Henfaes Isaf

About

Featured in The Times/Sunday Times "50 Coolest Cottages in the UK" list for 2018

Visit Wales accredited (4 stars)

Rated 5 stars and Superhosts on Airbnb with excellent reviews.

Traditional Welsh farmhouse, detached, family owned, beautifully renovated, set in peaceful surroundings. Great walking and mountain biking from your doorstep, plus other activities close by. Ideal for couples and families looking to get away from it all.

Detached holiday cottage sleeping 6 in three bedrooms (1 double, 1 single, 1 family room with double and single). Open fire, lounge, fully fitted kitchen, bathroom, dining room, kids playroom, utility area with toilet and shower, washing machine and space to dry boots and walking gear, garage area to store bikes, beautiful large gardens with plenty of seating and barbeque. Free wifi with fibre broadband. Bedding and towels included, a welcome pack, plus a starter pack of logs for the fire.

Sorry no pets.

Location

Henfaes Isaf is situated in a stunning, peaceful location in the Berwyn Mountains, just outside the village of Cynwyd in the Upper Dee Valley - an  Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Surrounded by fields, the cottage offers a sense of peace and tranquility that is rarely found in modern life. However a short drive will take you to the tourist attractions of Bala, Llangollen and Betws-y-Coed.

The Cottage

Henfaes Isaf is a former farmhouse lovingly renovated over many years, with unique touches throughout. 

The cottage is set in picturesque gardens with plenty of outdoor seating so you can enjoy a well deserved break with only the noise of birdsong and sheep in the fields to disturb you. At night you can enjoy wonderful night skies due to the lack of light pollution. This really is a haven away from it all, yet a short drive will take you to a village pub, shops, restaurants, activities and attractions.

After a day of fantastic walking or mountain biking from your doorstep, you can relax in the comfortable living room, complete with welcoming sofas and a beamed inglenook fireplace for cosy evenings in. We have plenty of DVDs and books for you to enjoy as well. The light, bright kitchen features handcrafted units with modern appliances and a small breakfast table, but there is also a stunning dining room for that special candlelit meal. There are three bedrooms, each with an individual charm, be it from antique furniture, beamed ceilings or a handmade patchwork quilt.

Enjoy discovering the unique features in this special place, such as the original bread-oven, a reclaimed stained glass window, a window made from a cartwheel found on the property or a Welsh dresser complete with carvings of the owner’s parents’ initials. Look out for the date of 1770 carved into a former outhouse; we believe the cottage dates back to well before that time. 

Children will love playing hide and seek in the garden and having their own special playroom, complete with doll’s house and rocking horse.

Amenities

Basic supplies can be purchased at the Post Office in Cynwyd, but for a bigger range of shops, the town of Corwen is just under ten minutes drive away (2.9 miles). There are a number of smaller shops here, plus an Indian restaurant and takeaway. The Blue Lion in Cynwyd is the nearest pub.

The village of Llandrillo is three miles away, and boasts a Michelin- starred restaurant – Tyddyn Llan, plus a highly recommended restaurant (the Berwyn) and a pub offering traditional ales and home-cooked food. The Corn Mill in Llangollen is also recommended for a lovely family meal.

Walks and Activities

Henfaes Isaf lies just off the Tegid Way footpath, which is just one of many excellent walks that can be taken from the door of the cottage.  This footpath goes all the way to Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala), although you may not want to walk all sixteen miles in one day! The lake at Bala offers watersports and a small pebbly beach, great for children.

A wonderful circular day walk is to the Wayfarer’s Memorial, then to the top of Cadair Bronwen, with views across the whole Berwyn range, then home via Ty Uchaf, an ancient stone circle with amazing views of the Dee Valley.There are also many short circular walks which can be taken from the front door of the cottage via the footpath network over the adjacent fields. Maps are available to borrow.

For mountain bikers, there is a circular route from the cottage gate via the Wayfarer Memorial.  

Corwen is also the starting point for the Llangollen steam railway, which is great fun for all the family. The scenic route takes you along the Dee valley to Llangollen with its many tourist attractions. The railway holds numerous events throughout the year, such as Santa Specials, Days Out with Thomas, the Real Ale Train and the Steam Gala.