St.Mary's

Thanks Peter for such a fabulous stay, you are a great custodian of St Mary's.

Our daughters came with their boyfriends when they had a day off and the truly loved it too. Thanks again so much for keep this fabulous piece of history alive, as my son in law said if it wasn't for people like you these important places would likely be left to rot. we have throughly enjoyed our week in this special place in a beautiful part of wales with lots to do and see. The effort to preserve the history of each and every gravestone was much appreciated as we loved this part of the history. we are truly grateful ❤️

St marys was lovely, but there were things i would have liked to have known, the garden is open to the public, and there was 3 occasions where we opened the door to find people literally on our doorstep.

The chemical loo is ok, but it does smell after 2 days and you have to empty it yourself. The cleanliness overall was not good, also there is no storage space at all in the kitchen not even a bread bin, we tend to eat in and bring most food with us so this was a problem, we ended up just storing everything on the table. Hot water to kitchen sink was also in short supply. BUT the location is absolutely beautiful. I really enjoyed being able to cross the road outside the church and be swimming in the lake within seconds. Great hotel 5 mins walk away with great food, the 'pub' opposite is only for residents. The Poole table is great and there are plenty of tvs Great week but not somewhere we would come back to

We had a wonderful stay in this unique old church.

It was a privilege to spend time in a building with so much history and character. The eco toilet was much better than we expected and worked perfectly well. This is not a standard holiday cottage, and guests should come with an open mind and an appreciation for the building’s historic nature and unique features. If you are looking for something different and full of character, this is a truly special place to stay. Thank you, Peter, for allowing us to experience such a remarkable building. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would happily recommend it to others.

An absolutely stunning property with history in every square inch of the property.

To fit a Grade 2* church out to be as comfortable as it is has taken a lot of patience and effort. Add in the above to it's stunning location if it's a historical property you're looking to stay in this is a must. Do not let the description of the toilet put you off either, it's actually very very easy and less noticeable than a normal flush toilet. Peter, the owner, was at hand when we arrived to take us around for a full tour. We don't normally return to the same accommodation twice, but St. Mary's may be an exception in the future.

This is an absolutely wonderful property in a beautiful location.

A truly one off. It is so calm and peaceful and we had a very relaxed week. The views are incredible and we even saw two low level RAF flights down the valley. There is a great restraunt/bar a short walk along the lake where the food is first class.

Wonderful accommodation in a great location.

Loved every minute of our stay. Loved the fact that the main part of the inside of the church is still as it was e.g pews, altar, pulpit and the various artefacts. Spent hours sat there in the pews studying the great architecture and imaging the decades and centuries of when it was an active church. The accommodation and bedrooms have been tastefully built that takes nothing away from the church itself. Very comfortable and would recommend this place in a heartbeat.

Stunning location, with lovely walks and cycle rides nearby.

The church was very interesting. The pod and mezzanine are comfortable but I felt the kitchen area needed refurbishing. We ate out at the Tyn y Cornel (which was very good)rather than cook there. The TV and WiFi facilities were great but I wish I had researched the Eco toilet a bit more as I found it tricky.

Lovely location,pleasant walks and sitting areas around the grounds(cemetary).

Property was clean and tidy with plenty of things provided...bedding, condiments,cockery and cutlery etc.Had no trouble adjusting to the unusual toilet facilities.General feeling of the place is one of space and tranquility. Peter the owner was very helpful on arrival and loved his happy demeanour and obvious love for the property.Beds very comfortably....best we have slept for ages. A very different experience and well done Petetr for preserving and re-purposing a lovely old building. Only downside was the lack of windows to look out through and the very limited storage space for food provisions....both really to be expected in a building such as this.Brilliant days out and walks in the wider area and a good pub with nice food a short walk away.

This is such a great spot for a holiday.

My favourite things were swimming in the lake and sitting on the bench behind St Mary’s in the sunshine watching bees, swallows and the sheep - so peaceful. The property itself is unique, the kitchen well equipped and the bed very comfortable. Peter was so friendly and welcoming. There are some great little shops in Machynlleth and of course lots of walks to explore nearby but I could imagine spending the whole week in and around St Mary’s and feeling I had a holiday well spent!

This church is so tranquil and relaxing, superb inside and out.

Scenery is fantastic, lovely views when sat on the bench on the decked area. Inside was just so fascinating, so much to look at and read about the church. You can just feel the history of the church all around you, no matter which room you are in. This church has all you need for a perfectly relaxing holiday may it be short or long. It was a real privilege to stay here.

Beautiful, interesting and comfortable property.

The area is stunning. We had everything that we needed, we thought the eco toilet would be an issue but it wasn’t at all. We will definitely go back to this property

St.

Mary's is a fabulous place and steeped in history. We found it comfortable, clean and well equipped. It is a fascinating place surrounded by stunning scenery, lovingly restored while retaining original features. It is quirky but completely manageable and in no way put us off. We loved it!

A very special church full of character and history and a very well thought out conversion into a holiday let.

The most magical place that I have ever stayed with beautiful views and I especially loved having a graveyard as the garden. Many thanks to Peter the lovely owner who was very helpful and informative. Highly recommended and I would love to stay there again.

Wow, what a place to be.

.. An old church from the 15. Century... With a Lake nearby, surrounded by Hills, Clouds and sheep. You certainly have to be a person, who gets in Touch with the Site, but If so, you ll be very glad that you ve found IT. And by the way: did we write already, that you stay in an old church? In a beautyful surrounding? Tbc....

Positives: Lovely historic building sympathetically adapted.

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.

We have loved our stay at St Mary’s, it has been a privilege to stay in such a unique historical building that has been so carefully cared for,thank you Peter for sharing it with us.

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. Can’t wait to go back.

We had an absolutely wonderful week at St Mary's!

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!

This our third visit to St Mary's and once again it did not disappoint.

It's a beautiful place, and Peter is such a lovely host.

This was our second time at the beautiful St Marys.

We really feel blessed to have stayed in this very unique and special property again. It's perfect for us in every way, its far enough away from people but not remote, stunning views in every direction, with lots wildlife on the doorstep. The church itself is wonderful, so much history, the smell, we just love it and can't recommend it highly enough. We got to see the Mach Loop jets fly by too which was quite exciting. Big thanks to Peter for making it possible.

If you like something different this would fit the bill.

Pete has put a lot of effort and thought into St Mary's it's quirky and homely and not at all spooky just very peaceful with some excellent walking straight from base. Once again many thanks.Phil

Stunning is the only way to describe it, both internally and externally and the views all around were fantastic.

Peter was incredibly helpful on arrival and always available if needed. I don't think we could have chosen a better place to stay or better location,.

We had seen this listing last minute and decided to book it as we were getting married in the day and wanted to head somewhere for a few days break after the registration.

This couldn't have been more perfect. Peter met us and ran through everything we needed. You can tell he's spent a lot of time thinking about how the old and new elements of the church can combine and making it liveable. We had a great few nights playing music and games and generally exploring. Also for anyone fearing the compost toilet. You get used to in minutes and don't notice a thing! The property and surroundings are so beautiful and Pete is such a great host. We'll probably be back for our anniversary next year.

What a truly magical, fascinating and peaceful place to stay.

We did leave the property the whole time because it was exactly what we wanted, a place to relax, recharge and keep things simple. Thank you so much Peter, we are already planning to come back to your beautiful restored piece of Welsh history

Just wow!

St Mary’s is a unique, quirky place to stay, in a truly stunning area. Beautifully and sympathetically renovated, it’s comfortable and clean and has everything you need. The history is fascinating and it was truly an honour to stay here. Thanks so much to Pete for the lovely welcome and showing us round. Highly recommend for a unique holiday experience.

A unique and unforgettable experience, guided by Peter the perfect host who has passion that reflects in all the hard word work he has put in to the the property, we cannot fault anything .

Take a seat up on the deck in the late afternoon to watch the world go by and the bats hunting over the Yew tree

Absolutely love St Mary's Church and the surrounding areas.

I will highly recommend but there were a couple of things that let the owners down! (Not the building or surroundings) We appreciate the age etc of the building and it is difficult to keep dust free etc, someone with allergies was not great! Also before we had even had a shower there is black mould in the shower cubicle and mould on tiles and you cannot have a relaxing shower as the shower is so loud. We had never experienced an eco toilet before initially it a shock but you do get used to it. One thing you don't get used to is the smell of the blocks that they put in the urine section, you walk in to what is a lovely bedroom but it smells like a public toilet. There must be a non smell alternative, surely! We are so sorry for sounding negative but the critisms can be easily put right, if we didn't mention it then nothing will be done, maybe! I finish with we highly recommend the church, we had a lovely time.

The listing was clear on the issues resulting from the unusual nature of the property, and so we were prepared for them.

We feel genuinely blessed to have stayed in this beautiful church and to have met the owner, Pete.

We had a lovely day in Barmouth and visited the craft centre at Corris but apart from that we didn't leave St Marys. You're surrounded by beauty inside and out with years of history to explore, along with a great area to play ball with a very happy spaniel, why would you leave? St Marys kitchen is well equipped with everything you might need. There are smart TVs and a selection of DVDs but we really enjoyed being able to play pool and darts aswell as doing a bit of a jigsaw. Don't be put off by the compost toilet, Pete explains how to use it and honestly it's fine.This is a special place and was exactly what we needed to free our minds of any burden.Thanks Peter for all you do, we have now found a place to happily return, see you next year.

This was our second time at St.

Mary's at it did not disappoint again. Such a beautiful and historic property in a beautiful part of the world. But don't take my word, please go and stay there. If you read the visitors book all the other people who have wrote in it say the exact same.

Great location, fabulous property, great host.

An amazing place to stay. Thank you

We adored this property.

Such a peaceful place full of history. Had a real unique charm which I think you would expect from a place like this. Pete was warm and welcoming on arrival and is easily contactable should you need it. Set in a beautiful part of Wales. Have recommended to like-minded friends and family. We leave with very find memories thank you.

St Mary’s is great.

It is a lovely place to stay. The church is a credit to its owner Pete. This was our 2nd stay there and we loved it just as much. The peace and quiet of the area is fantastic. The walks around the lake are great too. Aberdovey and Barmouth are both in easy reach. Thanks for a great stay.

Amazing place.

The location is absolutely stunning. St Mary's is a beautiful property. The fact you are staying in a 15th century church is all around you Remarkably comfortable and cosy. Peter the owner is a true gentleman and has my upmost respect for what he has done with the place. Loved my stay.

Excellent old 15th century church you will never forget your stay here.

Host Peter is very welcoming beautiful part of the world.Tom

Fantastic place to stay so unique & adapted for everyday living , loved the pool table to keep us entertained at nights my son loved it … amazing location if you want to get away from it all to recharge your batteries, Peter the host was very friendly & helpful & has done a wonderful job with st Mary’s highly recommended.

Amazing stay at St Mary's.

A truly magical place. So much history! If you love history this is the place for you. Gorgeous views from the garden benches, cosy and comfortable bedrooms, very atmospheric especially with the numerous lighting possibilities!! A record player, pool table, darts board! What more could you ask?! Highly recommended.

We had an amazing week at St Mary's in the beginning of May, huge thanks to Pete the property owner who was really welcoming, and stayed after 5 to let us in as we were running a bit late.

He gave us a really great run-down of the property and told us where everything was, showed us how to use the composting toilet (which was really easy to use and totally hygienic, so don't be put off!) St Mary's is such an amazing church, full of history and preserved brilliantly, I loved wandering around looking at the old photographs, reading about Jenny Jones, the history and reference books are a really nice addition. It's such a unique property, every day we kept saying we couldn't believe we were staying there! Honestly you could just spend a whole week in the beautiful church and around Tal Y Llyn and you'd have plenty to occupy yourselves with, it's absolutely stunning. We found out about Corris mine in one of the books and booked a 3 hour deep mine tour which was fascinating - really recommend that, it was a real adventure underground, like a different world! And then Cader İdris is also on your doorstep and it's totally worth the climb, such amazing views! We'd also recommend Dolgoch Falls, Brygn Eglwys (overground mine workings and a lovely walk with cave & waterfall) Aberdyfi and Tywyn for beaches. We crammed a lot into a week's visit but felt like there was much more to see, we hope to be back!

Peter the owner made us feel welcome on arrival,and shows us around St Marys.

The Accommodation was excellent,we had great holiday.

had a wonderful stay at St.

Mary's. the owner was very pleasant and helpful when we arrived. The church is stunning with plenty of history to read up on. location is perfect, with a picturesque leisurely walk around the beautiful lake right on the doorstep. the hotel serving food and drink is a five minute stroll away. the town of Dolgellau is a short drive away and well worth a visit. I would avoid Tywyn, not a lot there, if you want to the seaside go to either Barmouth or Aberystwyth, much nicer. all in all I would thoroughly recommend, and we will return.

quirky place to stay an amazing location to explore snowdonia highly recommended

We had a lovely stay at St Marys and the owner was very nice, he met us to show us around the place and the quirkily elements.

The toilet is the obvious one but I promise this is really not an issue at all. The place is lovely however we felt it was a little tired in places so could do with a bit of refresh in the main living area. Some the cooking pots and pans and crockery etc could do with replacing. The location is perfect and it is so peaceful, a really super place to unwind and relax. Throughly enjoyed our stay there with plenty of hours spent playing pool and darts in the main part of the church.

What a privilege to stay in such a stunningly beautiful property in an idyllic part of Wales!

Centuries of history, stained glass windows (look out for the Welsh dragon on the pub sign), gravestones, mist-shrouded mountains with pool, darts and vinyls (great classical selection provided but bring your own non-classical - the Vaccines worked well for us!) to boot - not to mention fairy lights around the altar - what's not to like! OK there's some discussion about the separating toilet - it works fine and is standard in Sweden - embrace the new with the old. Sometimes it was a bit chilly in the main church area but it is a big space and hard to heat - a small price to pay in my opinion. Some tips - put "St Mary's Catholic Church Tywyn" into Google maps and it will get you to the exact spot (avoid using postcode or St Mary's Tal-y-Llyn on Anglesey!) - visibility when exiting from the property in a car is very restricted - there is a mirror over the road which we only realised was there after several days which makes life a lot easier - you can walk to Tyn-y-Cornel for a drink and amazing views from their picnic benches - although they were fully booked for evening meals - the Cross Foxes is further but was very nice - there are lovely independent cinemas at Tywyn (The Magic Lantern) and Borth (Libanus 1877 - with restaurant which was excellent). Enjoy!

Pete the owner met us at the property all told us the history of the property.

Really nice man. Accommodation went far beyond expectations. Fantastic holiday!

It was a pleasure to stay in such a beautiful church so lovingly restored.

It was so peaceful and relaxing. The scenery was outstanding and there was so much to see and do.

A very warm welcome from peter.

We had a brilliant holiday at st Mary’s the location is second to one highly recommended

St Mary's is a truly unique place to stay.

It has charm and character in abundance. The location is excellent especially if you are taking a four legged friend along. Our dog really enjoyed the close proximity to the lake! The owner very kindly met us at the church to show us how to manage the finer details and was very accommodating of our needs.

Another amazing holiday, this time in St Mary's Church in Wales.

Set in a stunning location this is a must for anyone who likes the great outdoors and a stunningly interesting home, steeped in history. The owner Peter was there to greet us and give us some of the local information.

A lovely place to stay, well managed and steeped in history.

Peter was so friendly and made us both feel at home right away, he has thought of everything to make it a home from home .

We had a fantastic holiday staying at St Mary's church and would highly recommend a stay here.

Surrounded by mountains, with a lake on its doorstep, the peaceful and relaxing location of St Mary's is breathtaking! The church has been beautifully restored maintaining many original features, whilst providing comfortable living areas. My 10 year old son was overjoyed to find a pool table located in the chapel - this kept us all entertained on the one rainy day we experienced. Cadair Idris is only a short distance away and is a hike not to be missed! Also a great base for travelling further afield, we visited Anglesey, Barmouth, Portmeirion and New Quay for a fishing trip. Peter the owner is very welcoming and quickly responded to any queries we had. Towards the end of our stay the kitchen sink started draining slowly; we informed Peter who came round the following day to rectify the issue.

An experience not to miss.

Very query, well converted keeping historical features. Scenery beautiful.

Amazing to stay in this beautiful old church - it is such an interesting building, sensitively updated to provide comfortable accommodation.

We took an inflatable bed for one of our 2 adult children - plenty of space for it in the upstairs galleried bedroom. The pool table provided hours of entertainment! We would certainly recommend staying here.

St.

Mary’s is an amazing place to stay. A partly-converted church sees many of its original features still in place. The toilet is an experience, but don’t let that put you off! If sitting in the sun drinking a beer surrounded by gravestones is your idea of fun, then St.Mary’s is for you. This was our second visit and it won’t be our last. Great place.

A beautiful old building tastefully restored in a stunning location.

Perfect base to explore surrounding areas and very peaceful. Only word of warning I'll say is the second bedroom upstairs may be a bit cold in the winter months as it's part of the main chapel, the main bedroom is in an air conditioned 'pod' and absolutely fine. The living room/ kitchen area in the Vestry was spot on and cosy on a stormy evening with a DVD on. For that break with a difference it was perfect. Thank you Peter. We will return. PS Don't be put off by the eco toilet comments, it's absolutely fine. If you've used a caravan then you'll know the script.

We had an Amazing stay at St Marys Tal y Llyn near Dolgellau.

To be able to stay at a 15th century church over looking a lake & mountains & the local sheep greeting us in the morning was excellent. The property had everything you need for a excellent stay & more with all the details & the stained windows & too much more to mention. It was very cosy at night in the living area & we are missing it already. If its a drive or walk you are after then you are in for a treat & if its a beach day out you are after give Barmouth a try with cafes & pubs along the front all dog friendly. Peter the owner is a great guy & nothing is too much trouble.

Sadly.

...The kitchen was dirty on our arrival, crumbs on worktops & floor..toaster full inside and underneath, mould inside the microwave on rotary plate,dirty oven,very dirty & greasy sink, splash back & bowl. All the utensils were dubious & this caused us to have to eat out instead of self catering, hence adding extra costs to our stay. We had to hoover around the living quarters on arrival & half filled the vac! The accommodation lounge furniture was old & dirty between seat pads, cushions again flat & tired...the room was at times uncomfortable, due to heating not suitable to reach acceptable level... even with the extra heaters. The mezzanine bedroom was FREEZING...despite a convector fire & heater supplied. We tried the Pod bedroom but the bed was far too uncomfortable. The bed covers & pillows were tired, washed out & flat and not of a standard that we would expect when paying the price we paid for this property. The upstairs bed and the duvet inside the bedding were in contrast of good quality & kept us warm and comfortable as long as we stayed beneath the covers. The Eco Toilet was NOT what we expected! This should be shown in more detail in your listing. Even Peter said that my Husband would struggle due to his height. Very unsatisfactory! All this said...St Mary's is a beautiful building with special features lovingly restored & retained. We would struggle to recommend this particular property for the above reasons.

A stunning experience in a truly beautiful location.

Weather was typically Welsh for the time of year so decidedly soggy all round. (Last year it it snowed heavily during Chrismas week in the general area. The change this made to the landscape in such an environment was truly amazing. Peter the owner has done a wonderful job of sensitively modifying the vestry and gallery inside the old church. It's well worth a stay just to appreciate the efforts made to retain the old without compromising the facilities provided by the new. Sykes however have not been at their best in regard to providing ACCURATE details of the property and compromised the ability to contact the owner by ending out incorrect details. The wrong and completely redundant e-mail address was provided to enable contact with the owner after being repeatedly advised of the changes made to his contact details months before. I was given the run around when trying to make contact with someome at Sykes who could get the correct details provided AND CHANGED Permanently for the benefit of others.

Unique place to stay.

Wonderful location that affords stunning walks and scenery from the doorstep and local surrounds. The area is prone to a fair bit of rain due to being in North Wales but if you can avoid that (we did for 5 of 7 days in early September) then this really is a great value place to stay. Indeed it's a 'no-brainer' booking this via Sykes Cottages relative to the far more expensive Landmark Trust/National Trust type 'quirky' properties.

Lovely place to stay.

Comfortable & not scary. The dog loved exploring the grounds & so did we. So much history.

Stunning property!

A little church dating back centuries. An absolute privilege to be able to stay in this beautiful part of Wales amongst the mountains and rivers.

We had an amazing holiday at St Mary’s.

The church is really unusual and quirky but it’s been really well designed and is well-equipped with all the comforts of home. Completely unlike anywhere we’ve stayed before - a uniquely interesting and historical building. The owner was extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming. We’ll definitely be returning!

Saint Mary's was absolutely fantastic , the perfect get away from it all break.

I highly recommend this property

Great location and a wonderful place to stay.

The cottage is absolutely gorgeous.

The surroundings are quiet and serene. Perfect for a relaxing week in the countryside.

Beautiful location, lovely and remarkable cottage.

The only thing we missed a little, was a clear window. It would be nice to experience more daylight inside. But we respect the reason, as the old Church must remain intact.

The pictures and words do not sum up how superb this actually is

Beautiful location gentle stroll around the lake, chapel has been lovingly looked after, definitely a holiday with a difference, very peaceful and quiet but with easy traveling to nearest town and walks near by

Truly unique accommodation, such a beautiful conversion retaining so many of the original features.

Thank you to Peter for allowing us to stay in this special place.

A very unique experience.

..fantastic history and the conversion has been very well thought out. Owner very friendly and helpful.

This is a very unusual holiday property.

On arrival we were met by Peter who was just finishing off mowing the grass in the church yard. He was extremely welcoming and very proud to show us around this beautifully preserved church. You are staying in a former church which has been tastefully converted into a beautiful holiday cottage but still retains the original church interior including beautiful stained glass windows, church pews, font and a working church organ. The answer to the first question we were asked on our return " No the church is no longer in use so you don't have to lead the congregation on Sunday. The main living area is in the vestry and comprises of a small but functional kitchen and a comfortable open living and dining area. The two spacious and comfortable bedrooms both have TV's in them as well as additional seating areas. There is WiFi and a landline telephone which is useful as there is no mobile phone signal. Due to planning constrictions there are no clear glass windows to see out of but just step outside as the landscape is magnificent, there are many seating areas in and around the church ideal for viewing the scenery, the lake and the mountains. The area is remote the nearest well stocked shop is approx. 9 miles away in a small seaside town called Tywyn which also has a small cinema called the Magic Lantern. If you like walking there are many places to go and Peter has provided lots of info on the area and maps to help you find your way. We aren't walkers but the area is perfect for both walkers and cyclists. This was a fantastic break after we had had a busy year and I have to say I came home feeling well relaxed. This is a beautiful property and Peter should be congratulated for all of his hard work in keeping this property alive and allowing people the chance to stay in a unique holiday rental in a truly stunning location.