“I'm afraid that 26 Llawr Pentre was very disappointing, and we strongly urge you to inspect it well before the main 2026 season gets underway.”
Our issues with the property are as follows:
1. Arrival instructions need to point out that it's not possible to turn right from Abergele Road into Llawr Pentre because it requires a 300 degrees switchback turn off a main road; also, since no Llawr Pentre sign is visible from the main road, it's difficult to find it from the opposite direction too; it took us about 20-25 minutes of circling the neighbourhood to find a way in; reference to the pub opposite the entrance, and to the nearest road ...
Our issues with the property are as follows:
1. Arrival instructions need to point out that it's not possible to turn right from Abergele Road into Llawr Pentre because it requires a 300 degrees switchback turn off a main road; also, since no Llawr Pentre sign is visible from the main road, it's difficult to find it from the opposite direction too; it took us about 20-25 minutes of circling the neighbourhood to find a way in; reference to the pub opposite the entrance, and to the nearest road for turning a vehicle is needed;
2. The instructions need to say that moving and parking all along Llawr Pentre is very tight, may require a lot of reversing and 7-point turning, and may result in no space being found; alternative parking close by, eg at the top of the steps on the North Wales Way, should be mentioned;
3. The owner was not there to greet us; she had warned us of this by phone the previous day, but we really needed her there - see** below
4. Our first impression on entering no.28 was of mustiness; the house needs a deep clean, and at this time of year needs to be warmer; no way of adjusting the heating level was found in the instructions** or was discovered by us;
5. The guidance notes**, on several sheets of A4 paper in bold capitals, were badly organised, difficult to follow, and seriously incomplete; where for example were medical urgency/emergency instructions?
6** The WiFi was not working and there were no instructions; the back of the WiFi hub provided a password but to no effect; we phoned the owner but the call was not answered and there was no facility for leaving a voicemail; this was EXTREMELY inconvenient as one of us had a report to write for a charity board which necessitated downloading data during the weekend; it was to have been an evening task, but instead had to be done at Colwyn Bay library during working hours, which took more than half the daylight hours of our middle day, the bright, dry day we'd planned for Snowdon; instead we got a miserable soaking the next day (Sunday, when the library was closed); hooray at least for the excellent library staff and facilities!
7. Finally, the beds were dreadful! The mattresses are both worn out, very flabby, and in one case barely 6 feet long and with springs sticking up.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I’m sorry to hear that your stay did not meet your expectations, and I’d like to address the points you raised.
Regarding directions, it is possible to reach Llawr Pentre from Abergele Road. Most guests arrive via the A55 and follow the road directly to the cottage. As you were coming from Colwyn Bay, there is a right turn just past the swing that leads to Llawr Pentre, and there is a road sign indicating this.
In the cottage information, it is stated that there is no designated parking, as well as on the website. The property is 140 years old, and as with many older cottages, guests park wherever space is available nearby.
I visited the cottage at lunchtime on Thursday to prepare your welcome pack, and there was no musty smell at that time. If there were any concerns with cleanliness, Sykes or I would have been happy to assist had we been made aware.
When we spoke before your arrival, I mentioned that the heating was set to manual and could be adjusted using the plus or minus buttons. I also provided wood, kindling, smokeless fuel, and firelighters for your comfort.
My guidance notes are simply intended to help guests discover local attractions, shops, and useful amenities—we have many lovely places nearby, and I like to share this with visitors so they can get the best out of the local area.
I’m unsure why the Wi‑Fi did not work for you, as it was working prior to your arrival. You mentioned trying to call me, but I don’t have any missed calls or messages. Sykes also has a dedicated line for guests who need support at any time for issues such as this.
Regarding the mattresses, I know this can be down to personal comfort, and this is highly important for our guests. I have attended the property as well as the cleaners and found no issues here. However, thank you for letting me know—I will arrange for two new mattresses to be ordered as a precaution.
Regarding the weather, I am sorry to hear that it did not behave well, as you may know that the weather in this area has a mind of its own. Despite the situation you faced, I do hope that there were still some aspects of your stay that you enjoyed, as it truly is a lovely old cottage in a well-suited area.
Property Owner
