Old Power House

Overall we enjoyed our stay here as it offered the best sleeping arrangements for our party and we liked the open plan design downstairs.

It’s tucked away at the top of a very steep hill and therefore is unsuitable for any older/ less fit guests as wherever you walk you will be met with inclines etc. The gravel drive is tricky as it’s on the slope and we got stuck a few times and needed a push out. Wheelchair users would need to rely on their vehicle to get out. The sewage smell onsite is another issue and we definitely could smell it during our stay, that said we just dismissed it due to the remote location. The games table is unusable due to the low ceiling and the steps down to the river are a health and safety nightmare. On the plus side it’s very remote and we enjoyed the fresh air and sound of the water nearby. We think the property may be subject to damp over time given the location and how shaded it is and also the carpets may not withstand abuse over the years so would have preferred vinyl for hygiene purposes. The beds and bedding were lovely and comfy and the hot water was plentiful so that was a definite plus. The owner was very attentive when contacted but unfortunately couldn’t set up a decent wifi connection the whole time we were there, obviously if this is required for work or entertainment keep this in mind when booking. We would like to book again but just checked prices for 2026 and it’s way too overpriced atm. Waiting to see if there are offers later on in the year.

A really lovely place to stay for a few days.

Location was amazing with plenty of walks nearby and 5 minutes from the town which was handy. The home itself is amazing to see how far it’s come from what it was before renovated. Our only let down points were the fact we had to buy baking trays? You’d think for a home that size there would be some but there wasn’t. The smell throughout our stay wasn’t the best, inside and out. Didn’t bother me to be honest but bothered everybody else. However the bigger issue was the no water at night. Every night around 12 the water would not work for anything, toilets, taps and showers etc. first night lasted 5 hours, second night around 2 hours and our last night in all fairness was only about an hour. Still unacceptable in my opinion as we couldn’t use the toilet or fill the baby milk machine up for the newborn. If this is something the owners are aware Of this needs to be made clear before booking as it’s hindered us a fair bit to be honest. I thought it maybe a water tank issue and maybe we’d used it however we didn’t get there until 7ish on the first night and nobody had showered therefore ruling that out.

This is a lovely property in a fantastic area - walks from the door and so much to do in the vicinity, perfect location for us!

We really enjoyed the property, but as it’s new there are bound to be a few things not quite right yet, for example, there needs to be more baking trays and pans. The WiFi is a bit unreliable, so we took a portable dvd player with us just in case after seeing other reviews mention this, and we were glad we did! Also, the upstairs windows in the hall could also do with blinds or privacy film - they look out onto a footpath going up through the woods, and we did notice a couple of people walking the path in the evening with a torch, who would’ve been able to see in to the house if lights were on. Another privacy issue for us was that the footpath going past the garden had a direct view onto the patio and it didn’t feel as private as we wanted. It would be ideal if the fence was solid instead of separate panels. But these are just niggles and it really was a great property, and we had a fab time. The only issue that is more than a niggle and caused us a bit of stress while there is the approach to the cottage - it’s incredibly steep and has been laid with loose gravel. The drive itself is paved, it’s the single track approach which has the gravel. I’m not sure if this is part of the property or not, but you can see via streetview that the gravel has been laid recently just prior to the property listing, so I’m assuming the property owners have done this. It’s really not an appropriate road for loose aggregate, it’s far too steep, and retaining traction was an issue. We actually dreaded both leaving and coming back to the property just because of this, and we really think it needs to be addressed. Other than that, it really is a great cottage and a lovely renovation. There are some spectacular walks (and outdoor swims) in the area, and we’ve left some suggestions of these in the guestbook. We had a lovely holiday; thank you :)

This is a beautiful property located in a beautiful part of the world, a real home away from home.

The owners have obviously put a huge amount of thought and care in to a sympathetic but modern restoration of a fabulous old building. My son and I spent three days here, hiking to the nearby Mach Loop, and back. Our only regret is that we didn’t spend more time at the property. A warm welcome was afforded on arrival, with welcome snacks and essentials, and after a couple of long days out in the local countryside, getting back to the clean, snug, open plan downstairs and comfy bedrooms, gave us the chance to recharge before heading back out the next day. I would happily recommend Frongoch Old Power House for a stay and I would love to return in the future to explore more of the local area, taking advantage of the property’s proximity to nearby hiking trails.

We had an absolutely awesome time in "The Old Power House".

It was better than we had imagined because the pictures looked good on Sykes but the actual lodge was great. It was a little tricky to find initially but I believe a name board is due to go up but once found it was like an oasis in the desert; but a beautiful lodge by a stream in the woodlands. The lodge had recently been lovingly renovated over 5 years from an old power house supplying energy to the local village of Dolgellau to a wonderful holiday home for up to 7 people. Perfect in all ways with a warm cosy feel and the ambient sounds of a stream just adjacent to the drive and lodge. The games area in the upstairs landing with a 3 in 1 pool, air hockey and table football was a favourite for the family and our pool skills developed over the week. The local Co-Op was less than 5 mins drive and had all that we needed after our initial Asda delivery on arrival. The local leisure centre had Pickle Ball setup and we benefitted from a couple of complimentary hours of playing this super fun game. We went up the local mountain (15 mins drive) which was Cadir Idris rather than Snowdon (90 mins drive) and that was a great decision. 2 of us made it to the summit and the rest made it 3/4 as the weather did turn as we went to higher altitude towards the clouds. Bala was about 30 mins away and the chance to do some paddle boarding as well as canoeing on another day. And finally, Barnmouth beach was lovely at sunset and we had a calming walk to the sea before joining the kids at the amusement arcades. One of the best facilities were the electric car charger at the lodge which was a real blessing for us and made up for the intermittent WiFi which at the time was using a EE minihub as the main supply was still to be installed. Overall I would say this was one of the best UK breaks we have had because of; the weather was kind (sunny), the lodge was wonderful, the mountains and lakes were breathtaking. Definitely recommend this lodge if you want to experience a mix of peace and outdoor activities. Thank you to Guru who was most helpful with any queries we had - wish them all the best for the lodge. PS The neighbour AJ was super friendly too and we gifted him the complimentary bottle of alcohol that was waiting for us on arrival as we don't drink

Very enjoyable stay.

Clean, well equipped and peaceful. We understand that the property had only just been finished, it would of been nice it they had removed all of then empty packaging cardboard which was dumped at the side of the house, very noticeable from the garden seating area and the living room window, and the excess building materials left scattered around the property. Better access down to the river, some steps would also of been a bonus. All in all we would return and recommend.