Hen Gapel in Talsarnau

"We enjoyed a fantastic family holiday here with our Sons, their girlfriends and our dog. The house had everything we needed and there was plenty of room to spread out. The views were stunning. We enjoyed plenty of walks from the doorstep, climbed snowdon , 'bounced below' and swam in the lake. The week went too quickly! We loved it here. "

Reviewed by rachelhturner on 08/08/2019

"We loved it here, really didn't want to leave! The road to the cottage is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but you soon get used to it. Beautiful and quirky cottage, everything you need for your stay, the area is magical, you can walk for miles! And the cottage has its own lake!! We are open water swimmers so it was perfect for us, clear water with the most amazing view, what more can you ask for."

Reviewed by Beth H on 12/06/2019

"We have just returned from a week at this beautiful, peaceful home. There were 7 of us, ranging from 18 to 70 years plus my brother who has Downs Syndrome. There was so much space, brother and daughters were very happy in the upstairs lounge with their Xbox and playing pool, in-laws favoured the sunny conservatory and we all gathered round the large kitchen table to play games. We had a Tesco delivery ordered for our first night which was so helpful given the remote location. If you want to get away from it all and really relax this place is ideal. My husband caught 6 brown trout from the lake so he was in heaven and he also played a round of golf at the nearby Royal St Davids. The house is equipped well and Jane is great. We are hoping to return in the near future."

Reviewed by Kiran D on 12/08/2017

"Great cottage for a group of friends. The different living areas meant that we could all do different things ( living room became the reading room upstairs the games room) without being on top of each other. Some great walks direct from the cottage so didn't have to go far if we didn't want to but we also had a fabulous walk on the beach at Harlech and then up to some slate mines. Even though we went in April we had one gorgeous evening where we could sit out and have G&T's before dinner. The garden was lovely and my early morning walk down to the lake with my dog was just wonderful. Didn't want to leave."

Reviewed by judithjarvis53 on 12/06/2017

"Lovely cottage with lots of space for a large group. The surrounding area is peaceful, beautiful and remote."

Reviewed by _sheryl_c_234_ on 06/10/2016

"I liked the beautiful welsh scenery, the location, the house and the garden. Would book the house again."

Reviewed by Mr Bateman on 02/07/2016

"Hen Gapel is a large cottage that has something for everyone! spacious , clean,Rural setting. Owner Jane , was very friendly and welcoming when we arrived.with complimentary cake, milk etc.This place has it all! before you rush out to buy things you might need...check out the cupboards.it seems to have everything.toilet rolls,washing products (ecco friendly)The views are stunning, a perfect base for visiting the surrounding areas. The garden is is large and well planted, but could benefit with a little cutting back, to make access easier.Nearest neighbours..sheep..which amble up and down outside the property.watch out for the farmer that passes every morning on his quad bike, with two sheep dogs sat on the back, a sight to be seen. The garden is secure for larger dogs,but not for tiny dogs.and if by chance you have a rainy week, like we did,snuggle up in the lounge in front of a blazing log fire, and read a book, also supplied upstairs in the upper lounge, something for everyone, and let the kids play on the games consul, play pool.or use one of the many games also supplied. All in all, a comfortable rural little piece of heaven!Thank you Jane ...for making our stay so memorable."

Reviewed by denisetreacy on 02/07/2016

"A great home in a wonderful place."

Reviewed by Mr Wells on 19/07/2015

"The remoteness of the area. Stunning cottage."

Reviewed by Miss Rabanal on 22/10/2014

"Hen Gapel is quite remote with lovely views. The house is quirky and comfortable with plenty of games supplied for evenings/wet days, including a snooker table. We felt that the owner had gone out of her way to make us feel welcomed. There was no light pollution - could see millions of stars. Lots of places to visit - the perfect holiday."

Reviewed by Mrs Butler on 27/09/2014

"A lovely homely holiday property and a warm welcome from the owner. There is plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. The pool table, wii, wi-fi and swimming in the lake were a big plus for the kids. Lots of activities to do in the area - quad biking and Bounce Below were most popular. Harlech beach (only 8 miles away) is just perfect. Would thoroughly recommend and look forward to visiting again."

Reviewed by MrsJHodson on 12/09/2014

"Never actually met the landlady in person, but Jane Sampson is to be commended. Judging by what she lays on and how Hen G is fitted out, clearly this is not merely a revenue raising exercise for Jane. There is in force a genuine desire that clients should ENJOY their stay.The double lounge is a useful bonus when some want to switch on and other family members want some quiet. if I have an issue it would be with the website. Hen Gaple is described as being 7.5 miles from Harlech. True, it is 5 miles down the A498 to Llandecwyn, which would take 5-10 mins, but it does not tell you that the remaining 2.5 miles FROM Llandecwyn to Hen Gaple takes some 15 minutes, being a steep narrow mountain road .......... and any time you want to car anywhere it means starting with 15 mins DOWN this bendy road, at 20 m.p.h. max. the site should make clear that this a place for those who seek a quiet remote place with different outstanding views from each upstairs window, at a cost of convenience of location. It tends to be a degree or two cooler up in Hen Gaple than down in town. Furthermore I booked this site believing I could reach Minnfford, Porthmadog and the Llein peninsula in five minutes from Llandecwyn. However the site does not reveal that the bridge from Landecwyn to Minnfford has been closed for the past one and a half years. This meant a ten mile (20 mins) detourvia Maentrog, and ten mile return detour, costing time and fuel."

Reviewed by donkaufman2014 on 23/08/2014

"We received relevant directions to, and information regarding the property from the owner with contact numbers well in advance of our holiday . On arrival we received a warm welcome and time was given to answer the families questions on the facilities available. A lovely home, the house exceeded our expectations, the space, quality and comfort in both living areas, bathrooms and bedrooms, and cleanliness was excellent. For poor weather the games room had lots of activities and books . We were 3 generations from toddler to oldies plus dogs: the gardens had something for all panoramic views, plants and the one accessed from the upstairs sitting room was safe for all and well used. The weather was exceptional, we all swam in the lake everyday and it was great for our canoe . Walking from the door the choice was endless. The road in was narrow but posed no problem and was as we expected looking at the map. We found lots of choice in places to visit, Portmeirion and Harlech including the beach our favourites. All the family agree that having taken 2/3 self catering holidays a year for 30 years this property is one that we will remember. Thank you for lending us your home we hope to return soon."

Reviewed by lindasacriston on 17/07/2014

"A charming hideaway with stunning views. My son loved the games room, particularly the pool table. Lovely walks from the cottage, we were also so fortunate to have fantastic weather. Would love to own the property, would definitely like to return."

Reviewed by Miss Ward on 29/06/2014

"As 3 generations visiting Hen Gapel, the house was very comfortable, very spacious and well appointed with wonderful 360 degree views. We enjoyed the lovely furniture and comfort that came with it. Outside gardens were great, both interesting and practical. We were confident that had the weather been poor the house catered well both in space and facilities for us all."

Reviewed by Mrs Coates on 28/06/2014

"The place was lovely, and the setting was just what we wanted, beautiful and remote. I would recommend it for a lovely away from it all holiday. Myself and my family enjoyed everything about the cottage."

Reviewed by Mrs Jessett on 01/11/2013

"The property is big, with great facilities; excellent kitchen and laundry facilities! This is a remote setting but we all loved it; so much peace and quiet and so relaxing. Great base to go into Anglesea and into Mid Wales. Great local walks and wildlife. This is one of those holiday lets that is a true privilege to have. This is our second season at this wonderful location and am looking at booking again next year! Private fishing is great! Great location. Owners are very helpful and approachable. Cannot recommend this enough! "

Reviewed by Mrs Doan on 04/10/2013

"We all loved this cottage from the moment we arrived and agree wholeheartedly and completely with all the positive comments from earlier reviews. The only negative from our point of view was the drive up from the main road on which some other reviews have also commented. Following it on Streetview somehow doesn't convey the narrowness of the road and steepness of some of the climbs. Having said that, it certainly got easier each time we drove it through the week. The passing places became imprinted and we began to realise that there were actually fewer stretches than we had thought where we could not see to the next one. Remoteness in Snowdonia comes at the price of such a drive and the loveliness of the cottage and its location makes it worthwhile."

Reviewed by JohnGrosvenor on 24/08/2013

"The location of the property was superb as way out in the sticks with magnificent views. The house itself was extremely good for us given we have two adult children so the two sitting rooms was a bonus. The house had character, charm and is quirky!"

Reviewed by Mrs Green on 07/06/2013

"This cottage is a delight if quirky. It's very much up and down with a step here and a step there - literally. We took two teenagers and the split of the house with an upstairs sitting room, complete with snooker table and surround sound, meant we weren't living in each others shoes and was ideal. We did discover that downstairs we had to watch whatever they were watching on Sky upstairs though! The views are totally stunning with Snowdon in the distance. We loved the fact the sheep were looking at us through the gate and we could sit with our early morning cuppa in the conservatory looking at the hills. The cottage had everything we could want, though it took a day or two to discover the washing machine outside the patio door and in an outer utility room, but that was all part of the charm. The owners were delightful and very helpful - we will be going back."

Reviewed by nicola3460 on 07/06/2013

"The beautiful location and views. It was ideal for two families sharing with the 2 separate lounges, 3 bathrooms and the large kitchen diner. The children loved the pool table and Wii."

Reviewed by Mrs Tapper on 02/06/2013

"All 7 of us had a fantastic time. The most idyllic setting matched with outstanding weather made it an awesome trip that we'll be talking about for many months to come. The cottage was well equipped, spacious, clean, tidy, homely, everything you could possibly want. I look forward to booking again & if you ever decide to sell then let us know!"

Reviewed by Mr Rowell on 24/05/2013

"It was a beautiful secluded cottage. A lovely family home where we felt very comfortable indeed with lovely quirky rooms. Fantastic views of the mountains and so peaceful. We would love to go back again and will recommend to our friends!"

Reviewed by Mr Baker on 03/11/2012

"We loved everything about this cottage. The location was superb, away from everything. We saw lots of birds and even a squirrel came everyday. The surrounding area is fantastic with lots of beautiful places to visit. We would defiantly come back here."

Reviewed by Mrs Docker on 26/10/2012

"The cottage is situated at the end of a very long, twisty and uphill stretch of country lane. It takes some getting to!! but its worth it once you do find it ;-) The location is remote, beautiful and ultimately peaceful. 360 degree views of mountains and rolling countryside. Usually the only other living beings for miles are sheep!! Its truly a private get away. The lake, while a little trek away, is a lovely addition to this property. We spent lots of out door time walking, boating, eating in the garden, sunbathing (we were very lucky with the weather) and generally relaxing. Stunning surroundings. The house was quirky. Unlike any other holiday rental I have stayed in! It felt very much as if the family had moved out, left many of their belongings behind, then let the house for holidays without completing the move :-) I would also have to say it would certainly benefit from a deep clean and a little modernising in parts. That said, it was also the best equipped holiday home I have stayed in, we wanted for absolutely nothing! everything was provided, right down to dishwasher tablets and washing power. The kitchen had everything we needed and much much more. The second lounge upstairs, the games room, boasted a full sized pool table, nintendo wii, a library of books, games, jigsaws etc etc. The owners were very very lovely people, they even offered us an extra night at the end of the stay as they had family arriving to stay in it and there was a night in between, they said we were very welcome to stay and stay we did!! If you want a well equped, home from home, remote, comfortable, cozy cottage to stay in with superb surroundings and flexible owners, this is the place for you :-) Donna Hartley"

Reviewed by DonnaNAndy on 12/10/2012

"The cottage is situated at the end of a very long, twisty and uphill stretch of country lane. It takes some getting to!! but its worth it once you do find it ;-) The location is remote, beautiful and ultimately peaceful. 360 degree views of mountains and rolling countryside. Usually the only other living beings for miles are sheep!! Its truly a private get away. The lake, while a little trek away, is a lovely addition to this property. We spent lots of out door time walking, boating, eating in the garden, sunbathing (we were very lucky with the weather) and generally relaxing. Stunning surroundings. The house was quirky. Unlike any other holiday rental I have stayed in! It felt very much as if the family had moved out, left many of their belongings behind, then let the house for holidays without completing the move :-) I would also have to say it would certainly benefit from a deep clean and a little modernising in parts. That said, it was also the best equipped holiday home I have stayed in, we wanted for absolutely nothing! everything was provided, right down to dishwasher tablets and washing power. The kitchen had everything we needed and much much more. The second lounge upstairs, the games room, boasted a full sized pool table, nintendo wii, a library of books, games, jigsaws etc etc. The owners were very very lovely people, they even offered us an extra night at the end of the stay as they had family arriving to stay in it and there was a night in between, they said we were very welcome to stay and stay we did!! If you want a well equped, home from home, remote, comfortable, cozy cottage to stay in with superb surroundings and flexible owners, this is the place for you :-) Donna Hartley"

Reviewed by DonnaNAndy on 12/10/2012

"We had a fabulous time at Hen Gapel, the facilities at the cottage were excellent making a rainy day indoors great fun. Beautiful scenery and spectacular walks from the doorstep, outstanding."

Reviewed by Mrs Perkins on 23/09/2012

"Hen Gapel is in a very remote location/lovely scenery; the drive is long, down a single-track winding lane, up to 20% gradient...quite tricky and deffinitely not for the feint hearted! Accommodation is spacious, if a little tired (particularly the main bathroom). The 2 lounges meant the children and adults could do their own thing. Quite quirky, with a mix of furniture; felt a little more like staying in someone's home rather than a holiday let, with lots of ornaments and drawers full of stuff. Not very clean and a bit musty downstairs."

Reviewed by mistycarol on 14/08/2012

"Hen Gapel is in a very remote location/lovely scenery; the drive is long, down a single-track winding lane, up to 20% gradient......quite tricky and deffinitely not for the feint hearted! Accommodation is spacious, if a little tired (particularly the main bathroom). The 2 lounges meant the children and adults could do their own thing. Quite quirky, with a mix of furniture; felt a little more like staying in someone's home rather than a holiday let, with lots of ornaments and drawers full of stuff. Not very clean and a bit musty downstairs."

Reviewed by mistycarol on 14/08/2012

"A truly amazing get away from it all holiday, where your only traffic is the sheep. A stunning property in the most idyllic surroundings. Everyone in our party found a special place to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful retreat. One fish was caught by a novice and several bathed in the lake which was a huge bonus. We shall definitely re-visit."

Reviewed by Mrs Lowe on 08/08/2012

"The location was idyllic and made a superb base for walking. There was plenty of room for eating, sleeping and relaxing (and even a choice of sitting rooms). The raised back garden provided an excellent area to sit, enjoy a drink and take in the views of Snowdonia. Everyone appreciated the pool table."

Reviewed by Mr Wright on 25/07/2012

"Can't recommend this property enough. The cottage location was stunning with absolutely outstanding views and no neighbours!! The cottage itself was far larger than we expected. We put all the 'boys' (aged 20, 22 & 24!) upstairs where they had a pool table, a WII and a DVD player. There was also a good library of books for those who like to read. This left my husband & I and my mum a lovely peaceful environment downstairs! There was so much room to spread out in the property and cater to those who wanted peace and quiet and those who wanted to be more entertained via computers etc! The facilities were great and the standard of cleanliness was fantastic. The owner even came to see us to make sure everything was to our liking. She even left us a cake for when we first arrived that was lovely with a cup of tea. Really can't recommend this holiday enough. We were seriously debating squatting as we did not want to come home! Also a great location to use as a base to explore from. Husband & x2 sons pulled some very tasty trout from the private lake where the fishing was free - you can also swim there. Great beach at Harlech and a good Tescos at Portmadoch that were both within 6 miles. It was a real privilege to spend a week in such a beautiful property in a such a stunning location. My only regret is that we did not find this holiday when the boys were younger; kids love the space to run wild and explore and this is fantastic for this while still providing modern facilities in the cottage. We have always loved out of the way locations where we can get back to nature and explore. "

Reviewed by Mrs Doan on 12/07/2012

"We stayed in april with a group of friends, arriving after dark (brilliantly clear starry sky - there was practically no light pollution) and choosing bedrooms at random. If you have a choice, go for the bedroom up the stairs to the left - we awoke to a beautiful scene of the sun warming the hills opposite. The biggest asset of this property is the fantastic location: from the sitting room window you can see the snowy peak of Snowdon, stroll outside and there's a small lake within two minutes walk and hills close enough for a pre-breakfast stroll; or jump in the car and you've got the whole of Snowdonia on your doorstep! We ran out of time before even scratching the surface of the list of nearby walks. The house itself was well furnished and equipped; plenty of room for a large party, big living areas, ample kitchen, a toasty wood burner, and a pool table and tv/home cinema set-up. Broadband was surprisingly quick for such a remote location and our dog loved the place too. A very comfortable placed to return and relax after a day on the hills, but also plenty to keep you entertained if it rains. Overall, we had a brilliant and very relaxing break which left nothing but good memories. Would definitely visit again."

Reviewed by ed n on 12/07/2012

"We stayed in April with a group of friends, arriving after dark (brilliantly clear starry sky - there was practically no light pollution) and choosing bedrooms at random. If you have a choice, go for the bedroom up the stairs to the left - we awoke to a beautiful scene of the sun warming the hills opposite. The biggest asset of this property is the fantastic location: from the sitting room window you can see the snowy peak of Snowdon, stroll outside and there's a small lake within two minutes walk and hills close enough for a pre-breakfast stroll; or jump in the car and you've got the whole of Snowdonia on your doorstep! We ran out of time before even scratching the surface of the list of nearby walks. The house itself was well furnished and equipped; plenty of room for a large party, big living areas, ample kitchen, a toasty wood burner, and a pool table and tv/home cinema set-up. Broadband was surprisingly quick for such a remote location and our dog loved the place too. A very comfortable placed to return and relax after a day on the hills, but also plenty to keep you entertained if it rains. Overall, we had a brilliant and very relaxing break which left nothing but good memories. Would definitely visit again."

Reviewed by ed n on 12/07/2012

"We had an amazing time here at Hen Gapel, the cottage was clean and very well kept. There is lots of space for the children with the games room featuring a wii, surround sound system (excellent for films), flat screen t.v, sky and also which our children loved a pool table. also an amazing mountain view. Bedrooms upstairs were a good size and very clean with the larger bedroom also having an amazing mountain view. There is also an upstairs bathroom which is well decorated and spacious. Downstairs is a very well equip kitchen with all you could want to cook with. Lovely addition to this was the touch screen hob and oven. Dining area is large with a big table to accommodate all of us and was my favourite part of the house because it is a good social space even if you are cooking. The living area was lovely and spacious a beautiful woodburner. lovely french doors opening to the garden. There was also a bathroom with a bath and a adult bunk bed room which were all very nice and clean there is a bedroom with ensuite which also was a very nice area. The garden was well kept and a bbq,benches and table and chairs could be used. Beautiful sunsets can also be seen from the top part of the garden. Also there is a separate laundry room to do all your washing in ( very important for families) Tranquil and relaxing this holiday home is something I would recommend. Beautiful mountain views and birds song in the morning and at dusk this holiday cottage is really something special to see."

Reviewed by Lisa P on 06/07/2012

"Lovely house - comfortable, interesting and quirky. Pretty gardens and amazing views. When we chose this house, we were looking for somewhere fairly remote but with decent mod cons such as a telephone signal and broadband and this house does not disappoint. The location is absolutely beautiful and we were lucky to have a couple of really sunny, warm days even though it was mid October and can imagine the owners' lake must be a real bonus in the summer months. The flowers and cake left for us on arrival were a lovely, welcoming gesture. The furniture was comfortable (even the mattresses which is not always the case with a holiday let), the kitchen, although quite small, had all the equipment you might expect and did not feel so small as it opened onto the dining area. The pool table is a definite bonus as is Sky TV and the woodburner. The only real negative is that driving to the main road is certainly not for the faint-hearted and it makes you think twice about going out for the day - but we wanted remote and with such stunning scenery it was no hardship spending most of our days walking through the surrounding countryside."

Reviewed by Helena Barrett on 21/12/2011

"A very comfortable and attractive house in a wonderfully beautiful and remote location."

Reviewed by Ms Barrett on 23/10/2011

"Everything about the holiday was just brilliant. Absolutely no complaints or moans at all. Thanks to all who got it all ready for us. We hope to be back next year."

Reviewed by Mr East on 02/10/2011

"The remote location. The cottage was wonderful."

Reviewed by Mrs Kellett on 06/09/2011

"A lovely place to relax and great being able to just walk out the door and being there in the mountains! The lake was lovely and we also caught a trout!"

Reviewed by Mrs Kilby on 15/08/2011