4.9★
Menai Holiday Cottages rating
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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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2 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor bedroom
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
* Based on a combined average customer score
48 Customer Review(s)
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Stephen 
“Lovely, well maintained property,with great view,good location for visiting many parts of North Wales all within short driving distances through stunning scenery,Excellent stay & good to have direct contact with owner if needed,many thanks,myself & family had a wonderful time.”
- Stephen, October 2024 -
Terence “A very well equipped bungalow, lovely views , beds are so comfortable, easy access to castles, towns and beaches.”
.would definitely stop here again.
- Terence, October 2024Thank you for your comments Property Owner
Jayne “We thoroughly enjoyed our short breat at Gwelfor.”
We felt at home as soon as we walked through the door. The bungalow is very well equipped, the beds are very comfortable and the view is spectacular. It is one of the best accommodations we have stayed in and would love to stay if we are in the area again.
- Jayne, August 2024Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope we see you again soon Property Owner
Katherine “Fabulous property with outstanding views”
- Katherine, July 2024Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am glad you had a wonderful time Property Owner
Jeremy “Our second stay at this very comfortable property.”
Spotlessly clean with excellent facilities. The setting is fantastic with the views out over the Dwyryd estuary, looking towards Portmeirion, and amazing sunsets! Will definitely be back. Thank you.
- Jeremy, June 2024Thank you. I am glad you enjoy Gwelfor as much as we do. I do hope you return. Property Owner
Michael “Gwelfor is a beautifully presented cottage in an ideal location for exploring North Wales.”
It is very well equipped and a real home from home. We had sunny weather and made good use of the garden which is fully enclosed, great for our dog. There is so much to see in North Wales we had no difficulty in finding places to visit, a week for us wasn’t long enough. We hope to be back to Gwelfor in the future. Jean, Mike and “Nevis”
- Michael, May 2024Thank you for your review We hope to see you again Property Owner
Diana “Very comfortable place in a quiet location but a good base for exploring the area.”
Fantastic views of Snowden and the estuary.
- Diana, April 2024Thank you for your review I am g;ad you enjoyed your stay Property Owner
Rodney David “What a beautiful cottage.”
It was spotlessly clean, well equipped and had an amazing view. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who wants to explore north wales. Would definitely go again.
- Rodney David, March 2024Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will return someday Property Owner
Wendy “Lovely cottage with wonderful views over bay and mountains.”
Very clean, tidy and comfortable. Had everything you could want. A few minor issues, no welcome gift except Xmas crackers. Dishwasher in the wrong place in utility so you have to take your bowl of dishes from kitchen into separate utility, which was a pain. On arrival, main shower leaking into shower pan constantly. (Left it over Xmas as contained and had other shower to use). Steep hill approach to house and tight turn on drive. However, I would give the house 9/10 as it was lovely, especially the Xmas decorations, peaceful and a pleasure to stay in. Highly recommend. Thank you owners!!!
- Wendy, December 2023Thank you for taking the time to give feedback. Re gift In these woke times it is easy to offend. If we provide alcohol to people who have religious, medical or addiction issues or even vegans we can offend. Likewise with food there can be religious, allergen or vegan objections. We did take the time to decorate the place, put up a Christmas tree and brought logs and kindling for you to have a log fire. We provided Christmas crackers, milk and welsh cakes plus emailed you to wish a merry Christmas. As for the shower I could find no fault I assume our cleaners had not fully turned it off, again as per our email if you had contacted us we could have sorted this straight away. And yes (Eryri) Snowdonia national park is not flat. But I am glad apart from these minor issues you enjoyed your stay Property Owner
Angela “We had a really lovely stay at Gwelfor holiday house.”
The kitchen was great with lots of room for our shopping which we had delivered. The utility room was so handy to leave shoes and Coats in. The beds were comfortable and the master bedroom was huge. The views from the garden and some of the windows were amazing. We were lucky with the weather and really enjoyed exploring the area. We would love to stay again. The kitchen could do with a sieve, apologies if there was one, but I couldn’t find it. Thank you
- Angela, October 2023Thank you for your feedback and I hope you will come back. There is, or at least there was, a sieve and a colander. I will try and locate and replace Property Owner
Marcin “Very lovely place to stay.”
Highly recommended!!
- Marcin, October 2023Thankyou we hope to see you again Property Owner
John “Overall we very much enjoyed Gwelfor Cottage.”
There were just a few minor gripes: Poor water flow from the communal bathroom wash hand basin. The wash hand basin in the en-suite was too small. Little space for 2 adults in the 3rd bedroom. There was a mix-up about the king-size bed converted to twin beds ; it should have been in the en-suite bedroom, not in the 2nd bedroom. There were no dishwasher tablets or washing machine tablets on our arrival in the basic cleaning pack. None of these gripes prevented us from enjoying our stay. And to finish on a positive note, we we very much appreciated the view (even in the rain) and we found the kitchen very well equipped. Thanks for a lovely week.
- John, September 2023My apologies for any inconvenience however I wish you had contacted me straight away and we could have resolved most of these issues straight away. The whole point of the welcome email is to introduce myself and ask that if you have any issues please contact myself Squeaky Clean or Sykes. Obviously we endeavour not to make mistakes as we wish our visitors to have a perfect stay and I am really disappointed that on this occasion we have failed to meet our high standards Property Owner
Katie “A fantastic place in a great location with outstanding views.”
The property was well equipped and spotlessly clean throughout. We had a very comfortable and enjoyable week here. Would definitely recommend.
- Katie, August 2023Thank you. We love the property and the area. Glad you did too. Hope to see you agin. Regards Paul Property Owner
Caroline “We enjoyed our 2 weeks at Gwelfor, especially the wonderful views across the Dwyryd estuary to Portmeirion and beyond.”
Watching the sun set from the patio on midsummer was quite special. The property was spacious well equipped and extremely clean. Thank you the owners.
- Caroline, June 2023Thank you I am glad you enjoyed your stay. The sunsets can be quite amazing. I hope you will come back Property Owner
Martin “A lovely property thoughtfully decorated & well stocked with crockery & utensils etc.”
Couldn't have asked for more. The view from the patio is stunning!
- Martin, June 2023Thank you for your feedback We hope to see you again Property Owner
Diana “Great place, very comfortable with fantastic views.”
The garden was enclosed which was ideal for the dog. Ideal base for Snowdonia, Porthmadog and Llyn peninsula.
- Diana, April 2023Thank you I am glad you enjoyed yours stay We hope to see you again Property Owner
Paul “Fabulous property, very large main bedroom with suit, well maintained well equipped, very clean and the views are beautiful.”
Would have been helpful to know that access is not wheelchair friendly prior to booking but would still book again. Communication from and with the owner was excellent. Had a wonderful time thank you.
- Paul, April 2023I am really glad you enjoyed your stay and I hope we will see you again I have passed on your other comments to Sykes Property Owner
Stephen “Had a great stay here.”
First visit but wouldn’t hesitate to book again. Exactly as advertised with good communication from the owners, a feeling that nothing would be too much trouble (not that we needed anything because it was already all provided), good location for access to attractions, quiet with a great view and squeaky clean. We took both a 1 year old and a dog and the property was great for both so no issue booking for anyone with either a pet or young child.
- Stephen, October 2022Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will come again Property Owner
Louise “Fantastic place to stay.”
Spent a lovely few days there with our Dog. Good location to explore the Snowdonia region. Could easily walk to the train station and local pub. Would recommend to anyone.
- Louise, October 2022Annette “We have returned from our 2 week break at Gwelfor and even though the weather decided not to play ball we all had a fantastic time.”
The cottage was one of the best that we have stayed in. Everything that you could think of was catered for. The kitchen was definitely the best equipped one so far. The views are to die for but then again as I used to live in the area perhaps I’m just a bit biased. Paul the owner and the cleaning company that looks after the property were very helpful when needed but left you to your own devices. We would definitely recommend this property to everyone that wishes to take in the beauty of North Wales
- Annette, September 2022Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed your stay. And a speedy recovery to your dog. We hope to see you again. Property Owner
Heather “Beautiful property .”
It was our third time here .
- Heather, September 2022Many thanks. We hope to see you again Property Owner
David “It's unusual that somewhere exceeds your expectations!”
- David, August 2022Thank you. Glad you enjoyed your first time in North Wales Property Owner
Jennifer “Lovely cottage with fantastic views.”
Gwelfor is a spacious property, beautifully furnished and immaculate throughout, with an exceptionally well equipped kitchen. The enclosed garden is perfect with lots of seating (but no shade, we took our own patio umbrella), & watching the sunset over Port Merrion was a highlight. The location is great for exploring other areas, but there are also lots of walks right from the doorstep, including a low tide walk across to the small island and all around it.
- Jennifer, August 2022Thank you I am glad you enjoyed your stay Property Owner
Elizabeth “Lovely cottage with fantastic views.”
Good quality furnishing and kitchen well equipped. Paul and cleaning company both really lovely and helpful when we had a minor question. Would benefit from some sort of shade on patio area with the unusually hot weather . Great stay thanks
- Elizabeth, August 2022I am glad you enjoyed your stay. The solution to shade at the rear is ongoing as we experience high strong winds on occasion as the Irish sea and mount Snowdon are not far away Property Owner
Suzanne “The property was spacious, clean, comfortable and extremely well equipped and furnished.”
Appreciated the little touches like the milk and Welsh cakes that were left for us. The garden area was lovely, with stunning views. A lovely place to stay and convenient for exploring this beautiful area. Would definitely recommend.
- Suzanne, August 2022Stella “We had everything we needed at Gwelfor, the only thing is when very warm and sunny there is no shade at the back of the property where you can sit at the table and enjoy the views.”
Other than that, Gwelfor is a lovely property and the views are just stunning . It's a great base to start from to go to places like Harlech , Porthmadog, Beddgelert , PortMerion and further afield . We have enjoyed our stay , again, as well as our dog , Paddy.
- Stella, July 2022Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay Property Owner
Patricia Margaret “Gwelfor is nicely situated with lovely views across the Bay to Portmerion.”
It is spacious, very well equipped and the beds are very comfortable and warm which was very welcome as unfortunately our week was very wet and windy on four days and lacked Summer sunshine apart from the last couple of days. Places are easy to reach but like a lot of high streets these days, they look empty and downtrodden. Another downfall was our meal out on the last night of our stay. The service was dreadful as the “Hotel Restaurant “ did not seem to have any system to provide a party of four with meals at the same time. We did complain but that fell on stoney ground; they ask for payment up front but we would not have paid the total amount had we known how they carried on. A shambles! Stay at the cottage it’s lovely but read our comments in their Visitors book before you eat out! .
- Patricia Margaret, June 2022Ann “It was excellent.”
- Ann, May 2022Juliette “Good location with great views, very comfortable and spotless bungalow.”
We really appreciated the quality of the kitchen, well equipped with quality pots, pans, porcelain plates, beautiful glasses, good appliances. We also really enjoyed the living room where we could all sit comfortably by the fireplace and have very good family time, chatting and playing as well as catching up on the french election from the great TV screen and its wifi! The front conservatory type room was really useful to leave walking boots, coats etc. Finally but not least, the views from the back are amazing and a great feature of this well thought and maintained property.
- Juliette, April 2022Sue “Excellent - we all loved Gwelfor - Super bungalow - really clean - lovely views and great for exploring”
- Sue, January 2022Katy “Well equipped property in a great location for exploring.”
Appreciated the little touches like the Welsh cakes and the board games. Would recommend.
- Katy, December 2021Ian “An amazing stay.”
The place is exceptional. The communication was terrific. Kitchen has everything you could need. Place was warm, easily controlled heating. We enjoyed the log burner very much.Highly recommended.
- Ian, December 2021Rachel “Extremely comfortable, spacious and well-equipped cottage.”
Great location for exploring the sights of Harlech, Barmouth, Portmeirion plus many more. Fantastic views over the estuary to Portmeirion. Would highly recommend.
- Rachel, October 2021Clive “On arrival the bungalow was sparkling clean.”
The rooms were large and ideal. The bedrooms were perfect for the four of us. The garden was just right for our small dog, who loved to run around the perimeter of the property and play on the lawn. Sitting out on the patio looking over the estuary and mountains in the distance was lovely, especially with a glass of wine. the kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed. The settee's were very cosy. The location was great for exploring North Wales.
- Clive, September 2021Stella “We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Gwelfor.”
The views are stunning and we had almost everything we needed, we just lacked a parasol for some shade near the garden dining furniture, especially in the heatwave that we were lucky to have during our stay. We hope to go back again.
- Stella, July 2021Jeremy “Gwelfor is a very well equipped cottage in a quiet setting with fantastic views across the estuary to Portmeirion.”
Would definitely like to stay there again.
- Jeremy, June 2021Mark “We all enjoyed our stay at Gwelfor, the cottage was in a perfect location to explore Snowdonia National Park.”
The views from the cottage were spectacular! We would love to stay again.
- Mark, May 2021Bob “Never been in a Sykes cottage so well equipped.”
- Bob, April 2021Heather “Amazing location.”
we never normally go back to the same place . However this was a second visit and there will definitely be a third .
- Heather, October 2020Emma “Very comfortable and clean house, great location.”
Well equipped and well maintained. We would definitely book again.
- Emma, September 2020John “The owners were extremely helpful and friendly.”
Furnished to a high standard and the location was stunning.
- John, September 2020Anthony “The cottage is set within the Snowdonia National Park and as such enjoys stunning views from all rooms.”
The master bedroom looks across to the estuary to Portmerion and Mt Snowdon is visible from both the dining room and the lounge. The cottage is very well equipped with kitchen paraphernalia including a vast array of what looks like brand new cutlery and many kitchen cooking utensils. Lovely solid wood furniture abounds in all rooms with masses of storage space. The garden is ideal for relaxing and enjoying this beautiful area of North Wales and well placed for visiting Porthmadog, Betsy Y Coed, Harlech Castle and superb beach, and further south, but not too far, Barmouth. Llanberis Pass is a mere 30 minutes away with its huge mountains and waterfalls. This holiday, our first for five years, has been an eye opener to what is available in the UK. We have have travelled to a lot of the rest of the world but have been gobsmacked by both the scenery surrounding Gwelfor and the friendliness of the locals. We would definitely go again as soon as Covid 19 is gone. Well done Sykes! Thank You
- Anthony, August 2020Jackie “A good choice.”
Beautiful views. Very comfortable beds and sofas. Well laid out although for the size of the bedroom the en suite was tiny!
- Jackie, December 2019Mark “The cottage was lovely and clean.”
The effort had also been made to decorate for Christmas, so that was much appreciated. Fantastic location as well. All in all, a brilliant stay!
- Mark, December 2019Steven “The cottage was really nice.”
Decorated to good standard.Every thing you could wish for.
- Steven, November 2019Hayley “House was very clean and comfortable”
- Hayley, October 2019Juliaanne “We had a wonderful stay, the accommodation is of a high quality with wonderful views.”
The beds are super comfortable and the the bungalow is very clean and well presented. We would love to stay again.
- Juliaanne, September 2019Valerie “We were expecting a nice bungalow with a view from the terrace.”
We got this - and more. The new furnishings and decorations and equipment were lovely, very tasteful and well thought out. Gorgeous views from the master bedroom as well as the terrace. It was convenient for dog walks and easy to get to Porthmadog. The en-suite shower was a bit dainty for someone with mobility problems, but the shower in the main bathroom was fine. I do think that a non-slip shower mat and/or grab handles would make life easier. Since the bedrooms are all on ground floor and it is possible to get to the terrace without using steps the bungalow is attractive to someone with mobility problems and these extra accessories would make life that bit more comfortable. But we had a super time here and I’d love to go back.
- Valerie, July 2019Summary
- All ground floor: Three bedrooms: 2 x super king-size, one with en-suite shower room with shower, basin and WC (zip/link, can be twins on request), 1 x 2’ 6” twin
- Bathroom with bath, separate shower, basin and WC
- Kitchen
- Boot room/utility
- Dining room
- Sitting room with woodburning stove.
- Oil central heating with woodburning stove
- Electric oven, grill and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer
- Smart TV with FreeSat, Netflix (please use own account), WiFi, selection of books and games
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent (please bring own beach towels)
- Travel cot available on request, (no bedding provided) and one highchair available
- Off-road parking for 4 cars
- Lawned garden, raised seating patio areas with views and furniture
- One well-behaved dog welcome (not in bedrooms and please bring own dog bed, blankets and towels)
- Sorry, no smoking
- Pub with restaurant 5 mins walk
- Railway station 10 minutes walk away, leave the car behind and explore this beautiful coastal railway
- Note: There are steps down to the property and the outside garden and patio seating areas are on various levels, children to be supervised and care to be taken
- Please note that this property has a 4 night stay minimum requirement
- Please note: This property doesn't allow electric vehicle charging.
The property
This wonderful, detached bungalow boasts an elevated position in the the lovely Welsh village of Talsarnau, four miles from the historic castle town of Harlech. With a superb sweep of sandy beaches, far reaching views of open fields and the stunningly beautiful location of Portmeirion within easy reach, Gwelfor is the place for you. This spacious holiday accommodation makes a great base for families and friends wanting to explore North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park. A lot of care has been taken to ensure that all your needs are catered for and the attention to detail is apparent from the moment you step inside. It is tastefully furnished throughout to a high standard, with a light and bright interior and a warming palette of soft creams and neutral tones to create a relaxing ambiance. The sitting room is fresh and warm in its welcome, where you can sit with your loved ones around the woodburning stove and watch your favourite movie. The dining room is equally inviting and perfect for enjoying a family get-together with a well-appointed kitchen and utility/boot room. Three bedrooms are well-appointed for your needs, with the two main bedrooms benefiting from panoramic views and super king-size beds which are zip/link, so can be made up as twin rooms if you prefer. The master bedroom also has a modern en-suite shower room, whilst the family bathroom serves the other two bedrooms. Outside, there is a small lawned garden and two patio areas, providing the perfect spot to enjoy the views of the countryside stretching across Harlech castle, Cricieth Castle, Afon Dwryd Estuary to Portmeirion and onto Mount Snowdon. This outdoor space allows you to sit and relax with a good book or enjoy a glass of wine late into a warm summer evening. There is something to suit everybody in the local area, with the unspoilt beaches at Harlech, where you can visit the majestic castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site or have a round of golf at the Royal St David’s Golf Course. There is a great selection of walks from the bungalow that range from beginners to avid walkers. Ceunant Llennyrch National Nature Reserve is beautiful testament to nature, a deep, wooded gorge with cliffs reaching heights of eighty feet and is home to many waterfalls including the well-known black waterfall which is also accessible by a walking trail. If you are seeking thrills and spills then head over to or visit the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railway just a few miles away at Porthmadog where you can enjoy all the activities at Llechwedd slate caverns, Zip World Titan (the largest zip zone in Europe), Zip World Caverns and Bounce Below.
Or if you're looking for something different, Black Rock Llamas tracking is a must visit attraction and a once in a life time experience, but remember to book ahead! Alternatively, visit the popular seaside resort of Barmouth for a fun-packed day at the beach as well as visiting Porthmadog, Portmeirion and Criccieth, which are all within easy reach and all offer a truly great traditional day out filled with great food and rich history. A superb location from which to explore this delightful area anytime of the year.
Note: This property has a refundable Good Housekeeping bond of £250.
View on map
About the location
TALSARNAU
Harlech 4 miles; Porthmadog 5 miles.
Talsarnau is a small traditional Welsh village situated in a magnificent position between the mountains and the sea, and only 4 miles from the delightful small town of Harlech, which is dominated by its majestic 13th century castle. The town is very popular with golfers, who come to enjoy the famous Royal St. David's course, whilst the beautiful 7-mile long sandy beach is wonderful for family fun and long walks. Harlech also offers an excellent variety of amenities including some good quality restaurants. Porthmadog is also close by, as is the Italianate village of Portmeirion, whilst the whole of the Snowdonia National Park, including Snowdon itself, together with the sandy beaches of Cardigan Bay, are all within easy reach.
Please note that this property has a Good Housekeeping Bond of £250.00 - this is not payable upfront.
Please note that this property has a 4 night stay minimum requirement.
Please note: This property doesn't allow electric vehicle charging.This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas
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