An absolute dream for people who want to get away from the hussle and bussle of normal life. No WiFi, no phone signal (unless you walk up the hillside), no noise from cars or other people. Just the sound of the flowing stream and the odd sheep 🐑.
The host, Joe, was brilliant. He came and checked to see if everything was okay and if we needed anything, to just let him know.
The barn was very clean and tidy, and the facilities are excellent, with the usual cooker/hob, fridge/freezer, but also washing machine, dishwasher, baby's cot and high chair. We found everything we needed without needing to bother Joe.
The views from the surrounding hills are epic and picturesque, just not in the time we we're here as it did rain a fair amount.
There is also plenty of places to explore around the area. There's a drawer full of local attraction leaflets in the barn, or use the wifi in the local pub, or ask Joe.
Booking was simple through Joes website and a few emails back and forth. And very well explained instructions on finding the farm track from the main road out of Machynlleth.
The overall view for me is that this place is the best if you want to go somewhere to relax and be away from everything for a few days or a week. I will happily return here in the future.
Few more notes. •Dogs are welcome, but must be well behaved. •Livestock surround the farm, so dogs must be kept under control at all times. (Common sense) •The farm track up is very steep for the first 200metres, and tarmacked only for about 100metres. The rest of the track roughly 1 mile long, is hard packed rock/stone/slate. With potholes and dips, and occasionally fallen branches and washed out surface. If you take it easy its fine to drive up. Both our cars were non 4x4 types and managed fine.
Cheers for a great weekend Joe 👍
David
Amazing location; remote, private, relaxing
Joe Hope
This is my business, so I hope you'll excuse a somewhat biased review. Actually, I'm adding this because every time I log in Google Maps asks me to review it (because obviously, I'm always visiting...) - so hopefully this will satisfy them! Anyway, I think this is a beautiful and special place, and I hope you will too :-)
Mario Hawkins
Beautiful and tranquil. Loved the house. Could not ask for better.
John Sewell202 days ago
Hidden treasure!
Amanda Orange2 years ago
We arrived this August with really high expectations of the property. We rented both the Barn and the cottage together so our extended family could holiday together. Encouraged by the great reviews, the tucked away location and the fact that 2 properties together could host our larger family, it looked like a really promising place. The location didn't disappoint us and despite the very steep and bumpy ascent it was well worth the climb. However sadly the property did not come up to our expectations. It was meant to have an enhanced clean due to Covid but it was apparent from my first step in the door that the cleaning had not been done thoroughly. The dining table was sticky and had to be cleaned by us multiple times before the dirt was removed. There were spiderwebs everywhere and lots of dust. The fridge had only had a quick wipe so there were bits of food left in it, the kitchen cupboards needed wiping out and some of the cooking equipment needed cleaning. I had to spend 2 hours giving the house a proper clean. The kitchen was badly equipped and we ended up having to share equipment with the Cottage. Quite frankly the Barn looked tired and in need of a facelift: the carpets were old and stained , the kitchen work top was chipped, the whole property inside was well overdue for a paint too. Bits of furniture or appliances were missing or broken; a light was missing next to my bed, the oven door didn't shut properly and there was no Freesat in the cottage. We arrived to be told the dishwasher was broken and a new one would replace it. On the Friday the new one was being delivered but due to not receiving the text message saying I needed to leave the key out ( due to no phone reception in the property), the dishwasher remained dumped in the kitchen for the rest of our stay as we were out when it arrived. We were told the installation would be rearranged but heard nothing back from the property manager. On the description of the property it clearly states that the barn and the cottage can be booked together to accommodate 10 people and that on request a table big enough would be provided which was one of the reasons we booked it. The table was big enough to fit only 6 people and so when I asked about this, I was told that we would need to use the drop leaf side table in the cottage lounge which had a lamp on it. This was not going to work as it was too high and the cottage would have been left without a vital piece of furniture! The second week we were there I had asked for a complete changeover as the first guests were leaving and others were coming. However when we went in the cottage only the double bed had been changed and not the twin. In fact I doubt this room had been even cleaned. We then had to spend the afternoon chasing firstly the property manager who didn't reply to my numerous messages. As it was getting late we decided to contact Joe Hope. Eventually after having to ring Joe a second time to tell him that despite his assurances, the bedding still hadn't been delivered, Joe had to call on a friend who came bewildered late at night with bedding that he had been pulled together from the Laundry! Lastly, if this wasn't enough the hot water broke down and we were left having to boil kettles and use next doors shower. I understand these things happen and it was fixed the next day but communication from Joe was lacking and we had to chase him for updates. Overall, this place is a real find and in the most wonderful tucked away spot. Joe is lovely and clearly busy with farming and so the house isn't his priority. The problem is that the properties need some TLC and better attention to detail, and his house manager clearly isn't doing this but is doing the bare minimal. She was lovely to speak too but terrible at communication. We aren't fastidious people and are quite laid back, but after so many things going wrong and having to interrupt our holiday multiple times to sort things out we were very disappointed and upset. Hopefully this was an unusual couple of weeks and the properties will be updated.
James Cass2 years ago
Beautiful location nestled in a high valley with great views on a really interesting farm experimenting with sustainability
No WiFi, no phone signal (unless you walk up the hillside), no noise from cars or other people. Just the sound of the flowing stream and the odd sheep 🐑.
The host, Joe, was brilliant. He came and checked to see if everything was okay and if we needed anything, to just let him know.
The barn was very clean and tidy, and the facilities are excellent, with the usual cooker/hob, fridge/freezer, but also washing machine, dishwasher, baby's cot and high chair. We found everything we needed without needing to bother Joe.
The views from the surrounding hills are epic and picturesque, just not in the time we we're here as it did rain a fair amount.
There is also plenty of places to explore around the area. There's a drawer full of local attraction leaflets in the barn, or use the wifi in the local pub, or ask Joe.
Booking was simple through Joes website and a few emails back and forth. And very well explained instructions on finding the farm track from the main road out of Machynlleth.
The overall view for me is that this place is the best if you want to go somewhere to relax and be away from everything for a few days or a week. I will happily return here in the future.
Few more notes.
•Dogs are welcome, but must be well behaved.
•Livestock surround the farm, so dogs must be kept under control at all times. (Common sense)
•The farm track up is very steep for the first 200metres, and tarmacked only for about 100metres. The rest of the track roughly 1 mile long, is hard packed rock/stone/slate. With potholes and dips, and occasionally fallen branches and washed out surface.
If you take it easy its fine to drive up. Both our cars were non 4x4 types and managed fine.
Cheers for a great weekend Joe 👍
We arrived to be told the dishwasher was broken and a new one would replace it. On the Friday the new one was being delivered but due to not receiving the text message saying I needed to leave the key out ( due to no phone reception in the property), the dishwasher remained dumped in the kitchen for the rest of our stay as we were out when it arrived. We were told the installation would be rearranged but heard nothing back from the property manager.
On the description of the property it clearly states that the barn and the cottage can be booked together to accommodate 10 people and that on request a table big enough would be provided which was one of the reasons we booked it. The table was big enough to fit only 6 people and so when I asked about this, I was told that we would need to use the drop leaf side table in the cottage lounge which had a lamp on it. This was not going to work as it was too high and the cottage would have been left without a vital piece of furniture!
The second week we were there I had asked for a complete changeover as the first guests were leaving and others were coming. However when we went in the cottage only the double bed had been changed and not the twin. In fact I doubt this room had been even cleaned. We then had to spend the afternoon chasing firstly the property manager who didn't reply to my numerous messages. As it was getting late we decided to contact Joe Hope. Eventually after having to ring Joe a second time to tell him that despite his assurances, the bedding still hadn't been delivered, Joe had to call on a friend who came bewildered late at night with bedding that he had been pulled together from the Laundry!
Lastly, if this wasn't enough the hot water broke down and we were left having to boil kettles and use next doors shower. I understand these things happen and it was fixed the next day but communication from Joe was lacking and we had to chase him for updates.
Overall, this place is a real find and in the most wonderful tucked away spot. Joe is lovely and clearly busy with farming and so the house isn't his priority. The problem is that the properties need some TLC and better attention to detail, and his house manager clearly isn't doing this but is doing the bare minimal. She was lovely to speak too but terrible at communication. We aren't fastidious people and are quite laid back, but after so many things going wrong and having to interrupt our holiday multiple times to sort things out we were very disappointed and upset.
Hopefully this was an unusual couple of weeks and the properties will be updated.