Back to Search ResultsMinafon Cottage, Snowdonia

Property ID: 1655

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Holiday Home Description

Property Rentals - Minafon Cottage, Snowdonia

Charming 200 year old cottage situated next to a stream and the ancient Church of St. Winifred, with a pretty garden where you can eat out in summer, set amidst beautiful countryside in the heart of the village of Gwytherin, A great base for enjoying hill walking and mountain biking in this striking area. Cosy lounge with real fire, dining kitchen, ground floor shower room and toilet, 2 bedrooms - 1 double, 1 twin.

Property Details

Address	Gwytherin, Near Llanwrst
Location	Wales > North Wales > Snowdonia
Postcode	-
Breakage deposit	£ 0.00
Number of bedrooms	2
Number of bathrooms	1
Max people	4
Check In	by arrangement
Check Out	by arrangement
Nearest airport	Liverpool
Distance to Airport	1.5 hours
Distance to Beach	30 minutes
Price From	£ 295.00 (Weekly)

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Amenities

Cycle Store	Off Road Parking	Telephone	Fridge
Microwave	TV/DVD	Towels	Bed Linen
Solid Fuel	All Electric	Real Fire	Central Heating
Electric Heaters	Emersion Heater

Availability Calendar

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Late Availability

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Prices by Season

Price	Currency
All weeks with £30.00 end of stay clean (min 2 nights) - From: 01/01/2009 To: 01/01/2011
£ 295.00 (Weekly)	British Pound

Snowdonia Area Information

Location

Gwytherin, near Llanwrst – an easy scenic drive to Betwys-y-Coed, Bodnant Gardens and the beaches and coastal resorts of North Wales.

The Village

Gwytherin is a beautiful village set in the Cledwen valley in the county of Conwy. The village is made up of approximately 15 houses but there are numerous farms dotted all around the valley. The Lion Inn with its real ales, newly refurbished restaurant, and luxury bed and breakfast is at the heart of the village providing great food, and great accommodation in North Wales.

Gwytherin is the perfect place to escape to; because of its geography (set deep in the valley) it isn’t possible to receive a mobile phone signal. Yet, the village does have a traditional red telephone box, which is in frequent use and a vase of fresh flowers can always be found there. It has been written ‘The peace is extreme’. Away from the crowds but close to Snowdonia and Betws y Coed.

Gwytherin has a well-equipped Play Park and small football pitch with a stream running between the two. Gwytherin has won the ‘best Kept Village Award’ four times, thanks to its conscientious villagers. There is also a local Post Office, open every Friday from 9am to 1pm, held in the village community hall. No queues, no security screens, just good old fashioned, personal, friendly service.

Gwytherin is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists alike. It's valley setting offers challenging and picturesque cycling and there are numerous walks around the area for all levels of ability. Walk amongst the wildlife; look down on the buzzards, spot hares and admire the hedgerows with their abundance of wild flora.

Wales is officially a bilingual nation and around ¼ of the population speaks Welsh, the strongest survivor of the Celtic languages. Gwytherin is in a very traditional region and Welsh is still spoken. Visitors are encouraged to try speaking at least a fragment of the rich earthy tones of one of Europe's oldest living languages.

Local History - St Winnifred

In the centre of the village of Gwytherin and opposite the Lion Inn is the (sadly now closed) Church of St. Winnifred which was built and dedicated to her in 1869.

Winnifred lived in the 7th Century at Holywell. She was the only child of Tyfid, a great and rich man in North Wales. She was devoted to her parents and pledged herself to a virgin life taking religious instruction from her Uncle, Saint Beuno.

One day, Winnifred remained at home whilst the rest of the household attended church. Prince Caradog rode by and stopped at the house to ask for drink. Winnifred was a beautiful girl and Caradog was so overcome with love for her that he made improper suggestions towards her. When Winnifred rejected his advances, Caradog persisted and the faithful virgin was forced to flee towards the church.

Caradog on horseback easily caught up with Winnifred and in a fit of rage, cut off her head on the steps of the church. Saint Beuno who had witnessed the terrible deed immediately cursed Prince Caradog who instantly melted into the earth. Because of Winnifreds vow to die a martyr to her virginity and Christianity, Saint Beuno fitted her head back on to her neck and life returned to her body. From where Winnifreds head had fallen, there instantly sprang up a well of pure, clear water. Holywell became a great centre of pilgrimage and the water from the well was famed for its miraculous healing properties.

The red mark around Winnifreds neck remained and she went on to perform many miracles in her position as Prioress over a community of virgin sisters at Gwytherin.

After her death in 660, St Winnifred was buried at Gwytherin and her bones remained there undisturbed for almost 500 years until the Benedictine monks of Shrewsbury took them for their Abbey in 1137.

In 1977, Ellis Peters wrote the first Chronicle of Brother Cadfael "A Morbid Taste for Bones". Although the events and characters are mostly fictitious, it is based on the historical journey the Monks took to move Saint Winnifred from Gwytherin to the Abbey at Shrewsbury.

The Churchyard

The churchyard in Gwytherin is both peaceful and fascinating. It is an ancient site and home to 4 standing stones around a metre in height. One of the stones bears an inscription, at first glance it appears to be the name WINNIE, but on closer inspection it does, in fact, say VINNEMAGLI FILI SENEMAGLI. This translates as "Vinnemaglus, son of Senemaglus". This Latin inscription is of a style dated to the 5th or 6th Century AD and some believe the stones to have been erected in this early Christian period. Others, however, believe them to be much more ancient in origin dating back to the Bronze Age.

Also in the churchyards are 3 rather magnificent old yew trees. Again, there is much speculation about their age but it cannot be denied that their presence in this idyllic spot adds to the peace and tranquillity.