Cartref

Customer rating

4.4★

6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

8 Customer Review(s)

Simon
May 2026

“Cartref was clean inside when we arrived and the beds are very comfortable.”

We all slept well and the kitchen area is great. The location is fine with plenty of dog walking on the common straight from the door. Unfortunately, the outside of the property is a mess, with a derelict caravan at the bottom of the drive, overgrown grass, stinging nettles and rubbish etc. laying around which is a shame. The house also lacked some basic things which I would expect to find in a holiday house - no "welcome pack" with information about the property, there was no toilet paper, ...

We all slept well and the kitchen area is great. The location is fine with plenty of dog walking on the common straight from the door. Unfortunately, the outside of the property is a mess, with a derelict caravan at the bottom of the drive, overgrown grass, stinging nettles and rubbish etc. laying around which is a shame. The house also lacked some basic things which I would expect to find in a holiday house - no "welcome pack" with information about the property, there was no toilet paper, there were no tea towels, nothing to wash dishes with ( no washing up liquid, no cloths / scrubbers etc) and whilst there was a dishwasher, no dishwasher tablets were provided.

- Simon, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased to hear that you found Cartref clean and comfortable, enjoyed the kitchen area, and appreciated the excellent dog walking opportunities directly from the doorstep. We are sorry that the appearance of the surrounding area affected your impression of the property. We would like to clarify that the caravan and land beyond property boundary are privately owned by neighbouring landowners and are not part of Cartref or the grounds that we manage. However, we appreciate that this may not have been obvious during your stay. Thank you so much for highlighting the items you felt missing from the cottage. We do provide a cleaning cupboard stocked with cleaning supplies for guests’ use, so we’re sorry if these were not easy to locate during your stay. We will review this with our cleaning team and consider how we can make this information clearer for future guests. We will also review our welcome information pack and housekeeping procedures going forward to ensure guests have what they need for a comfortable stay. Thank you again for your comments and for taking the time to share your experience. We value all feedback and hope to welcome you back in the future. Property Owner
Richard May 2026

“The property was clean and the beds were very comfortable.”

The internet reception was very sporadic and hard to understand. We were happy to recycle but the instructions left were confusing. We were told to recycle items in a white bag that did not exist! We appreciate that the property was I a rural setting but found arriving to find sheep’s dung spread liberally around the front door not pleasant and very unpleasant having to deal with it! The communal area was too small for the number of guests, seating area was only for 3 people, not for the 5 of us. We had to all congregate in the kitchen to be together! The property is advertised with accommodation for 6 people but the layout of the communal areas do not support this. The outside areas were not maintained and very messy! We enjoyed our stay but things could have been a lot better.

- Richard, May 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased to hear that you found the property clean and the beds comfortable, and that you enjoyed your stay overall. We appreciate your comments regarding the internet connection and recycling information and will review the guidance provided to guests to ensure it is clear as possible. As the cottage is situated in a rural farming area, sheep are often present nearby and occasional signs of livestock activity are an unavoidable part of the countryside setting. Regarding the communal space, the layout and facilities shown in the listing are designed to accommodate up to six guests, and we’re sorry if they did not fully meet your group’s expectations. We would also like to clarify that some of the surrounding land and areas visible from the property are not owned or maintained by us, although we appreciate your observations. Thank you again for taking the time to share your comments. Property Owner
Lisa May 2026

“Cartref is ideal for those needing ground floor bedrooms with level access to a living area so it worked well for us although there are just a couple of steps to the ground floor bathroom.”

The owner Tricia was extremely helpful and accommodating of our needs. When a repair became necessary during our stay she responded immediately and an engineer came out that day. We could not have asked for a nicer host. The setting is peaceful and we enjoyed watching the horses in the field next door and the sheep round about. The patio is bathed in sunshine and the patio furniture is very comfortable. The beds are comfortable and the kitchen is well equipped. The cottage is near the expressway for good access to other town in North Wales. We enjoyed our stay and felt at home. Thank you

- Lisa, May 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear that Cartref worked well for your needs and that you felt comfortable and at home during your stay. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the peaceful setting, the nearby horses and sheep, and found the beds comfortable and the kitchen well equipped. We are also pleased that Tricia was able to assist promptly when needed and help make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Thank you again for your kind words. It was a pleasure to host you, and we hope to welcome you back to Cartref in the future. Property Owner
Wendy September 2025

“Cartref is a really lovely cottage.”

A little tucked away but not too remote. Some traffic noise from A55 but you got used to it. Nice interiors and very tidy and clean. Comfortable beds. Lovely appliances. Good location, close to coast and historic sites. We loved the horses and sheep surrounding us. Good communication from the owner. Nice to have the two sitting room areas and two bathrooms and the Three TV's. We just had a few things we could have done with, we couldn't find a can opener, lids for the larger pans were missing, no tea towels, a few more mugs would be good, a mirror in the downstairs bedrooms would have been handy and lastly the outdoor space could do with a little tidy up and attention. Random bits of paving and edges jutting out made it a bit tricky to manoeuvre our car on the already small space. Having said that there was a nice patio and outdoor chairs were very comfortable. All in all we had a really nice holiday, and would love to return to the area and Cartref cottage. For future visitors, we really liked Basingwerk abbey, Rhuddlan castle, the Talacre beach and light house and Dyserth waterfall. The Dukes of Lancaster ship was a curious and fascinating visit too, just outside Holywell. Thank you for a lovely time.

- Wendy, September 2025
Linda August 2025

“Th property we found difficult to find, however the sign was broken by wandering sheep which they had knocked over.”

Sheep roamed about which made it fun to watch. The property seems new and is well resourced. We found the tvs were wi-fi based and couldnt access anything, it bufferted quite a bit. Probably we were not wi-fi savvy. We did have a lovely long weekend, lots of places to visit. Very peaceful area, near the golf course. The horses next to the cottage were a joy.

- Linda, August 2025

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the cottage and its location, and that the visits from the sheep added to your countryside experience — they do tend to charm most guests! We appreciate your note about the drive up the hill. It’s true that one route is steeper, and your feedback is helpful for future guests so they can plan accordingly. We’re also pleased that the issue with the patio door was resolved quickly to your satisfaction. Thank you for your comments regarding the living spaces. We provide two comfortable sofas with TVs in separate areas to give flexibility, but we appreciate your feedback on communal space and will keep this in mind for future improvements. We hope you still enjoyed your stay overall and would be delighted to welcome you back to Cartref in the future. Warm regards Property Owner
Ian August 2025

“The cottage is very much as described.”

Location is handy for local shops and eateries. A sense of living in the country with the frequent visit of sheep to the garden which is a pleasant experience. There are only 2 ways to drive to the cottage, one involves a very steep, narrow hill so make sure your car is up to that, ours struggled with a full load. That’s nothing against the property just I think people should be aware. The other way in is much easier but you can find yourself going on a bit of a detour to escape the hill. We had slight issues with the patio door upon our arrival but these were quickly sorted by the owner. If I had one criticism of the property it would be that as a family there wasn’t really a communal area where we could all sit comfortably in the evening to watch tv. That said there are 2 sofas with 2 tv’s just in different areas.

- Ian, August 2025
Ian July 2025

“We had an absolutely perfect stay during our recent trip to visit family in Holywell.”

The home was spotless, beautifully maintained, and felt brand new. It had everything we needed and more. It was comfortable, clean, and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The location was ideal, just a short 5-minute drive into Holywell, which made it super convenient for our daily visits. One of the highlights for our children was the view from the window, horses and sheep right outside, which they were thrilled to watch every day! Our host was exceptional, incredibly kind and responsive. They went out of their way to order a high chair just for our stay, which made everything so much easier. We highly recommend this property and will definitely be staying again on our future visits to Holywell. Thank you for a wonderful stay!

- Ian, July 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your family had an absolutely perfect stay at Cartref. It’s fantastic to know that you found the home spotless, comfortable, and welcoming, and that it had everything you needed for a stress-free visit. We’re delighted that the location was convenient for your trips into Holywell and that your children enjoyed spotting the horses and sheep from the window — they really do add a special touch to the setting! It was a pleasure to help make your stay even easier with the high chair, and we’re so glad it made a difference. Your kind words about our hospitality mean a lot to us. We would be delighted to welcome you back anytime for future visits to Holywell. Thank you again for choosing Cartref and for highly recommending it! Warm regards Property Owner
Dorina June 2025

“Cartref was an absolute jem.”

The surroundings were great, the horses were lovely and we even got to feed them carrots. Waking up to sheep in the front garden on top of the plant bed made a Great photo oppertuaty. Great position from exploring North Wales. The only things that we would have changed is to have the front garden enclosed so the dogs could be let off the leads. We would have liked a mop and bucket (due to general dirt over the stay) or even a hoover. The glasses in the cupboard still had dried red wine in them and the fridge had to be cleaned (not much though). The plates in the cupboard were still wet. Don't let this put you off as we've said, this is a a lovely cottage and lovely area.

- Dorina, June 2025

Thanks so much for your lovely comments – I’m really glad you felt the house was a gem! I appreciate you mentioning the glass and fridge – I’ve passed this on to the cleaning team as attention to detail is really important to us. Just to note for future guests, on request we do provide a bucket and mop as well as a hoover at the property for any quick clean-ups during your stay. Thanks again for your feedback and for choosing to stay with us. Property Owner

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Summary

Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x ground-floor double with TV, 1 x ground-floor twin
Ground-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, WC
Shower room with walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail, WC
Kitchen/diner
Sitting room
Oil central heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer, kettle, toaster
Smart TV, TV, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Highchair and travel cot available
Private driveway parking for 3 cars
Enclosed front patio
Pet-friendly
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub 1.4 miles Please note: Minimum of 3 nights only

The property

Cartref is a delightful, pet-friendly semi-detached holiday home resting in the small village of Pen Y Ball near Holywell in Flintshire with a Smart TV.

Mold 9.5 miles; Prestatyn 10.5 miles; Chester 18.6 miles

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £300.

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About the location

HOLYWELL

Mold 9 miles; Prestatyn 10 miles; Chester 18 miles.

The market town of Holywell in North Wales takes its name from the town’s most famous attraction, the 7th century St Winefride’s Well, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. Holywell boasts over 60 listed buildings, with a variety of late Georgian and Victorian buildings on offer, along with a pedestrianised shopping centre, pubs, restaurants and an open-air market every Thursday. Just one mile away are the 12th century ruins of Basingwerk Abbey within the grounds of the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, with its museum. There are many lovely walking routes in the area, including the open common area at Halkyn Mountain, Pennant Way, Offa’s Dyke and The Welsh Coastal Path. Within driving distance is the pretty Market town of Mold, which holds an outdoor market on a Wednesday and Saturday. The historic city of Chester, with its famous Rows, Roman Walls, racecourse, zoo, shops and restaurants is just over the border in England. The beautiful Welsh Coast is easily reached with the little seaside village and beach of Talacre only a short drive away. Prestatyn, Rhyl, and of course Llandudno are also easily accessible, together with the majestic mountains of Snowdonia. There are also some beautiful gardens to visit, Ness on the Wirral, and Bodnant Gardens in Snowdonia to name just two.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute

Pen Y Ball near Holywell, North Wales & Snowdonia (Ref. 1172578)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Cartref was clean inside when we arrived and the beds are very comfortable.”

“The property was clean and the beds were very comfortable.”

“Cartref is ideal for those needing ground floor bedrooms with level access to a living area so it worked well for us although there are just a couple of steps to the ground floor bathroom.”

“Cartref is a really lovely cottage.”

“Th property we found difficult to find, however the sign was broken by wandering sheep which they had knocked over.”

“The cottage is very much as described.”

“We had an absolutely perfect stay during our recent trip to visit family in Holywell.”

“Cartref was an absolute jem.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

HOLYWELL