Catref | Llangollen | Self Catering Holiday Cottage

Customer rating

3.9★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
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Features

Ground floor accommodation
Ground floor bedroom
Cot available
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

37 Customer Review(s)

Gemma
August 2026

“The cottage was surface level clean but full of spiders and webs on closer glance.”

The bathroom door handle was loose and hanging off when we arrived and the screws fell out numerous times throughout our stay. The downstairs bedroom had a very strong air freshener which did not fully hide the smell of damp within the room. The bathroom had damp patches around the bath and a large patch behind the radiator. One of the two sauce pans had a very loose handle so didn’t/couldn’t use. The property has been furnished well and would be lovely if it wasn’t for the damp and lack ...

The bathroom door handle was loose and hanging off when we arrived and the screws fell out numerous times throughout our stay. The downstairs bedroom had a very strong air freshener which did not fully hide the smell of damp within the room. The bathroom had damp patches around the bath and a large patch behind the radiator. One of the two sauce pans had a very loose handle so didn’t/couldn’t use. The property has been furnished well and would be lovely if it wasn’t for the damp and lack of maintenance/upkeep. The kitchen could do with a chopping board, a jug and some sharper knives also a couple of the plates had large chips. The kitchen is very small and could be improved by a shelf over the fridge to house the microwave giving a small area of workspace (the kitchen had no workspace). A information folder with how to use the heating/wifi instructions and information on the local area would be beneficial for future guests. I have stayed in many cottages with Sykes and am by no means picky, however with all the issues discussed above I would not stay in this cottage again.

- Gemma, August 2026
James Colin September 2025

“Property is very tired and could do with some deep cleaning.”

Surface cleaning was good, clean sheets and towels but walls were stained, marked and dirty, bathroom bath panel was cracked and walls had dampness and paint peeling. Skirting boards were discoloured and showed signs of previous dampness. We liked the location as it was close to all amenities but the property could do with a refresh inside and out.

- James Colin, September 2025

Thank you for your feedback, I'm sorry you had some issues with the bathroom. It has just been redecorated in the last few weeks so I hope you will stay with us again. Property Owner
David September 2025

“The property is really in poor condition.”

Damp everywhere, really dirty and grim. Lots of things broken and needing repair. If there had been anywhere else with availability, we wouldn't have stayed the two nights.

- David, September 2025

I'm sorry you had issues but nothing was fed back to us during your stay and our cleaners have not fed back any information on anything broken so if you can please let us know what they were we can look at them. Thank you Property Owner
Kathryn. August 2025

“A lovely little cottage.”

Immaculate inside and a great location right in the heart of Llangollen. A lovely little place with great walks along the riverside. Only one downside was the cottage door opened right into a busy main road. If my son and my daughters do was with us I’d have panicked a little. But, because it was just my parents and myself it was fine. Once inside gorgeous x

- Kathryn., August 2025

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you stay with us again. Property Owner
Brenda December 2024

“Kitchen a bit too small but cottage very comfy lovely stay”

- Brenda, December 2024
Ewen August 2024

“Really nice cottage in a convenient location, unfortunately our stay was spoilt by the damp in the house, the floor between the bathroom and kitchen was constantly damp with a unpleasant smell, had to wear shoes just to get into the kitchen.”

Doesn't make for a healthy environment to live in, certainly wouldn't be rushing back or recommending Catref, unless this is rectified.

- Ewen, August 2024

Apologies we weren't aware there was a leak from the bathroom radiator which was making the hall carpet damp but that has now been fixed. Property Owner
Christina July 2023

“This is our second time here.”

We stayed August 2022 and this July 8th-15th. It is in a perfect location. Everything is within a short walking distance. The cottage was absolutely spotlessly clean and tidy. There is everything you need in the kitchen. Lovely clean beds and towels. The only downside for us was the damp. The smell is very strong and our clothes smelt of it even though we kept them in the wardrobe. My youngest daughter has picked up a nasty chest infection. This for us is worrying. I hope the owners can rectify this and sort the damp issue out. It is quite apparent in the bathroom, hall and the living room. We don't like to complain but I am worried for future tenants especially if they have little ones.

- Christina, July 2023
Debbie July 2023

“On first appearance the cottage seemed generally clean but on further inspection we found lots of cobwebs and spiders in all rooms and some cupboards.”

Maintenance- Door to living room catches on the floor. No light working in corridor to downstairs bedroom. Bathroom in need of make over due to water damage. Threshold strip into the kitchen trip hazard due to collapsing. Saucepan handles were loose - fixed by us Cooker hood canopy light not working - fixed by us Temperature control on shower does not work- seems to be locked at a high temperature. No anti slip mat provided so we left ours. Broken glass in kitchen cupboard. Can opener inadequate. Automatic lighting system in kitchen and hallway we found to be an inconvenience and wastes electric. Storage space in the kitchen inadequate unless you want to store frozen food. It would have be nice prior to occupation if the outside frontage was swept and free of litter around the bus stop. Having mentioned all these there were lots of things we liked about the property but that’s what we expected. The location to the park and town are good but extra care needs to be taken when crossing the busy road straight outside the front door. We missed having private outdoor space. Parking is provided but take extreme care when pulling out. We would stay here again and hopefully all the above would have received attention.

- Debbie, July 2023
Gary May 2023

“Lovely and clean inside, well located with lovely view of the park and river.”

We loved our stay and will definitely be back soon.

- Gary, May 2023
Kate May 2023

“Lovely property.”

Fabulous location. The bathroom could have had a revamp. Shower was temperamental. Some cobwebs behind the wardrobe in the downstairs bedroom. Property very close to road but noise in the night was not an issue. Parking available on site. Overall happy with our stay.

- Kate, May 2023
Richard March 2023

“Cartref was in an ideal location only a few minutes walk from the town centre through the riverside park.”

Although it is directly on the A5 you don’t hear the traffic when you’re inside and there is not much traffic at night. The bus stop just outside the front door proved very useful. The cottage is well equipped and comfortable and the heating works well. Although the kitchen is well equipped it is very tight for space. The Sykes web site has miss-spelled the cottage name as CATREF it is in fact “Cartref”. The “Key Collection Details” email from Sykes says that there are 2 spaces per cottage. Cartref has one space allocated.

- Richard, March 2023
Lorraine March 2023

“Enjoyed our stay, location good except it's on a busy road with very little ...”

Enjoyed our stay, location good except it's on a busy road with very little space between Cottage and road Bus stop outside, so busy at times Don't know how to solve problem but unfortunately rubbish outside of cottage door from people waiting for bus spoils the curb appeal Bathroom needs some attention as well decorated In saying the above it was a lovely stay and would book again

- Lorraine, March 2023
Keith February 2023

“Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

The cottage was a couple of minutes walk from the town centre along Llangollen Promenade, which was a pleasure every time. Didn't touch the car all week!

- Keith, February 2023
Alexandre December 2022

“RECOMMENDED, we loved the Catref small and cozy place.”

Unfortunately, Covid took us by surprise and we need to cut off short our stay(tested positive when back home, on Wednesday). The location is very good and has a nice view of the Castle hills. Minor details are to be looked after by the owners. The bathroom/toilet is showing signs of water infiltration, and minor repairs around the bath may need it. Around the stairs some stains, easy to clean. The car park does not support 2 cars per property, unless, maybe, squeezing if big yellow bin could move to the back of one the property. Hopefully, we will be back soon. Thanks Alex

- Alexandre, December 2022
Sarah-jayne October 2022

“We loved our stay at cartref, it instantly felt like a home from home, so cosy and comfortable and fantastic location for the town and also aldi across the road, we will definitely be back!”

The only thing I would say is the listing said there was a selection of books and games etc and there was nothing so if your taking children you might want to bring your own entertainment.

- Sarah-jayne, October 2022
Douglas June 2022

“A study in contrasts.”

Immaculate on the inside; trashed on the outside. Fully equipped, clean and modern inside; dirt, garbage, bricks and litter outside. There was a pile of dirt and leaves by outside stairs that had to have been there since last autumn. A beer can tossed on those steps before we arrived was still there when we left. Just a half hour sweeping would have made this a five star review.

- Douglas, June 2022
Margaret June 2022

“This is our second visit.”

Cottage very clean, comfortable and cosy. The only complaint we had was the shower was not working correctly. We could not control the temperature. It was either hot or cold. We had to make the best of it.

- Margaret, June 2022

Thanks for your feedback and glad you enjoyed your second stay with us. Apologies we were not aware until reading this that there was a problem with the temperature of the shower. We will look at fixing that now and if you stay with us again please just call or send us a text if you have any issues as we would gladly come out and sort them. Property Owner
Grant May 2022

“Excellent little cottage, comfortable, great facilities, location just close enough to town to walk but just out of town enough to get peace and quiet.”

I was worried about it being on the A5 but there was no traffic at night at all. Value was exceptional.

- Grant, May 2022

Thanks for your kind comments and glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Property Owner
Christina April 2022

“Great location close to everything you need.”

Cottage had everything needed for a weekend away. Only downside was the Bathroom door doesn't shut

- Christina, April 2022
Julia April 2022

“The cottage was clean comfortable and well situated for Llangollen.”

Minor issues were several light bulbs were not working for the bedside lamps, these should be checked regularly and there was no chopping board in the kitchen.

- Julia, April 2022

Thanks for your feedback, the bulbs should be checked regularly and we will pick this up with the cleaners. Also there was a chopping board on the original inventory so not sure whats happened there so we will get another, thanks for letting us know. Property Owner
Jane September 2021

“Cartref was a good base to stay with many good walks nearby.”

- Jane, September 2021
Cherryl August 2021

“A beautiful little cottage, close to the park and river with pubs, restaurants and shops within walking distance.”

Although on main road, once you’re inside, the traffic noise is hardly noticeable. Will definitely visit again.

- Cherryl, August 2021
Kevin July 2021

“There are only two negatives.”

It would be rather a tight squeeze if there were 4 people. The kitchen is even tight with one person in it, but we did not cook in it as we eat out. Although the A5 runs outside the property this was not a problem for either of us. The dog loved it as well. I have to say it was a very comfortable stay and would be very happy to return, in fact we look forward to it.

- Kevin, July 2021
David June 2021

“The kitchen was too small.”

The only cupboard space for dry food measured 7cm wide by 70 cm high. Totally inadequate. There was no work surface space. The floor space between kitchen wall and appliances was around 80cm again too small. It was impossible for more than one person to work in the kitchen at any one time. The living room was just about adequate for two adults but the cottage was advertised to sleep four. You clearly stated that there were two parking spaces per cottage. There were only five spaces and only one space was allocated to Catref. My sister-in-law was due to accompany us but was unable to come at the last minute. Just as well as we would have had a big problem. I should add that we have rented properties from you on a number of occasions and have always been satisfied but this cottage was not up to your usual standard,

- David, June 2021

Many thanks for leaving a review on your stay. The property does sleep 4 and has the facilities to support 4 people The kitchen is small and you can see this from the photographs of the property There is one car parking space allocated to this property as per the website Once again, thanks for your comments, we are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Property Owner
Vickie June 2021

“A lovely little cottage.”

A tad small, but fairly comfortable. Everything you need in the cottage

- Vickie, June 2021
Yvonne May 2021

“Had a excellent stay here.”

Would definitely recommend the cottage to anyone looking to stay close to the centre of llangollen. Great facilities, it was like home from home.

- Yvonne, May 2021
Gaynor May 2021

“Very comfortable cottage in excellent position near the River Dee promenade below.”

Front door opened onto busy A5 so families would have to be careful. Unexpected steps in house were made safe as lights came on automatically near steps. Very well decorated and provided all needs. Heating came on in morning and late afternoon, which met needs. It was quite cold during our visit. Even an Aldi five minutes away for any food or wine needs. Designated parking. We both enjoyed our stay very much.

- Gaynor, May 2021
Alex April 2021

“Lovely cottage in a fantastic location!”

Thank you for a lovely stay, would definitely stay again

- Alex, April 2021
Elizabeth August 2020

“Just back from a lovely holiday in Wales.”

Cartref is a great holiday cottage ideally situated a 5 min walk from the centre of Llangollen with its many restaurants, bars and shops. You’re also a 2 min walk from Aldi which is highly convenient, especially as it is open until 10pm most nights. There is plenty to do in the area and we enjoyed Bodnant Gardens, Chester Zoo and a canoeing trip over the aqueduct. The cottage was modern, comfortable and clean. The bed was a comfortable king with good quality bedding. As a party of 3 the cottage suited us well, but note it is quite small and I think you’d struggle if there were 4 of you. For example there are 3 comfy seats in the lounge, although you could probably squeeze another one in if your kids are small! Our only concern was how close to the A5 the cottage is. In fact this proved to be less of a problem than anticipated as overnight the traffic dies down, and the windows are good quality so kept much of the noise out. If it was very hot I can see this could be difficult, if you wanted to sleep with the window open. However I’m not sure Wales is hot very often... There is also no outdoor space, although you are directly opposite the play park with a seating area. Thank you for a lovely holiday, if a little wet!

- Elizabeth, August 2020
Claire March 2020

“Owner was very helpful when we contacted him.”

The cottage would benefit from a good scrub, the skirting boards are covered in dust and it just looks unsightly although the space is clearly relatively new and modern. A bit of paint touch ups too. A couple of coat hooks in the hallway would be nice.

- Claire, March 2020
Elizabeth March 2020

“Very comfortable cottage.”

Great location

- Elizabeth, March 2020
Thomas January 2020

“We had a couple of issues with the wi fi and central heating which were corrected by the owners as soon as we contacted them.”

- Thomas, January 2020
Margaret December 2019

“What a lovely warm welcome with milk, tea, coffee and biscuits.”

Also little extras in bathroom. Enjoyed our week's stay over new year. Very comfortable and warm cottage. Everything we required to make our stay comfortable. Lovely walk along the river to the town centre. Would definitely book again

- Margaret, December 2019
Christine November 2019

“We loved this place!”

Its location is great- just a 6 minute walk by the canal into the centre of town. The place is well equipped with sevetal nice touches. Its modern and very clean

- Christine, November 2019
Gordon June 2019

“Relaxing beautiful area, cottage just by the river, which was beautiful and 5 mins walk to the shops, restaurants, the stunning train station.”

..We had afternoon tea , which was lovely on the steam train....Extremely beautiful area to relax ....

- Gordon, June 2019
Susan May 2019

“Cottage was fantastic spotless comfortable everything you needed even met the ...”

Cottage was fantastic spotless comfortable everything you needed even met the owners Twice very nice people made sure we were happy highly recommended

- Susan, May 2019
Lucy February 2019

“Very cozy and comfy cottage perfect for our week away.”

- Lucy, February 2019

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Summary

Two bedrooms: 1 x ground floor king-size, 1 x first floor twin
Ground floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
Kitchen
Sitting room with dining area.
Gas central heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine/tumble dryer, dishwasher
TV with Freeview, WiFi, selection of books and games
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Travel Cot, Highchair & Stairgate available upon request
Off-road parking for 1 car
One well-behaved pet welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub 2 mins walk
Note: Several steps inside the cottage between rooms, may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
Note: Some road noise may be heard however this is generally minimal
Note: Entrance door opens up onto a small walkway by the road
Note: Care is required when entering or exiting the property as they are situated on a road there could be passing traffic
Note: This property does not allow cats.

The property

Resting among a row of cottages inLlangollen, Catref (Welsh for Home) has been thoughtfully renovated in a neutral design, with both couples and families in mind.

Housing a ground floor living arrangement, step inside to discover a modern kitchen carrying a contemporary grey overtone, and a family bathroom benefiting from an effective feature wall.

Spend plenty of evenings cosying up in the sitting room in the company of your loved ones, then snuggle up in the king-size bedroom afterwards, for a peaceful end to the day.

Alternatively, wander up to the first floor to find an additional twin room with stunning views over Llangollen, also ideal for the children to make themselves right at home.

Wake up to it all again and enjoy the outlook towards the park and river.

Note: This property can be booked with Ref. 982587 and 982607, together they can sleep up to 16 people.

EPC Rating: Band E

Waterloo House

A group of three pleasant cottages sitting in a row located in Llangollen, taking a roadside position. Lovely views lean out towards the park and river nearby with Castell Dina Bran in the distance, a backdrop that can be admired from the comfort of your very own holiday home. Each retreat includes a well-equipped, modernised kitchen and a collection of appliances, so you can prepare those delicious meals at ease morning through to evening. The family bathrooms and shower rooms have been styled in a contemporary overtone, wrapped in a grey finish to compliment the cottages neutral theme. The sitting rooms are comfortable and inviting, your little haven to enjoy some quiet time after a sightseeing adventure. Whether you are coming together as a family, accompanying friends, or planning a romantic getaway, the interior provides somewhere for everyone to relax in style, with a choice of bedrooms available from master suites to twin set-ups, even ground floor sleeping arrangements for convenience or preference. Llangollen is a haven for shoppers looking for interesting and unusual gifts. There are a series of interesting walks in the town; the canal from the town to the Chain Bridge Hotel and Horseshoe Falls as an example. Another walk is Bishops Walk from the Bridge End Hotel side of the river bridge along the riverside past the old mill sluice gates and leet and the remains of the weir, then past views of St. Collens church over the river, and on to the Sarah Ponsonby Inn. A favourite walk is the town side of the bridge stroll along Dee Lane and Victoria Promenade to Riverside Walk. This passes by gardens with scenery of the steam trains, ducks, tennis courts, bowling green and children's play area. The National Trust properties of Chirk Castle and Erddig are within easy driving distance and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the highest in the world which is a World Heritage site and boasts breath taking views is just 5 miles away, while a day-long car trail can take you to visit six of the 'Seven Wonders of Wales'. Three lovely cottages to base your stay.

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About the location

LLANGOLLEN

Ruthin 15 miles; Chester 25 miles.

The beautiful Vale of Llangollen, with its dramatic mountain backdrop and boulder-strewn River Dee is the setting for this pretty tourist town, internationally famous for its Musical Eisteddfod. Explore the green valley by steam train or canal boat, or take an exhilarating walk up to Castell Dinas Brân, high above the town, in order to enjoy the breathtaking view. Llangollen offers a good range of pubs and restaurants, as well as many interesting shops. The National Trust properties of Chirk Castle and Erddig are within easy driving distance, while a day-long car trail can take you to visit six of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’. Offa’s Dyke Path passes nearby and boasts pleasant walking along the crest of the Clwyd hills, plus the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 5 miles away, and Snowdonia is less than an hour’s drive.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“The cottage was surface level clean but full of spiders and webs on closer glance.”

“Property is very tired and could do with some deep cleaning.”

“The property is really in poor condition.”

“A lovely little cottage.”

“Kitchen a bit too small but cottage very comfy lovely stay”

“Really nice cottage in a convenient location, unfortunately our stay was spoilt by the damp in the house, the floor between the bathroom and kitchen was constantly damp with a unpleasant smell, had to wear shoes just to get into the kitchen.”

“This is our second time here.”

“On first appearance the cottage seemed generally clean but on further inspection we found lots of cobwebs and spiders in all rooms and some cupboards.”

“Lovely and clean inside, well located with lovely view of the park and river.”

“Lovely property.”

“Cartref was in an ideal location only a few minutes walk from the town centre through the riverside park.”

“Enjoyed our stay, location good except it's on a busy road with very little ...”

“Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

“RECOMMENDED, we loved the Catref small and cozy place.”

“We loved our stay at cartref, it instantly felt like a home from home, so cosy and comfortable and fantastic location for the town and also aldi across the road, we will definitely be back!”

“A study in contrasts.”

“This is our second visit.”

“Excellent little cottage, comfortable, great facilities, location just close enough to town to walk but just out of town enough to get peace and quiet.”

“Great location close to everything you need.”

“The cottage was clean comfortable and well situated for Llangollen.”

“Cartref was a good base to stay with many good walks nearby.”

“A beautiful little cottage, close to the park and river with pubs, restaurants and shops within walking distance.”

“There are only two negatives.”

“The kitchen was too small.”

“A lovely little cottage.”

“Had a excellent stay here.”

“Very comfortable cottage in excellent position near the River Dee promenade below.”

“Lovely cottage in a fantastic location!”

“Just back from a lovely holiday in Wales.”

“Owner was very helpful when we contacted him.”

“Very comfortable cottage.”

“We had a couple of issues with the wi fi and central heating which were corrected by the owners as soon as we contacted them.”

“What a lovely warm welcome with milk, tea, coffee and biscuits.”

“We loved this place!”

“Relaxing beautiful area, cottage just by the river, which was beautiful and 5 mins walk to the shops, restaurants, the stunning train station.”

“Cottage was fantastic spotless comfortable everything you needed even met the ...”