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Home | Cottages | Braich-Y-Big

Cosy Rural Cottage dating back to the 1600's on a working farm | Braich-Y-Big

X5
Dog FriendlyNear BeachReal FireFarm Stay
Porthmadog
 
 

A historical property full of charm and character, Braich-y-Big is cosy rural cottage dating back to the 16th century on a working farm. Sleeping five people across three bedrooms, this cosy traditional farmhouse cottage is the perfect bolthole for a family wanting to explore all that North West Wales has to offer. Steeped in history, the owners family have been farming the land for 500 years and welcoming guests for almost as long. Located between Porthmadog and Beddgelert, the cottage is surrounded by stunning scenery with many beauty spots and attractions nearby.

The door to the ground floor of the property opens into a large kitchen diner area with an exposed stone wall to the right hand side. To the left, kitchen units form an L shape against two walls of the property. Finished in a traditional farmhouse style, the kitchen units are wood fronted with a white marble effect worktop. Quarry tiles are laid on the floor, and the exposed timber beams of the ceiling show off the character of the building. The kitchen has all the usual amenities including a modern built in oven and electric hob, which sits near a traditional Rayburn oven. A couple of comfy armchairs are located in the centre of the space on a thick rug, with a TV fixed to the wall providing space to lounge and relax. A traditional wooden farmhouse table seating six completes the layout of this lovely room. A doorway to the rear of the room leads to a small downstairs shower room including a walk in shower cubicle, WC, basin and towel rail. The floor is laid with quarry tiles with the lower half of the walls decorated with grey blue wall tiles and painted above.

A second doorway from the kitchen diner leads into a stunning lounge area. This room, packed with original features of the 500 year old property has walls of exposed stone, wooden timber beams and a gorgeous stone inglenook fireplace with large wooden lintel and slate hearth, housing an inviting log burner. Antique items are dotted around the room including brasses and beautiful furniture pieces. These are mixed in with modern furniture with a classic feel, including a leather sofa and two armchairs which surround a lovely wooden coffee table. Vintage wall lights provide a cosy and warm atmosphere and a large TV is located in the corner of the room, for cosy evenings in.

A fabulous stone spiral staircase next to the fireplace leads upstairs in this cosy rural cottage dating back to the 16th century on a working farm. A small landing provides access to three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, built into the eaves of the property. To the left, the first of the double bedrooms is a spacious room with a double bed including bedside cabinets and lamps to both sides. A traditional chest of drawers sits opposite the bed, alongside two wicker chairs and a coffee table, providing some seating space away from the main lounge areas. The second double bedroom, of a similar size to the first, has a beautiful vaulted ceiling with exposed dark timber beams and skylight allowing the natural light to flood in. A large double bed, flanked by bedside cabinets and lamps, is modern with a grey headboard and throw, with the addition of orange cushions providing a splash of colour. A wardrobe is located on the opposite wall to the bed, alongside a clothes rail and a full height mirror.

The final bedroom, a single room, is also built into the eaves of the building with exposed beams and a sloped ceiling. The single bed sits next to a bedside table and lamp, and the room also features a large wardrobe and chest of drawers with mirror over, providing plenty of clothes storage space. A side chair and clothes rail sit under the skylight at the bottom of the bed. Completing the upstairs layout, Braich-y-Big's bathroom is a lovely bright room. A bathtub with wooden white panels to the front includes a hand held shower head and is surrounded by grey blue wall tiles. The basin and WC are traditional in style, and a wooden free standing towel rail sits next to a radiator.

 
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Facilities


Cottage Type
Dog Friendly
Near Beach
Real Fire
Farm Stay
Essentials
No Welcome Pack
Linen
Towels
Cot (cot-linen not provided)
WiFi
High Chair
Central Heating
Smoke detector
Carbon monoxide detector
First Aid kit
Fire extinguisher or blanket
Inside
1 Pet
Hob
Cooker
Microwave
Fridge
Freezer (not icebox)
Dishwasher
Washing Machine
Iron and ironing board
TV
Mobile phone reception
Outside
Enclosed garden
Off street parking
BBQ
Bike Storage
Private Garden
Additional Information
Please be aware that the spiral staircase is an original feature and therefore the treads are quite narrow - please take care!
 

Floor Plans

 

Location

 

Located in Cwm Ystradllyn, one of the most beautiful valleys in North Wales, the cosy rural cottage dating back to the 16th century on a working farm is ideal for guests wanting to get away from it all. An annex of the main building, Braich-y-Big has its own private courtyard area. A paved patio directly outside the kitchen is home to a comfortable rattan lounge seating set comprising a curved sofa unit, along with some benches and a glass topped coffee table. It's the ideal space for outdoor drinks of an evening, relaxing after a busy day exploring. There's also a dining set including a large table and six chairs, perfect for alfresco dinners. The patio leads to a large grassy area that is ideal for children to play.

You don't have to head far to see some fabulous sights in the nearby area. Near the end of the driveway of the property, the spectacular ruins of the Ynys Y Pandy slate mill are located, built between 1856 and 1857. The mill only operated for about a decade, due to the relatively poor quality of the slate, which was not suitable for roofing slate compared to many of the other slate mines in North Wales which thrived. The building is beautiful, and the exterior walls remain standing with the stunning arched window openings resembling a church more so than an industrial building. A local gem which is within walking distance of Braich-y-Big. Another local beauty spot is the Cwm Ystradllyn Lake which can be explored by foot. Less than a mile away, this beautiful lake in the valley is also home to a seasonal tea room, which is a wonderful spot to admire the local scenery.

Less than a fifteen minute drive away, the town of Porthmadog is fabulous to explore and home to the famed Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Take a scenic journey on a beautiful old steam train through some of the most spectacular scenery in the area. With round trips to destinations such as Beddgelert, Bleanau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon on offer, it's a great way to explore North Wales in the comfort of a train carriage. There ae also some fabulous beaches near Porthmadog, which can be accessed along the Llwybr Arfordir Cymru (Welsh Coast Path) near Borth-y-Gest. Continue along the coastal path to reach secluded beaches such as Morfa Bychan, before arriving at Black Rock Sands - a huge expanse of golden sand beach with views across to Criccieth Castle and the Pen Llyn(Llyn Peninsula). The nearby village of Portmeirion is a must to explore when in the area. A fabulous Italianate Village designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, its a picturesque village full of colourful buildings, alongside cafes and shops.

Heading north, the mountain village of Beddgelert is less than a thirty minute drive and a beautiful spot to explore with a number of hikes and walks to suit the entire family. Adventurers can head slightly further to Zip World in Bleanau Ffestiniog to explore the underground caves of Llechwedd Slate Mine which is part of the new UNESCO World Heritage Slate Landscape. With a number of other attractions, choose to whizz across the quarry at high speed on a zip wire, or head underground to Bounce Below - a series of trampolines, nets and slides built into one of the large caverns.

Things to do in Porthmadog

 
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Availability

Availability
Guests
Max Adults:
5
Max Children:
3
Max Infants:
1
Maximum number of adults and children is 5
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Guest Reviews

 
Bethanie
 
30 Dec 2025 – 3 Jan 2026
 

This was a beautiful farmhouse stay, and the hosts provided anything we could possibly need. They were incredibly friendly. Everything was incredibly clean and the team communicated very well in advance of how to arrive/check in. We enjoyed scenic walks from the house, and short drives to the larger mountains of Snowdonia.

Liz
 
02/08/25 - 16/08/25
 

We had a wonderful stay at Braich-Y-Big with our two teenage sons. It’s a great location, beautiful scenery, blissfully quiet, but at the same time close to amenities and great days out. The cottage is wonderfully comfortable and spacious, full of homely and personal touches, and very well equipped. We wanted for nothing. Although the cottage is attached to the main farmhouse both the house and garden are very private. The owners are lovely, helpful and friendly but not intrusive.
The WiFi was not very reliable or extensive, thanks to the thick stone walls, but it was cheap enough to buy extra data for the kids which also allowed us to run our Now TV box on the TV.
We were lucky with the weather and were out most days enjoying the incredible scenery and heritage of Eryri, but the cottage would also be a lovely place to hunker down in the autumn/winter.
In short, great value for money and highly recommended by our family.

Joanne
 
June 16, 2025
 

We had a lovely stay at Braich-Y-Big, very comfortable and well equipped cottage with beautiful rural views and handy for exploring the area.
Just what we needed for a relaxing holiday. very welcoming hosts, we certainly hope to be back sometime.

Jackie
 
April 06, 2025
 

We had a lovely stay at this beautiful cottage with stunning views. So peaceful and tranquil.

The cottage is very well equipped with everything you need and more for your stay.

The hosts were very friendly and helpful.

A great base for visiting lots of lovely beaches, eating out and great walks.

We would definitely return and I will recommend to my family and friends.

Richard
 
April 03, 2025
 

A wonderful stay in a beautiful peaceful location. The host was amazing, very welcoming and accommodating. Set on a farm, we had the pleasure of bottle feeding a lamb! Will be back and would highly recommended.

Andrew
 
October 01, 2023
 

We had a wonderful few days – with a warm welcome from the hosts in such an amazingly comfortable cottage. Everything we could have wanted and for our rather nervous labrador too who also settled in well. A perfect place to escape to with the peace and quiet we wanted but accessible enough to shops and both the mountains and beaches for great walks.

Daniel and family
 
August 07, 2023
 

We spent a splendid couple of days at Braich-y-Big with our 3 small kids. The surroundings are beautiful and quiet, but also close to many activities such as the Snowdon trails, the Ffestinog railways and much more. The cottage itself is exceptionally well equipped and very tastefully designed. It felt like a true home away, with a lot of history behind it as well. The kids also enjoyed the animals so close by, and even with the frequent Welsh rain the house and environment have plenty to offer. Elliw and family are great hosts, super friendly, thoughtful and welcoming. Thank you very much for a lovely stay, and we certainly hope to be back sometime!

Lynn
 
13/7/23
 

Loved our week in this gorgeous location. The house had everything you could possibly want or need and the location is great for exploring North wales. We had an amazing meal in Tremadog at YSgwar which I would recommend. The owners of Braich Y Big were lovely and friendly and we were especially lucky as we got to taste their homemade scones! Would love to return one day

Malcolm
 
July 04, 2023
 

A wonderful, remote cottage on a working farm with lovely hosts. Well equipped cottage with everything one needs for a self catering holiday, within a beautiful walking area and about 15 minutes from Porthmadog for shopping and dining.
One small note of caution, the spiral staircase is not for anyone with mobility challenges!

Jeanette
 
10/6/23
 

Wonderful holiday in a perfect setting. The cottage was so comfortable with everything you could possibly need.

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