The Captain's Bank | Porthmadog | Self Catering Holiday Cottage

4.3★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor accommodation
Ground floor bedroom
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Seaside
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

41 Customer Review(s)

Garry
November 2024

“We've stayed in Captains Bank before and it remains a very comfortable apartment in a great location.”

Front door lock was sticking a bit and was awkward to open at times. Probably needs looking at.

Front door lock was sticking a bit and was awkward to open at times. Probably needs looking at.

- Garry, November 2024
Dale October 2024

“Apartment had not been cleaned when we arrived - it appears the booking had been overlooked - but cleaners came immediately when we called 4pm on an Monday and was cleaned within the hour.”

Not so sure a response would have happened if we had arrived outside of office hours, not a great start. Main bed base was warped and caused mattress to sag and caused uncomfortable sleep. Quite a few bulbs not working - 1 in shower, 1 in toilet, one in room , 1 in cooker hood. Back bedroom en-suite was so damp that the ceiling paint fell off ceiling above shower during our stay! Only window was a door to the outside in the dressing area- which we had to open to allow air circulation to help remove condensation. Back bedroom dressing area had a plastic roof that was really noisy when it rained- could do with sound dampening to not cause disturbed sleep. Apartment was very warm and always warm water and plenty of space. Freezer compartment was small and unusable as it was almost entirely iced up - so this needs defrosting before next use. The private lockable parking was welcomed as the occupants of above apartments seemed the space right outside the door was theirs and placed obstacles to prevent anyone else parking in it! Great location and the smart TVs worked really well and WiFi worked once we realised code in welcome book was wrong and we used the one on the back of the router.

- Dale, October 2024
Valerie September 2024

“Comfortable and well appointed and equipped accommodation with lovely views of the harbour.”

Very quiet area, but only a few minutes walk to all that Porthmadog has to offer.

- Valerie, September 2024
Kenneth July 2024

“Lock box wasn’t working couldn’t get in”

- Kenneth, July 2024
Gordon June 2024

“Captain's Bank, is a really nice place to stay,, clean and comfortable, we ...”

Captain's Bank, is a really nice place to stay,, clean and comfortable, we placed,, in a lovely part of the town, Would definitely recommend, We had wonderful time Many thanks Julie and Gordon

- Gordon, June 2024
Maria June 2024

“A fantastic place to stay, with a great view.”

Very comfortable cottage, great for the 2 of us and our cocker spaniel. Would definitely stay again. Just one thing, needs a hoover. Very difficult to clean up when you come in from the beach.

- Maria, June 2024
Christine May 2024

“Property very clean and spacious.”

Views spectacular right next to harbour.

- Christine, May 2024
Sue April 2024

“Captains Bank is a property we have booked before .”

The location on the harbour is excellent . We have used Sykes many times now and the quality of properties is high

- Sue, April 2024
Miles October 2023

“There were not towels as it said there was in the listing.”

Had to go and buy a couple from Tesco. Otherwise good, great location for the steam trains

- Miles, October 2023
Sue September 2023

“Two en-suites excellent - disappointed no welcome pack .”

Accommodation brilliant for a family and biked for April 24 .

- Sue, September 2023
Mike July 2023

“Facilities generally fine, however some minor maintenance issues ref fridge internal door fittings broken/ not present; extractor hood throws off the stainless outlet cowl when fan switched on, proximity of heat detector to cooker caused fire alarm to go off quite easily when using a frying pan.”

- Mike, July 2023
Michaela June 2023

“Fantastic accomodation and situated right opposite a beautiful scenic harbour we absolutely loved.”

It's a brilliant dog friendly accommodation and great place to take your dogs as welcomed everywhere.Lots of beautiful walks on doorstep and bird watching and loved watching the steam trains to.We didn't move car for a week and was able to park right outside property which is a great bonus.Would definitely recommend and will be back again.

- Michaela, June 2023
Jason June 2023

“This was our second year running staying at The Captain's Bank and again it didn't disappoint.”

It's in an ideal location and the accommodation has everything you could wish for. Yes there were a few issues like the broken shelf in the fridge but that's down to people staying there and it's not easy getting an integrated fridge fixed during the summer season but it's still usable and didn't spoil our holiday. We would definitely go back as this place is the perfect holiday accommodation for us

- Jason, June 2023
David June 2023

“Very comfortable accommodation in an excellent position - thank you.”

- David, June 2023
David April 2023

“Brilliant stay everything was great”

- David, April 2023
Mr Sullivan April 2023

“Beds not really comfortable.”

Dining table not appropriate for space available. Second bedroom bathroom rather inadequate - no shelves, hooks or soap trays. Storage room leading from large bathroom full of miscellaneous items completely blocking washing machine access. Misleading information with regard to car parking facilities. Situation of property excellent.

- Mr Sullivan, April 2023
Terence March 2023

“The property is quirky.”

.. never had a wet room in a ''cave' before . Very well appointed; tasteful, elegant colours throughout. Delightful setting, overlooking the harbour, easy to walk into Porthmadog or to Borth y Gest. Certainly a holiday to remember .

- Terence, March 2023
Garry November 2022

“Really nice apartment in a great location with views over the harbour”

- Garry, November 2022
Tina July 2022

“This is our second visit to the Captain’s Apartment in just two months.”

We loved it so much the first time we just had to come back! The cleanliness, which is of great importance to us as my husband has Myeloma, is the best I’ve found in any holiday rental in the UK as is the crockery, glassware and utensils selection in the kitchen. The view of the harbour and mountains is amazing and constantly changing as the weather changes. Sunsets are just beautiful and so amazing to watch through the open stable door as you eat an evening meal. The Good Mood restaurant, at the yacht club just two minutes walk away, is worth a visit when you don’t want to cook (dog friendly inside as well as outside) and a meander around the coast to Abersoch and to Barmouth are very well worth it. Superb views. Such a great base for exploring so many areas. The jewel in the crown, according to hubby at least, is being able to see the steam trains go in and out at the Ffestiniog railway station. I almost don’t want to give such a great review as we want to be able to go back again and again! What would make it even more amazing though is if the mattress in the small bedroom could be upgraded, or at least have a good memory foam topper on it (it’s really the only thing that I can make a slightly negative comment about!). Great apartment, great location. What more can you say?!

- Tina, July 2022

Thank you so much for your kind comments, we really appreciate it, we would love to see you back soon! Thank you again! Property Owner
Martin July 2022

“Apartment is very nice but a little maintenance is needed eg peeling paint on walls.”

- Martin, July 2022
Jason June 2022

“The Captain's Bank has everything you could ask for in a holiday apartment.”

It was furnished to a high standard and was exactly as the pictures advertised. We loved it that much that we've already booked to go back next year. I would recommend this apartment to anyone that wants a chilled relaxed holiday in a beautiful location.

- Jason, June 2022
Tina May 2022

“This is a super spot to stay right by the harbour.”

Superb views from the windows at the front of the apartment and being able to open the stable door to see the view from the dining table is so lovely. The whole apartment was immaculately clean and the kitchen was the best equipped of anywhere we’ve stayed. The owner tried hard to resolve the only issue we had and was very friendly. I’m glad I didn’t take our two dogs with us though as the area isn’t very dog friendly, saying that though if you’re going just to walk and are happy to totally cater for yourself it would be fine. The only improvement I can think of is that the mattresses could be more comfortable - or some plusher memory foam toppers would help. We’d definitely return!

- Tina, May 2022
Simon October 2021

“Very nice place and location.”

I enjoyed it a lot. Two points for consideration. Key safe very hit and miss on working, the numbers keep sticking, took me 10mins on arrival and leaving to sort, needs replacing. Greater clarity on parking situation, as not clear if a designated space or not and where to park if its in use. Arriving late at night with lots of gear parking was important to me. That said, really cool interesting property to stay

- Simon, October 2021
Paul October 2021

“Apartment was very good but badly spoilt by poor sound insulation to apartment above; could hear every footstep and conversation.”

- Paul, October 2021
Philip Harry August 2021

“It appears that some minor repairs have not been dealt with as they were listed in the guest book two months ago e.”

G. Light out in the "cave" wet room. If the other had failed then it would have been impossible to use it . Other lets have spare bulbs .

- Philip Harry, August 2021
Darren August 2021

“Our two little girls thought they were royalty in their own bedroom with en-suite, tv, and dressing room!”

Being able to go crabbing literally 20 yards from the front door also went down very well

- Darren, August 2021
Helen August 2021

“Great location, good accommodation, had children in the apartment above us, which was extremely noisy.”

You also have to duck to get to the vault shower, the fridge didn't work well and lacked shelves etc, needs replacing. The one thing that stops five star is the lack of information on the apartment and local area. It felt that the owners just let it out and not care about your stay or the local area which is a shame. Stunning views especially through the stable door from the dining table.

- Helen, August 2021
Michael July 2021

“I have provided extensive feedback to yourself and trip advisor about the accommodation”

- Michael, July 2021
Eleanor July 2021

“Really lovely holiday rental.”

Enjoyed our stay. Location was brilliant.

- Eleanor, July 2021
Glen June 2021

“It was in an ideal position, close to the town of Porthmadog, by the harbour and close to several walks.”

I went with a friend and it was lovely having our own shower rooms

- Glen, June 2021
Mark May 2021

“Excellent location - well appointed.”

It’s marketed as having its own parking space - which it does - but it is constantly parked in by other people. A sign in the window would help here. Wet room is great ( watch your head). Would definitely benefit from air conditioning as gets very warm at night with few windows to open. Lovely kitchen/ diner area. Trying to get Netflix to work meant a constant battle with WiFi/ wired settings in TV - gave up in the end. Would definitely stay again.

- Mark, May 2021
Naeem May 2021

“Nice clean apartment with lovely period features.”

Location is good as well.

- Naeem, May 2021
Julie October 2020

“The apartment is in a picturesque location and even on a rainy day the view from the lounge is lovely, looking over the harbour to the Ffestiniog railway (well worth a visit).”

It is cosy, comfortable (apart from the bedding) and the overall layout is good and well thought out, incorporating some original features. Just 2 of us stayed from the original 4 that had booked and we used the larger bedroom. The wet room which serves this front facing bedroom is quirky and stylish however, the rear bedroom is very compact with just enough room to shuffle around the bed avoiding the wall mounted television. The dressing room area attached to the rear bedroom really is just a lean to with a corrugated plastic roof and gives the impression of a cheap solution. The grass turtles on the wall are damp and mouldy – this seems to be an ongoing problem with this particular room. When we first walked into the apartment, there was a strong unpleasant odour; something like a mixture of fried food and curry which seemed to permeate every room. We managed to get rid of this by day 2 by opening the back door, ventilating well and buying a strong air freshener (the automatic one provided in the apartment was empty). Other reviewers have mentioned damp/fusty smells but to be honest, I could not detect this. I think the problem may be that the apartment is so well insulated (as stated in the guest information book) with inadequate ventilation. The chimney is sealed and the cooker hood is not actually vented out and has no filter. When you turn the cooker extractor on past the first setting, the upright cover blows off under the pressure of the fan, so any strong cooking smells have nowhere to go. To bring this accommodation up to the ‘stunning description’ it boasts, whoever undertakes the maintenance really needs to up their game. The freezer compartment door lock was broken so water constantly drips into the fridge and we couldn’t keep food frozen, only one light worked in the wet room, one was out in the cooker hood, and of the recessed ceiling lights – one in the dining area either constantly flickered or was out and it seems that when these lights are changed they don’t bother replacing them with the same type. Instead, cool white were replaced with warm white so you have a mix of white and yellow lighting which just smacks of laziness and lack of attention to detail. We found the bed itself comfortable but one thing they absolutely must do is to replace the cheap and nasty bedding with a good quality range that better reflects the price charged and the website description. The bedding provided was scratchy, the duvet cover was either faded or scorched – overall rubbish. We did not have any complaints about the general cleanliness of the apartment – overall was pretty good. Parking is provided outside but judging from the car dealership sticker, it looked like some thoughtful local had dumped their car in the middle of the 2 bay parking – it remained where it was all throughout our stay. The courtyard parking is only suitable for a midsized car but we were able to park in the area outside the café bar close by with no problem, although this might not be possible during busy times. The apartment is close to local shops and supermarkets with access to some truly stunning scenery – even when the weather is overcast. If you take a right out of the front door, you eventually end up at Borty Y Gest, a lovely walk along the coastline to an unspoilt seaside village. The apartment is in a very picturesque part of Porthmadog – just needs a bit of attention to bring it up to a stunning standard.

- Julie, October 2020
Graham September 2020

“Food stuck to microwave, Oven really in need of a clean ( it smoked so much that it set the fire alarm off ), Ice-box so iced up that the door would not close, Drink spills not cleaned off bedside cabinet.”

Floors not swept properly leaving plenty of dust and previous occupants hair, Shower floor really grubby. All of the above really does make one wonder if all that was done was to provide clean bedding and not do any extra cleaning that one might hope for given the current need for cleanliness. Lean-to annexed to second bedroom to use as a wardrobe so damp that raffia wall-ornaments are mouldy, The plastic roof of the above so noisy that any rainfall during the night made sleeping impossible. Having booked through Sykes several times in the past and been delighted with all aspects of the properties, I was really disappointed to discover the level of thought and effort that had gone in to making us feel welcome. Very poor.

- Graham, September 2020
Maureen September 2020

“You have to have a car to get to a proper beach eg.”

Black Rock Sands. The apartment was clean & had most things one needs on holiday, but the beds (which are doubles, not king), are very hard & noisy. The pillows were horrible. Duvets hardly covered the beds.The bedding lets down the apartment. It can get noisy with passing traffic & people in flat above. Shops nice & close. Good walks around the estuary. Be aware that they charge £5 a car to access Black Rock Sands. Good location to stay if you are not fussed about not having beach. There is a small shingle/silt beach at Boh-Y-Gest, which you can walk to from the apartment. Nice cafe there breakfast. Take a run out to Criccrieff, it has a shingle beach that dogs are allowed on. Parking £1 for 4 hours. Dylons has outside seats along the beach front, & take away truck has good sea food.

- Maureen, September 2020
Andrew August 2020

“Accommodation much smaller than depicted in photographs .”

Beds extremely old & uncomfortable & 2nd bedroom exceptionally small with no room to move around the room . 2nd bedroom made up of lean to extension with plastic roof which was incredibly noisy when raining . Lean to extension damp & consisted of a rail to hang clothes on as wardrobe . Dining table & 4 chairs too big for dining area making it difficult to use . 2 chesterfield sofas very dated & uncomfortable. Parking very difficult Constantly hear people above walking around their apartment Only positive regarding this accommodation is the location in the harbour .

- Andrew, August 2020
Michael August 2020

“This was our first visit to Porthmadog and we were very impressed with how much there was to do for a family.”

It's a great base to explore the mountain bike trails of Coed-y-brenin and Betwys-y-coed along with the Heritage steam train, Zip World, Portmerion and lovely beaches. We also went to mini theme parks and go-karting and paddle boarding. The Captain's Bank is a superb quirky apartment complete with wet room with great views of Mount Snowdon from the stable style door. It is literally over the road from the Harbour which features a lovely square to sit out and have a drink. We even had a busker one evening. Would highly recommend

- Michael, August 2020
Lucy August 2020

“A super cottage on the Harbour side ; great base to explore North Wales”

- Lucy, August 2020
Jayne August 2020

“Pros: The Captain’s Bank was in a great location facing the marina.”

Within reach of some great attractions including Portmeirion (which we visited) and well stocked (generally). It was a convenient place to stay. Cons: The property was in need of some maintenance. A number of the lights were not working or flickered horribly (lounge, kitchen, second bedroom), the extractor fan hood was loose, and there were no binbags provided. Overall: A nice property in need of a bit of work to bring it back up to the standard shown in the photos.

- Jayne, August 2020
Michael February 2020

“This is my 3rd visit, every minor issue that has ever been raised by others have all been addressed , Particularly impressed by the new personalised bedding!”

- Michael, February 2020
Adam October 2019

“Very good and quick booking process despite a last minute request.”

Even when unfortunately builders arrived to do some drilling / maintenance on the wider block Sykes went out their way to sort / resolve ASAP.

- Adam, October 2019

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Summary

All-ground-floor
Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size double with en-suite shower room with walk in shower, basin and WC, 1 x double with walk in dressing area and en-suite shower room with shower, basin and WC
Open-plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area.
Gas central heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, washing machine
3 x Smart TVs with Freeview, WiFi, Netflix and Amazon (use your own account), 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, highchair and stairgate on request
Limited Off road parking for 1 car in communal parking area on first come, first served basis, additional roadside parking close by
Use of the shared decked area (accessed by 41 stone steps) with table and chairs
Two well-behaved small dog's welcome, please bring your own dog beds, towels and blankets
Sorry, no smoking
Shops, pubs and restaurants 0.1 miles
Harbour/marina opposite
Short walk to the beach
Note: Although this apartment is on the ground floor there are some internal steps
Note: A low doorway leads into the Captain's Bank main en-suite shower room
Note: Check-in 4pm
Please note: No Stag or Hen Parties

The property

This stunning ground floor apartment is situated in a Grade II listed building in the old harbour part of Porthmadog, in North Wales.

Part of an old corn mill this apartment offers first-class accommodation for couples, a small family or friends looking to enjoy a coastal break away.

Step back in time as you enter The Captain's Bank, appropriately named, as this apartment was once the old smugglers bank and is steeped in maritime history.

Beautifully renovated to a high standard you can't help but be impressed with the fusion of the modern and contemporary interior with character attributes such as exposed stonework.

The open-plan living area offers a well-equipped kitchen, together with a contemporary dining area which are raised above the sitting area which is comfortably furnished with cream coloured custom-made Chesterfield leather sofas; the perfect place to relax after a busy day of exploring.

The two bedrooms are well-appointed and both have their own TVs and an en-suite shower room.

The double bedroom also has a walk in dressing area and the main master bedroom boasts a king-size bed and its shower room boasts whitewashed exposed stone walls with a fantastic accent wall of 3D slate and arched vault ceiling accommodating the large shower rain head and in a smaller separate section you'll find the WC and basin with the old wall safe as a feature.

The Captain's Bank is entitled to use the shared decked courtyard which is accessed via 41 steps, the view over the harbour is well worth the climb!

The decked garden has some wonderful elevated views and there are sun loungers and a barbecue area for you to enjoy.

The apartment is superbly placed to enjoy the town's eclectic mix of independent shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and tea rooms, along with some of North Wales' best attractions on the doorstep, the world famous Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland steam railways, and just a couple of miles away the Italianate village and gardens of Portmeirion.

A gentle stroll along the coast will take you to Black Rock Sands beach or the pretty little village of Borth-y-Gest.

With historic castles and stunning landscapes to explore this well-located property is an ideal base whatever you choose to do.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £350.

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About the location

PORTHMADOG

Harlech 5 miles; Caernarfon 19 miles.

The bustling harbour town of Porthmadog lies on the Glaslyn Estuary and enjoys a stunning setting. The gateway to the Snowdonia National Park, Porthmadog is full of individual shops and restaurants, and home to the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland railway where you can travel by steam through spectacular Snowdonia scenery, to Blaenau Ffestiniog or Caerforn . The pretty village of Borth Y Gest, with its cliffs and coves, is a short walk or drive from the town. The well known and unique Italianate village of Portmeirion is just down the coast. Situated on a rugged clifftop on its own private peninsula, Portmeirion, famous as the location of the TV show The Prisoner and the final episode of Cold Feet, is surrounded by miles of sandy beaches and woodlands. The area also boasts castles at Criccieth and Harlech, and superb unspoilt beaches such as Black Rock Sands, where the sands stretch as far as the eye can see. Also within reach is the famous Zip World Slate Caverns and Bounce Below where you can get involved with a variety of activities including the thrilling zip wires and underground caverns to explore; there is something here to suit the whole family. An ideal location for the attractions of Snowdonia and the The Lleyn Peninsula.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“We've stayed in Captains Bank before and it remains a very comfortable apartment in a great location.”

“Apartment had not been cleaned when we arrived - it appears the booking had been overlooked - but cleaners came immediately when we called 4pm on an Monday and was cleaned within the hour.”

“Comfortable and well appointed and equipped accommodation with lovely views of the harbour.”

“Lock box wasn’t working couldn’t get in”

“Captain's Bank, is a really nice place to stay,, clean and comfortable, we ...”

“A fantastic place to stay, with a great view.”

“Property very clean and spacious.”

“Captains Bank is a property we have booked before .”

“There were not towels as it said there was in the listing.”

“Two en-suites excellent - disappointed no welcome pack .”

“Fantastic accomodation and situated right opposite a beautiful scenic harbour we absolutely loved.”

“This was our second year running staying at The Captain's Bank and again it didn't disappoint.”

“Very comfortable accommodation in an excellent position - thank you.”

“Brilliant stay everything was great”

“Beds not really comfortable.”

“The property is quirky.”

“Really nice apartment in a great location with views over the harbour”

“This is our second visit to the Captain’s Apartment in just two months.”

“Apartment is very nice but a little maintenance is needed eg peeling paint on walls.”

“The Captain's Bank has everything you could ask for in a holiday apartment.”

“This is a super spot to stay right by the harbour.”

“Very nice place and location.”

“Apartment was very good but badly spoilt by poor sound insulation to apartment above; could hear every footstep and conversation.”

“It appears that some minor repairs have not been dealt with as they were listed in the guest book two months ago e.”

“Our two little girls thought they were royalty in their own bedroom with en-suite, tv, and dressing room!”

“Great location, good accommodation, had children in the apartment above us, which was extremely noisy.”

“I have provided extensive feedback to yourself and trip advisor about the accommodation”

“Really lovely holiday rental.”

“It was in an ideal position, close to the town of Porthmadog, by the harbour and close to several walks.”

“Excellent location - well appointed.”

“Nice clean apartment with lovely period features.”

“The apartment is in a picturesque location and even on a rainy day the view from the lounge is lovely, looking over the harbour to the Ffestiniog railway (well worth a visit).”

“Food stuck to microwave, Oven really in need of a clean ( it smoked so much that it set the fire alarm off ), Ice-box so iced up that the door would not close, Drink spills not cleaned off bedside cabinet.”

“You have to have a car to get to a proper beach eg.”

“Accommodation much smaller than depicted in photographs .”

“This was our first visit to Porthmadog and we were very impressed with how much there was to do for a family.”

“A super cottage on the Harbour side ; great base to explore North Wales”

“Pros: The Captain’s Bank was in a great location facing the marina.”

“This is my 3rd visit, every minor issue that has ever been raised by others have all been addressed , Particularly impressed by the new personalised bedding!”

“Very good and quick booking process despite a last minute request.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

PORTHMADOG