The cottage has a lot of character and old charm. I loved the exposed beams , the stone floor in the living room, the fireplace and the unusual entrance to the attic toilets (I know some people didn't like that, but I found it exciting - it adds to the character of the house!). Considering the age of the cottage I was quite pleased with the overall tidiness of the place though there were several thick cobwebs here and there which could've been cleaned. I was bracing myself for a musty/mouldy smell too but was pleasantly surprised that there was none, only an indistinct smoke odour - and that is to be expected from a place which has a working fireplace, and we certainly used that as well. Heating in the cottage was also another positive because the kitchen and bathrooms became very toasty when it was on and the downstairs room too. The only places which were not much affected by the heating was the 'living room' and the attic bedroom but for sleeping you don't really want too hot and in the living room you could use the fireplace. I was quite pleased with the dishwasher, though small and the washing machine with dryer in addition to the usual fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster and microwave equipment. As far as the pots/pans, cutlery and crockery go, that was basic but quite fine even for people who actually cook in the cottages (like us). The kitchen itself and the bathrooms were sparkling clean. The drawer in the kitchen contains a whole box of disposable face masks and a packet of antibac tissues - very considerate! What the cottage could benefit from would be some upgrading when it comes to the seating area (the sofa, armchairs and the rugs are quite tired) and the carpet upstairs and some more in depth sweeping in the corners (cobwebs). Also the iron board needs changing. There is a double bed in the attic with a single (though probably kingsize) blanket - we are used to sleeping on a kingsize bed, so it wasn't particularly comfortable for us, but good if you are used to it. The bedding is clean. Some people commented on the size of the cottage but I think for 4 people (mom, dad, adult son and an almost teenage son) it is a good sized cottage.
Overall it was an interesting and pleasant experience for us as and the surroundings of the cottage and the views are spectacular -if you like seclusion, privacy and do not require luxury, I'd definitely recommend this place. There is a lot to explore in the area too - don't miss Elan Valley, there is a lovely Clywedog reservoir quite near, only one hour drive to the seaside and around one hour drive or over to Brecon Beacons.
I must not forget - I loved that the owner, Mr. Morgan, discussed with us what we would like as a welcome pack. He offered us a bottle of milk (organic) and a loaf of bread and asked us what kind we would like, ensuring it would be according to our taste. His wife usually bakes a cake too, but since we watch our waistlines, we politely declined.
Last (hopefully) thing to add: Since the house is so old, I would have loved to read its history. I was looking for something about the cottage but the only info about the house was regarding the grandfather clock in the folder.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo