hard to leave the comfort of the loft but with the knowledge that the absolutely stunning gardens, a private lake (with kayaks) and rolling hills of their property await, you force yourself! Not to mention the personal sauna which was so welcome for the sore muscles after days of extensive hiking in Snowdonia National Park and a projector to snuggle in front of as the sunsets. What more could you want! We only wished we could have stayed longer and can’t thank Toby enough for being such a wonderful host!

Matthew September 2020
Toby and Stephanie are such lovely people. Their accommodation looks out onto beautiful gardens. Fresh warm bread upon arrival and 2 happy dogs wanting attention. The private verranda for morning coffee was amazing! We will be back for sure!

Imogen September 2020
What an amazing and relaxing weekend we’ve had. Easy check in and greeted with fresh bread and fresh eggs. 
Tilly and Poppy (the dogs) are amazing tour guides around the area, we loved kayaking on the lake near by.  The sauna and projector was also a very nice addition for the evenings. 
Location is easy to get to multiple destinations for days out and the gardens on site and view is beautiful. 
Can’t fault a thing! Thanks again 🙂
Polly September 2020
This is the second time we have stayed here and yet again it has left a lasting impression. We could not be happier with our time spent here with so much to explore from its location and facilities on offer within grounds. Such lovely hosts and their dogs. Couldn’t recommend this stay enough. We will be sure to come back a third time in the near future.

Hannah September 2020
The pigsty is such a wonderful place to stay. The gardens are beautiful with amazing views and the pigsty is so comfortable and cosy. This was our second time staying and we will be back again I’m sure! We particularly enjoyed the new boat on the lake and the sauna which was amazing after our  climb up Snowdon.

Joe September 2020
This place is AMAZINGWe stayed at the pigsty this weekend and it’s an absolute gem. It’s really cosy (even has a sauna inside), and brilliantly scenic location
We were created with a freshly baked warm loaf and fresh eggs. The gardens around are beautiful, however just a 5 minute walk away is a really pretty lake with kayaks.
The 2 dogs that we fell in love with come with you on walks and wait outside your door in the morning are absolutely adorable.
Honestly cannot recommend this place enough, the best weekend away we have had!

HOVEL REVIEWS: –

Carolyn August 2020
We fell in love with this place! We knew it was going to be amazing, but it far exceeded our expectations. 
This is such a stunning location, with amazing views across the hills. Our kids loved all the amenities, from the sunken trampoline, the forest adventure playground with a wooden fort, tree swings and zip wire and the lake. 
The lake is about 10 minutes walk away and we took out both the kayak and the rowing boat on different days. It was so beautiful and peaceful away from everyone. The wildlife is amazing! In just two days we saw a barn owl, a newt, a water vole (I think) and multiple birds of prey (mostly buzzards we think). 
There is so much to do here, without even leaving the gardens, but there’s loads to do in the local vicinity with Bala lake and lots of walks. We will definitely be coming back again because we love this part of North Wales. 
There is also a lovely cafe run by Toby and Stephanie, and although we didn’t get a chance to eat there as we’d brought so much of our own food, it looked amazing, and we’ll definitely be eating there next time. 
Their hospitality was fantastic – we loved the freshly baked bread and the eggs. The kids loved asking Alexa to play music and playing Guitar Hero! 
See you soon Toby, Stephanie, Tilly & Polly.
Angela August 2020
Having stayed at other properties with Toby and Stephanie the Hovel didn’t disappoint.  A great place in a great location.  So lovely to be able to explore the gardens and the adventure playground and trampoline meant plenty entertainment without having to travel far.  The hospitality was as ever spot on and to be able to stay home and have dinner cooked was an extra special touch.  Thanks Toby.  Just looking at availability to return….

Karen August 2020
We had a lovely stay at ‘The Hovel’. Amazing views and fantastic hosts. The house had everything we needed and the gardens are beautiful. Our children loved it, particularly the dogs who are very friendly. We’d love to go back and hopefully will.
Klaudia August 2020
The Hovel is a very lovely cottage. It has lots of amenities, it is clean and has lovely gardens to enjoy.We loved the children area and two lovely friendly dogs. Stephanie and Toby are very welcoming hosts and they made our stay pleasant. They prepared lovely multiseed bread and gave us fresh laid eggs from their hens. Will definitely recommend to friends and family.
Mark July 2020
A wonderful, relaxing cottage in amazing surroundings.

Maia and Robin July 2020
This place was incredible! One of the best places I’ve ever stayed in on Airbnb. The views are stunning, the gardens gorgeous, and the trampoline and the playground entertained our kids for hours. But most of all, Toby and Stephanie are some of the warmest people you will ever meet. Already thinking of when we can come back!

Charlotte July 2020
Simply incredible. We checked in here for a post lockdown staycation. It is one of the best cottages we have stayed in. The children adored the gardens – with the trampoline, fort, zip line etc. The on-site cafe is seriously good….the cake was amazing (we even got extra slices for pudding) and the meals sounded divine. We loved all extra little touches – the fresh bread and eggs. We can’t wait to come back! Don’t hesitate to bo

Sue March 2020
This was our first Airbnb experience so I won’t lie we were a little apprehensive. All I can say if we use any other Airnb’s they have a high standard to meet.
The location was just as the description. Our hosts were amazing, a lovely friendly welcome with warm fresh bread. The stove was lit so nice and warm. We were left alone and our hosts were happy to answer any questions we had.
We went with a child who lived in the city, had no freedom and was scared of dogs. She was able to wander around on her own as it was so safe with her new dog friend. It was lovely to see her grow and enjoy a real childhood.
We walked over to the lake with the dog and felt like the famous five going off on an adventure.
At night we were lucky to have a clear sky, I have never seen so many stars, it was hard to spot the plough as there was no light pollution.
We slept well in total silence and if you wake up early enough you can watch the sun rise over the hills.
The property was warm with the stove and central heating. There were games, jigsaws, books and Wii to keep us entertained.
Leaving was the hardest thing we had to do and we will be back in the summer to enjoy the gardens and lake in a different season.

TAI ISAF: –Emma October 2020
We had such a fabulous weekend enjoying the remoteness & beauty at Tai Isaf.  It is everything as listed and so much more. The accommodation is much more comfortable than made out & just as you’d expect for a remote converted old stone bothy & has everything you need for a cosy time away.  Toby & Stephanie were so welcoming & helpful & helped sort out everything we needed. The logistics with the 4×4 were easy & added to the sense of a remote get away. The views from up on the hills are stunning & the lake is beautiful – we just didn’t have time to fit in enjoying the boats or a second swim..! – We could definitely enjoy many more happy days in this special place. Thank you for a great weekend away.
Sam September 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. As mentioned in the description the place is very remote, but if that’s what you’re looking for (which we were) it’s perfect! Amazing views and great hosts. We’ll definitely be planning a trip back. For anyone that does want phone signal, we found if you put the phone in the window on the front door you can just about get it…you’re welcome!
Rebecca September 2020
Tai Isaf is one of the most Amazing places I’ve ever had the opportunity to stay. The cottage is Amazing it really is like stepping back in time but equally has all the essentials you need & more.The location is perfect to relax & unwind and take some time away but close enough to visit the beautiful sights of Snowdonia and surrounding areas.. all of which really are stunning. Fantastic hosts couldn’t have felt more welcome. Can’t wait to Go back!
Louise September 2020
A fantastic place to get away from it all! The farmhouse has plenty of rustic charm and is set in a beautiful, remote location. Stephanie and Toby were lovely hosts and we enjoyed local walks and boating on the lake… would love to go back!

Molly September 2020
We both had a brilliant stay. The place has such a homely feel, with very tranquil and beautiful surroundings.

Kamella September 2020
A perfect Welsh cottage, ideal for exploring Snowdonia. A real adventure to get to the cottage which adds to the whole experience. The cottage is just the right amount of rustic. If you want somewhere to really get away from it all then this is the place.

Sherrill August 2020
This is our second visit… Rural, isolated and peaceful. Hosts are kind and helpful. This was a family holiday with adult children, a family friend and an elderly but adventurous dog. Plenty to do to keep us busy. Highly recommended if you like a bit of an adventure.

Judith August 2020
We absolutely loved everything about this perfect little farmhouse and the area around it. Who would ever have thought we’d have our own lake to swim and kayak in! The whole hillside is a fantastic adventure for the family to explore. Beautiful views all around and gorgeous little spots to discover. Stephanie and Toby are super hosts and couldn’t have done any more for us. The stone farmhouse is gorgeously unspoilt and of its time. If you like new build perfection you may find this a challenge but if you can embrace a log burner and lake water in the taps you will love it! Lovely warm shower, a container of fresh drinking water provided, cosy bedrooms and it’s very clean. Come prepared to be creative and embrace the simpler life and you will LOVE it here. Switch off and reconnect. Perfect. Thank you! ❤️

Jason August 2020
A truly rustic, remote country cottage. The local walking is wonderful as is the lake for wild swimming and boating. A rare find.

David August 2020
We had a great week. The location is really special. Waking up in the mountains, swimming in the lake. Toby & Steph are great hosts, always around and happy to help. As Steph warns before you arrive, the farmhouse is very old and quite basic – but if you’re happy to go with the flow that only adds to the charm. I’m sure we’ll be back!

Jonathan July 2020
A cosy farmhouse that is perfect for un-plugging and spending time with the family. Walk on the tracks or play on the lake or enjoy a relaxing meal at the café. The house may be off grid but still has the the conveniences of dish washer, Central heating, satellite TV etc and bags of old world charm with a lovely log burner, farmhouse kitchen and private garden. Stephanie and Toby are excellent hosts. Nothing is ever too much trouble and they are always there with a happy smile and a great recommendation or two. This is such a lovely spot even our teen-agers forgot about their digital lives for a few days. We can’t wait to come back soon. Thank you 

TYN LLYN: –Charlotte September 2020
A wonderfully tranquil place. Perfect if you’re looking to tune out and wind down.

Verity September 2020
A really stunning location. Everything we needed for a relaxing and peaceful break. I’d like to particularly mention a very comfortable bed with crisp white bedding and the lovely warm log burner, the stars at night and the lake. Perfect

Hayden September 2020
What a gem this place really is. Expect candle lit evenings in front of the fire and the urge to explore. My partner and I spent 3 nights and enjoyed every minute, I would recommend taking some candles and visiting Stori in Bala. Thanks Stephanie/Toby

Patrick September 2020
A great place to relax and unwind, with stunning views and no distractions. We really enjoyed taking the boat out on the lake, and being cosy by the fire. Thank you Stephanie and Toby, we will definitely be back.
Georgia August 2020
We spent 3 absolutely amazing days and we are already planning to come back.The location is absolutely stunning, we couldn’t ask for a better weekend!
Mark August 2020
What an absolute gem! We had an amazing time staying at Tyn Llyn. It felt like such an adventure, both inside (with a log fire and candles) and outside (with the lake and all the space to explore). Stephanie and Toby were fantastic hosts and made us feel so welcome and comfortable. We’ve been boring all our friends and family about the place since we’ve been back and definitely plan to return. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Sarah August 2020
This is a stunning location. The cottage is basic and rustic but it has everything you need with all the kitchen essentials (the gas fridge is in the barn through the back door) If you’re expecting mod cons, this is not the place for you. The water is pumped in from the lake for the loo and washing, so can be a little discoloured (didn’t bother us at all) but the hosts give you drinking water for your stay. There are lights in some areas but we didn’t use them. There is no other electricity, so no phones! (Bliss!) Bring candles and some logs – the hosts do supply logs too- the wood burner is wonderful, it heats the whole house. We cooked on it and it was perfect. Outside the garden is fenced to keep the sheep out and your dog in! Our little dog loved it. The sheep wander all around and are very interested in you! I loved watching them. The lake is huge and the scenery around it is just beautiful. Be careful as the ground is quite boggy around the lake. There is a rowing boat and a kayak. If you have a 4×4 perfectIf not, be aware that the track to the cottage is quite churned up at the moment due to forestry trucks using it. I was a bit worried when we first arrived but we were not disturbed by the foresters at all. The track however, is better suited at the moment to 4×4’s. Im sure it’s absolutely fine in the summer. We loved it here, the hosts were very helpful and we hopefully will come back soon! Highly recommended for a few days of utter peace and relaxation! Light the fire and candles and you will be in heaven.
Forestry all finished there now and track is much improved!!  Toby

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