Caegwernog has been in the family since 1967. The farm had been sold to the Forestry Commission for planting conifers and the house, derelict for 2 years, was eventually sold to our parents, Jean and Donald Griffiths.
Not much is known about the history of the house although it is obvious from the external stonework and inside structures that a much earlier house was extended with a first floor added, perhaps in the mid-late C18.
Caegwernog has been recently renovated and is comfortable and homely without being luxurious.
The house is a long way up a narrow track, high up above the Mawddach estuary with views across to Cadair Idris in the southern part of Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri (Snowdonia National Park). The sea (Fairbourne or Barmouth) is about 8 miles away.
Downstairs is a large living room with a Clearview wood-burning stove, a large slate-flagged hall that leads into the downstairs kitchen/dining room (with small wood-burning stove) and a shower/toilet off to the side of the backdoor.
Upstairs is a large landing leading off to 4 bedrooms (one double, three rooms each with 2 single beds) accommodating up to 8 people. There is a large bathroom/toilet off the landing with electric towel rail and old-fashioned and very large, lion-foot bath. There are duvets, pillows and blankets but visitors will need to bring their own duvet/pillow cases and towels.
The house is centrally heated (oil-fired) with a back-up immersion heater.
Caegwernog now has good BT Internet, although following stormy weather fallen trees can bring down the cables and it can take a few days for it to be fixed.
Water, from a private spring-fed supply, is filtered with a UV filter. Note, that in dry summers the supply can run out and we have to run a pipe to the stream (which never runs dry!). In these circumstances it is best to drink bottled water.
Outside at the back of the house the woodshed with a suppy of wood, gives way to a sitting out area and parking for three cars (with an external socket for charging electric vehicles at 3kWh).
There is a small garden immediately at the front of the house and a larger garden with fire-pit, entered via a small gate on the other side of the road.
There are lots of lowland walks along the beautiful Mawddach estuary and longer more rugged walks further afield in the Rhinog mountains to the north and Cadair Idris to the south.
The small and attractive market town of Dolgellau is 3.5 miles away with a range of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes.
The house is comfortable but not smart. In very bad weather with high winds and driving rain, we sometiemes get ingress of water down the chimney behind the wood burning stove in the living room and above the small kitchen window. However, with the CH and wood-burning stoves the house is always warm and comfortable, even in the worst weather.
Caegwernog is adjacent to a working Welsh farm with vehicles/equipment coming and going to barns and all the activity and mess associated with an upland livestock farm. The cattle and sheep roam on the road and it can be very muddy at times. Dogs are permitted.
Rates:
We rent Caegwernog at a price that enables us to recover the running costs over the year:
Winter: 1st Nov – 31st March
£75/night for four adults (over 12 years old) plus £5/person/night for each additional adult. 10 percent discount for a booking of 5 days or more.
Summer: 1 April – 31st October
£85/night for four adults (over 12 years old) plus £5/person/night for each additional adult. 10 percent discount for a booking of 5 days or more
Booking:
If you would like to book Caegwernog, please contact Geoffrey Griffiths, preferably by email, stating your day of arrival and day of departure:
landline: 01993 868487; mobile: 07708 884803
Once your booking is confirmed I will send the instructions for Caegwernog, including directions, location of the key, using the CH & HW etc.
Geoffrey Griffiths & Bronwen Griffiths January 2025