“Beautifully appointed, clean and very warm cottage.”
Thank you for helping to make a wonderful holiday, during which we celebrated my 70th and our son's 23rd.
We chose Railway Cottage for its location, price and because, from the slightly negative reviews, it didn't sound too pristine (and didn't require a deposit). As it turned out it seemed that the owner had responded to the complaints with a complete refit. I have a slight problem with the environmental cost of disposal of the old fittings and resources used for the new, and also of heating the open plan layout, but as far as staying there goes it was very pleasant. There were lots of nice touches like tasteful art prints of local scenes. We didn't discover the 'manual' setting of the thermostat till the end of the week, which would have allowed us to set the heating a little cooler, and turn it off when we lit the wood burner. The woodshed was well stocked. The owner was friendly and helpful on the phone and by email.
The cottage is perfect if you like cycling and want to travel by train (as we did). Folding bikes are safer on 'Wales and West' as large bikes are sometimes refused if the rather inadequate cycle space is full. The cottage is very near the station, a few minutes ride to the beach, and near the start of the Mawddach Estuary ex-railway cycle path,
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/mawddach-trail-dolgellau/
which runs between the estuary sands and waters on one side and (probably) primeval woodland. There is more similar woodland in the Cadair Idris foothills, which can also be accessed just along the road from the cottage. It is possible to walk all the way from the cottage to the summit, with views back over the estuary from the ridge, which are especially good as the sun gets nearer to setting over the water on the way back. We have not quite done this walk in one go yet, as it takes a bit of reconnoitring to find the best route and to avoid the forestry plantations with fallen trees. It would be quite a long day out (email and715@gmail.com for advice).
We like Fairbourne beach, with sand dunes and rock pools, and a river where my sister and I used to like catching dabs under our feet as children. I had a very brief and bracing dip most days.
The cottage is at the end of a small driveway that serves the terrace. I guess the access drive used to be at the other side of the house, between it and the railway, and was subsequently converted into gardens for the houses, leaving access only by what looks like the back garden. A small local train goes past on its way up and back down the coast every two hours. Thankfully the garden did still have a few small weeds in it (didn't look sprayed|), and would have been a nice place to sit out had we not been out all day exploring the area. The handsome chicken and goose did wander around on the lane, but I didn't see them in our garden.