Originally built in the late 1800s as a Welsh long house, Brynhyfryd has been extensively upgraded and modernised whilst still retaining many of the original features.
The house has six bedrooms, three bathrooms, utility with WC, two kitchens, three living rooms and a conservatory. The property is set in approximately a third of an acre of gardens but is surrounded by unspoilt fields which lead down to the coast.
Nearly every room benefits from spectacular views over the mouth of the Dyfi Estuary and, whilst the house is perfectly secluded, it's only a fifteen-minute walk into Aberdyfi and a five-minute walk from the nearest beach.
Brynhyfryd sits high on the hillside above Aberdyfi, with the Dyfi Estuary opening out below and Cardigan Bay beyond. The Wales Coast Path runs along the estuary edge a few minutes' walk down the lane.
The village itself — pubs, shops, the railway station — is a fifteen-minute walk down the hill. The nearest beach is closer still.
The main house and Cottage share a footprint but each has its own character. The main living room has the larger wood-burner and the estuary view; the Cottage, with a smaller wood burner has a quieter sitting room and a second kitchen, useful when staying as a larger group.
A conservatory off the main kitchen catches the morning light. The garden, a third of an acre, is enclosed for children and dogs.
Aberdyfi sits at the south western edge of Snowdonia. Within an hour you can be on a Cambrian mountain ridge, in a slate town, on an estuary bird reserve, or browsing Machynlleth's Wednesday market.
For longer days out: the railway runs along the coast both ways from Aberdyfi station, opening up much of west Wales without the car.
Wifi, sheep, security, codes
02Beds, doors, bins, the gate
03Network, code, instructions
04Nest, stoves, water, electrics
05Friday collection from Tan-Y-Foel
06Tywyn, Machynlleth, Aberdyfi
07Tywyn, Bronglais, pharmacy
08Local cab numbers, neighbours
09Washing machine, drying racks, line
Brynhyfryd1890Brynhyfryd1890.Heating and hot water are controlled from the Tado thermostat located in the Cottage kitchen on the wall to the right of the TV. Hot water is set to come on 6-9am, 12-13 and 16.30-19.30. If you need to boost the hot water outside these times just set the target room temperature on the Tado thermostat above the current room temperature.
Three rooms have electric radiators. The controls are not intuitive!
If there is no temperature shown on the screen then press the power button and up arrow simultaneously. This unlocks the Control Panel - press the same combination to lock it again and turn off the screen.
Next to the power button is a small light. If the light shows red then the radiator is set to comfort mode. Comfort mode is circa 19 or 20°. If the light shows green then it set to eco-mode which is about 14°. If the light is blue then it's set to frost protection which is 5°.
If you want heating the radiator should be on comfort mode. To change the mode press the up arrow. This will cycle through the three modes so press it until the light next to the power button shows red.
If you want to change the temperature in comfort mode then press the down arrow once and then use the up and down keys to choose the temperature.
If you want wood for the stoves, the wood store is in the garage and kindling should be in blue Ikea bags. Open vents before trying to light the fire.
If you use the stoves a lot, please try to clear out the ash before you leave (if you can work it out!).
The fuse box is in the entrance hall behind the coat hooks.
If any of the lights aren't working, it's likely that a fuse has tripped.
Drainage all goes to a septic tank. Don't put anything down the loo other than loo paper. There are little purple bags in all the bathrooms in the main house for anything that can't go down the loo.
Don't use biological washing powder/liquid or any loo cleaner other than Ecover or something similar.
Back to topRubbish is collected on a Friday morning so needs to go out on a Thursday evening. Collection is made from the bottom of Tan-Y-Foel where it meets the main road. General rubbish goes in the green wheelie bins and recycling goes into the blue plastic recycling boxes. Each recycling box can only have one sort of rubbish (glass / cans / cardboard etc.).
If the blue boxes aren't outside the back door then they'll be at the bottom of the hill (after collection). 3 boxes belong to Brynhyfryd. They will either be blank or have "Brynhyfryd" written on them
Back to topThe nearest supermarkets are Coop in Tywyn and Machynlleth. Tywyn is closest.
In Aberdyfi itself there is a very small supermarket / local store, a butcher, pharmacy and post office — all on or just off the main street.
Online food deliveries are available from Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.
Back to topThe nearest doctor / medical centre is Tywyn Hospital, about 6 miles away, open during working hours. It includes a minor injuries unit. Tywyn Hospital information (note: walk-in patients have at times been suspended).
Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth is the nearest large hospital (29 miles).
There's a pharmacy in Aberdyfi on the main street: 01654 767227.
Basic first aid / medicines are in the cupboard in the main bathroom in the main house.
Back to top
Gareth Ward's Michelin-starred tasting menu — a theatrical, multi-course evening with a disco ball, loud music and front-row kitchen seats. Book well ahead and treat it as the trip's centrepiece.
Waterside village pub at the eastern end of Aberdyfi — pub classics, local seafood and a sun-trap terrace looking out over the estuary. Dog-friendly, easy and reliable for lunch or supper.
Restaurant with rooms looking out over the Dyfi estuary. Seasonal Welsh cooking, fresh fish from the deli, and a quiet, considered atmosphere — the smarter sit-down dinner in the village.
Welsh produce served with informality — deli counter and coffee by day, full restaurant by night. Dog-friendly and usually busy, so book ahead for evenings.
A neighbourhood bistro in the heart of Machynlleth — tight, well-judged menu, attentive service. A nice combine with a wander round the town if you're heading that way.
Community-run village pub serving hearty classics and seasonal specials with local ingredients. Beer garden by the river, proper Sunday lunch, friendly room.
Small, ambitious kitchen doing precise seasonal cooking with locally sourced ingredients. The menu shifts often — a good shout for a thoughtful evening that isn't a trek to Ynyshir.
Family-run kitchen with a focus on Cardigan Bay seafood and Welsh produce. Relaxed, dog-friendly, easy to like — book a table on the way back from a beach walk.
The proper chippy on Tywyn High Street. Eat in or take it down to the seafront — exactly what you want after a cold morning on the beach.
The postcode of the house is LL35 0SN but if you put this into the satnav it will direct you to the Outward Bound centre below the house. Use the postcode LL35 0SL instead: at the very end of the journey it will take you off the coast road (A493) up a hill road called Tan-Y-Foel. Go up this road for about 150–200m and there's a sharp left turn onto a private road.
This map link takes you to the left turn:
https://goo.gl/maps/rUv1VAR2H5BPnTFp9
Brynhyfryd is at the end of this road, after a stony track.
A flat, scenic 9.5-mile cycling and walking trail along the stunning Mawddach Estuary from Dolgellau to Barmouth.
A thrilling red-graded mountain bike trail through Dyfi Forest with one of the longest descents in Wales.
The UK's pioneering mountain bike trail centre with waymarked routes for all abilities in a Snowdonia forest.
A prestigious championship links course established in 1892, consistently ranked among the top courses in Wales.
Excellent kite surfing conditions on the Dyfi Estuary with wide sandy beaches, lagoons and reliable winds.
A friendly sailing club on the Dyfi Estuary offering dinghy, cruiser and junior sailing in a stunning setting.
Family-friendly pony trekking along beaches and the Mawddach Estuary with views of Snowdonia and Cadair Idris.
Adventure park featuring the world's fastest zip line, underground caverns and treetop experiences across Snowdonia.
A magical Italianate village on the Dwyryd Estuary with sub-tropical gardens, hotels, shops and restaurants.
A vast nature reserve with sand dunes, estuary mudflats and rich birdlife on Cardigan Bay.
An underground boat ride through caverns bringing Welsh legends of dragons, giants and King Arthur to life.
A spectacular UNESCO World Heritage castle crowning a rocky crag with sweeping views of Snowdonia and the coast.
An award-winning eco centre near Machynlleth exploring sustainable living, renewable energy and environmental solutions.
A conservation project with live-stream cameras following breeding ospreys at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve.
A historic narrow-gauge steam railway running 7 miles from Tywyn to Nant Gwernol through beautiful Welsh countryside.
A volunteer-run narrow-gauge heritage railway near Machynlleth, originally built in the 1850s to carry slate.
A classic seaside activity for all ages from the village jetty — buy buckets, lines and bait from local shops.
