Guests say
St. Mary's in Tywyn, North Wales & Snowdonia, is a beautifully restored church offering a unique and peaceful holiday experience. Guests have praised its charm, character, and stunning location, ideal for both relaxation and outdoor activities. The property maintains many original features, providing a comfortable stay with a touch of history. The owner, Peter, is commended for his warm welcome and responsiveness to guests' needs.
Most guests found St. Mary's to be clean and well-maintained, though there was an isolated report of cleanliness not meeting expectations. This appears to be an exception rather than the norm.
The location is consistently lauded for its breathtaking scenery and proximity to lakes and mountains, making it an excellent base for exploring the great outdoors.
The majority of guests found the property to be comfortable, with special mentions of the cosy living areas and comfortable beds. However, a few guests mentioned issues with heating and the mezzanine bedroom being cold.
Facilities are generally praised, especially the unique features such as the pool table and the historical elements. Some guests noted issues with the eco toilet and minor maintenance needs, but overall the facilities were well-received.
While guests have expressed appreciation for the owner's warm welcome and helpfulness, there is no mention of gifts or special amenities that would indicate thoughtfulness in the form of tangible items. Therefore, this score cannot be provided.
About this property
St Marys is a beautiful stone-built, detached 15th century church set amidst some of the most stunning countryside in the foothills of Mount Cader Idris, situated across from the shores of the magnificent and picturesque 222 acre Tal y Llyn Lake. This ancient and historic Grade II* listed church has been preserved in all its original glory with only part of the church itself having been converted to provide two comfortable bedrooms whilst the attached vestry has been renovated and offers comfortable living accommodation. You will be in awe of this stunning place from the moment you arrive; St. Marys is a hidden treasure and will certainly offer you a holiday with a difference, you will return home with some wonderful lasting memories and stories to tell. The vestry boasts open plan living accommodation with high ceilings and exposed beams and timbers, the comfy sitting area has a warm and homely ambiance with a gas living flame fire for you to sit and relax in front of after a busy day out and about. A well-equipped kitchen area caters for all your needs and the dining area is ideal for that leisurely breakfast or late supper. The two bedrooms are located in the church, go through the connecting heavy oak door and you will be transported back to a bygone era with a sense of peace and calmness. This beautiful church has an amazing Welsh oak roof structure, preserved and complete with a Tudor painted ceiling and stunning stained glass window at one end. Many of the original features remain including the pulpit, the pump organ, font and many of the pews. The ground floor double bedroom is a real marvel, cosy and modern but befitting its surroundings with stairs to the side which access the mezzanine bedroom above with glass balustrades overlooking the church and its pews, here you can really get up close to the beautiful oak roof timbers. Certain conditions set out by the Snowdonia National Park Authority means that a non-standard eco toilet system had to be installed, not something most people are used to but its all compliant with 21st century building regulations and is a small price to pay for this wonderful experience. St. Marys church stands within an historic graveyard with many ancient gravestones but there are plenty of places outside to sit, from which to admire your surroundings. Sit overlooking the lake watching the swallows fly close by or the wildlife emerging around you. The sunsets lighting up Graig Goch behind you are unforgettable and with the area unpolluted by light on a clear night you can see the Milky way! The walk to the summit of Cader Idris begins on your doorstep, and four miles down the road is the Tal y Llyn Railway which steams down the valley to Tywyn. Discover the Mawddach Estuary which John Ruskin said provided "one of the most sublime views in Europe, the huge beach at Barmouth provides a great day out and the quaint market town of Dolgellau with its interesting shops, pubs and restaurants is only 11 miles away. St. Marys is a perfect peaceful retreat and offers a unique holiday experience anytime of the year, one youll want to return to and relive time and time again.
The tiny hamlet of Tal y Llyn quietly nestles amidst the peaceful foothills of the Cader Idris mountain range, close to the lovely shores of Tal-y-Llyn Lake. A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, the surrounding area is home to Mount Cader Idris, Wales' second most climbed peak at 2928 feet, and abounds in numerous climbing, walking and cycling opportunities, as well as boasting excellent fishing and being part of the Talyllyn narrow gauge railway.
Accommodation
Mostly ground floor.
Church: Two bedrooms: 1 x ground floor double with en-suite shower, basin and eco toilet system ("Separett Torp-Isak” brand in grey granite), 1 x mezzanine double with en-suite basin and his and hers chemical toilet.
Vestry: Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with gas living flame fire.
Electric heating.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, TV with Freeview, DVD, record player, WiFi, telephone on honesty box basis, selection of books, games, DVDs and LPs.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Off road parking for 3 cars.
Lawned garden with furniture adjacent to property with furniture and graveyard to sides and rear.
One well-behaved dog welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 9 miles, pub 2 mins walk.
Hotel and restaurant 5 mins walk.
Note: Private water supply from lake which is filtered and regularly checked and approved by the local authorities.
Note: Please ensure dogs are kept on a lead and are supervised at all times when outside.
Note: Due to the nature and Grade II* listing of the property there are non-standard eco toilet systems installed.
("Separett Torp-Isak” brand in grey granite) Note: Both bedrooms are served by the shower in the ground floor double en-suite.
Note: Mezzanine bedroom has some restricted headroom and glass balustrades.
Note: Max 3 adults and 1 child over the age of 8.
Note: We recommend a maximum capacity of 2 from 1st November - 31st March as the accommodation on the mezzanine can be cold during the winter months due to the age and character of the building.
Nearby points of interest
- Centre for Alternative Technology
- Aberdyfi Beach
- Snowdonia National Park
Reviews (50)
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Ian
TV choice is excellent as is WiFi coverage throughout. Whilst the toilet is not a common system for most, we had no problems with it. Bed in the 'pod' bedroom was really comfy. Negatives: Unfortunately, the cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Whilst accepting it is an old building, it's not too much to expect the living areas to be properly cleaned after the previous let. We found a dog biscuit on a chair cushion immediately on first sitting down. There was dry dog food around the sitting room and a large dust/hair ball in the bedroom. These things were in obvious places and should have been cleaned. During the week, we noticed many dead woodlice on the kitchen window ledge, which had evidently been there for some time. The owner told us about the water coming from the lake and then filtered to a high standard, however there is a yellow tinge to it. There was a Brita filter jug, but the indicator to replace the cartridge was flashing. We therefore bought bottled water. The owner subsequently told us that he notes the date of cartridge replacement on his phone! Overall: A lovely place let down by an inadequate cleaning regime, thought towards customer expectations. Not very good value. Unfortunately, we wouldn't return or recommend St Mary's.
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Roger
The accommodation is well appointed with everything you could need, I was a little nervous about the echo toilet as I thought it might be a bit smelly. I can say there is NO smell at all and it is very easy to use. The area is stunning and just sitting above the church looking over the lake is priceless. There is a hotel open to non residents just 5 minutes walk around the lake, the food is very good. Canât wait to go back.
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John
The chapel is historically fascinating and its position is magnificent. The property is really spacious, whilst, at the same time, feeling cosy and welcoming. Peter, our host, made us feel at home immediately and explained everything we needed to know very clearly. Certainly a holiday home to revisit!