Unique Self Catering Cottage Above Dolgellau | Hywel-Sele-Lodge

We just spent a wonderful week in this stunning lodge over Christmas with our dog. It was warm, cosy, and had everything we needed.

With great walks right outside the door you feel as though you’re miles from everyone and everything, but there are shops just a short distance away if you need them.

We loved every minute and would definitely stay again.

Perfect place for a getaway. Lots of walks in the area, including some from the lodge.
The Lodge is well equipped, lovely and warm, comfy beds, nice hot shower. Beautiful views from the front windows, very peaceful.
10 minute drive to Dolgellau and 25 minutes to Barmouth, so not far to go if need shopping or for a coffee or meal.
Loads to do in the area. Only booked a couple of weeks before but so glad I did. It was a lovely relaxing few days.

I wrote in your book we had an absolutely fantastic time. The weather was gorgeous and we will definitely be re-booking again for next year as the walks around the area were absolutely awesome. There’s not much more I can say the lovely chocolates and wine welcoming the fire was rolling of a night time. The bed was so comfy. There’s no way to describe the area it was more than I expected. Myself and my husband and my gorgeous border collie George himself enjoyed himself, 10 out of 10. And we saw the waterfall cloud over the Mountain, which was on the news are while we was there? Which was awesome. The views from the house wow 😮 Helen

We had a lovely stay at Hywel Sele lodge, this was our forth time and the refurbishment to the kitchen and bathroom just made the stay even better.
Its such an idyllic location away from everything which allowed us to unwind.
We will be back soon.

A lovely unique place for a relaxing break. Loved the whole place except for the trek to the loo in the middle of the night! It was difficult to find as the arrival instructions have become outdated – no tree lined drive and no indication of what side of the road it was on, no black and white sign and a lodge sign so small it was easily missed. We ended up navigating by the red broken road mirror and the green wheelie bin at the end of the drive.
We used the lodge as a base to explore mid west Wales and found lots of lovely places to visit. The scenery and views were some of the most stunning I’ve seen and I would genuinely consider living there.
I would visit again but am unlikely to as there are so many places to visit, but I would definitely recommend Hywel-Sele-Lodge.

We both loved the lodge, having so much history. It was very clean, every thing for a comfortable stay. Five star accommodation and we hope to return in the future.
Just one little thing, could the old steps by the oil tank be blocked off, just to stop dogs and children going up there and getting in trouble.

What a find, the was very “us”

Hywel Sele Lodge had been lovingly restored and is just a bit quirky, we loved it, Slate floor in the lounge with a cracking log burner, feature stone walls, Nice kitchen with granite(?) tops, all the appliances you need, very nicely fitted bathroom, very comfy bed.
Fixtures and fitting were by no means “budget”
Stunning views from every window
Precipice Walk 5 min drive away (there also a circular walk round a lake there too
Barmouth around 20mins away with a huge beach and nice cafes
Porth Madog worth a visit with Black Rock Sands on the doorstep, an even huger beach, that you park on, the only beach Ive ever seen with speed limit signs.
We drove over to the Mach Loop near Machynlleth (where the “Mach” comes from) and watched a few military planes do low level passes

A fabulous stay in a fabulous location!

Thank you!

Stunning and perfectly presented property. The views are amazing, especially when framed by the beautiful windows. Everything you need and lovely walks straight from the door

Brilliant time at this property, even though the weather was a bit mixed. We love it here, this is the third visit in 3 years and intend to come again in about 2 years time. Superb area for walking and plenty of walks to choose from.

Fabulous place to stay stunning views, excellent for a quiet getaway would highly recommend

Peace peace and more peace what a beautiful place to relax, we wished we had booked for two weeks instead of the one perhaps next time we will, so much to do and see in the area great walks from the door around the estate, so sit back and enjoy Hywel-Sele-Lodge and we look forward to staying again. I do have one small concern that of the height of the wall to the right of the arch a big drop if a child climbed on it also our dogs could leap over too easily so had to keep an eye on them Border Collie’s Love Sheep lol.

Beautiful place with the most stunning views. Looks exactly the same as the pictures and videos on the site.
Fire was prepared ready to go with precise instructions which made it easy to use. Included within the property was a washer/dry, microwave, DVD player, fridge freezer, excellent WiFi and hairdryer to make the stay comfortable. There was a BBQ outside and a cosy patio area. We never used the BBQ but we’re blessed with nice weather so sat in the small garden on many occasions. One morning there was a ewe and her lamb who shared the garden with us. Supplied was one toilet roll, washing up liquid but if you want to wash your clothes you need to bring detergent. All linen and towels which were spotless were included.
Tips would be take slippers as the stone floor is cold. The bathroom is downstairs and the bedroom is upstairs which will make it difficult for elderly and individuals who struggle with their mobility. Beware also that the shower tray is slippery. An addition of a non slip mat by the owners would stop this.
The area has lots to do. The precipice walk is on the doorstep. My husband particularly liked the Mach loop being so close. We could see the planes entering into the valley. Barmouth with the beach and various walks is only 20 minutes away. The owners kindly listed places to see
Directions were precise but don’t look out for the tree lined path as we did. The trees have been cut down due to disease. Beware of the turning. You have to pull into a road opposite to help you get the angle to make the turn. There is a bend close and it is a fast road, so a little scary at times.
We had the most peaceful and enjoyable stay.
Thank you

Another brilliant stay. Despite the howling winds and intermittent rainfall, we still managed to enjoy. We will be looking to return again (perhaps, the summer season will grant us better luck with the weather). Excellent and atmospheric!
Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Hywel Sele was a very interesting building, as a student of architecture the baronial/gothic folly was charming. The facilities were fantastic, the flag stones needed socks or slippers as they were a bit a shock to the system when going to the loo in the night! We enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks.

Perfect location and perfect accommodation.

A lovely couple of days away in this great cottage, despite the weather the cottage was warm and cosy. Everything you could want is included. Quiet location with no noise from anywhere. Changeable views every time you look at the mountains through out the day. If the rain ever stopped we would have gone for walks that are at the front door.
We hope to be back next year for a longer stay

Superb unique property in idyllic surroundings. Everything that we needed for a truly peaceful and relaxing couple of days. Beds were really comfortable and views from main bedroom and living room are amazing. Plenty of lovely walks and interesting wildlife to see. Even the weather was kind to us. We’d definitely love to return.

Thank you for making my 60th birthday celebrations so memorable..we felt so welcomed, Hywel Sele Lodge superb,views stunning,we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.. perfect in every way x

Another wonderful stay at Hywel Sele Lodge. This is our 4th time back, we just love it ! Didn’t think it could be improved from our previous stays but they’ve done it with the refurbished bathroom ! Wow ! We return rested, relaxed and rejuvenated and ready for the New Year !

A unique, comfortable, warm and quiet place to stay. Perfect for our dogs with the enclosed garden and walks on the doorstep. Plenty of maps showing local walks.

Really nice looking cottage in a very isolated location with great views. Unfortunately there is a very strong musty smell within the cottage and due to the age of the cottage not many windows that open. Cottage might not be suitable for people with certain health conditions that might be affected by a musty smell

We have just returned from our holiday at the Hywel Sele Lodge and it couldn’t have been any better. The view from the bedroom windows is just stunning and being woken up by the sheep around the lodge every morning just adds to the charm. It is so peaceful up there, exactly what we needed. A bit eerie on the nights though.
We loved everything about the lodge, with its cosy interior, a fenced in yard perfect for our dog, direct access to the deer park, private parking and the interesting history of the area/Lodge. We couldn’t have found a nicer place to stay and the bottle of wine and chocolates left for us by the owner was a lovely touch.
There are so many things to do in the area. Precipice Walk starts just a 5 min walk away from the cottage and we had great day trips to Barmouth beach, Harlech Castle, Coed Y Brenin waterfall / forest Park, the ruins of Cymer Abbey and some of the lovely little towns in the area. Unfortunately, we missed out on King Arthur’s Labyrinth and Portmeirion as they are not dog friendly.
In general, we were very impressed by how dog friendly most towns (restaurants & shops) are. It is not something we are used to and it made a nice change.
Overall, it was the perfect holiday and we would love to go back to Hywel Sele Lodge one day. Thank you so much to the owners for their eye for detail and for making us feel so welcome!

Absolutely the perfect setting for our 3 night break with our 7 yr old Granddaughter. She called it “our castle” and we loved everything about it. The setting, the wonderful views, the building itself, were all perfect. Beds are comfortable and the little bedroom was perfect for Amelia, being right next to us.
Every little touch has been thought of, right down to the lovely wine and chocs.
We would love to visit again!

Absolutely stunning. The view from the front is phenomenal. Cottage has everything you need and beautifully finished inside. Booked last minute and couldn’t believe our luck. Will definitely be back again.

Atmospheric, tranquility unrivaled, breathtaking views, lovely location, and such a beautiful “gothic” “castle”. Looking forward to staying there again soon. Diolch yn fawr.

What a brilliant place! We’ve previously stayed at Deer park lodge and thought we would try Hywel Sele after seeing it on our walks. We were not disappointed. The lodge is another well equipped and well fitted out property with amazing views. It is so well situated for walks that the car didn’t move for all of our 3 night stay. I’m sure we will return.

Hywel-Sele- Lodge is absolutely splendid, its set in an amazing setting we really enjoyed our stay, the dear park surroundings are magnificent it really is so sensational to wake up to that view in a morning! We were blessed with extraordinary warm sunshine for November! We enjoyed the log fire of an evening very cosy! I am absolutely fascinated with the history of NANNAU, it really is so very very special.

Second time staying at Hywel Sele, thoroughly enjoyed the long weekend. It’s a great location to explore North Wales and will definitely be back.

Wow this lodge is like a piece of heaven on earth. It was our second stay and won’t be our last. It’s location is just perfect for exploring but also so cosy for returning to at the end of a long day. All the home comforts are provided and it’s super clean upon arrival. Instantly felt relaxed the moment we walked through the door. What a find this lodge is

Don’t know where to start about this wonderful lodge on the famous nannau estate.

We didn’t want to leave on the final day this has everything you need remoteness steeped in history. We absolutely loved the prescapice walk stunning views across the valleys.and most of all Coed y Brennin mountain bike complex . We’ve already booked for next year

Fabulous place! Such a beautiful location with stunning views. The house itself is so comfortable and well equipped. Everything you could possibly need is provided. Only visited for a couple of nights, but such a relaxing break. We arrived in rain, but woke the next morning to stunning blue skies – it was like even the weather had been organised! Wine and chops on arrival were a lovely touch!
Wish we could have visited before the trees were removed from the driveway (that must have been heartbreaking!), but that didn’t detract one bit from our enjoyment of the house and it’s location. We’ll definitely be back!

An amazing building in a spectacularly stunning location. The facilities are in need of a little upgrading. A perfect location for Coed Y Brenin, for MTB enthusiasts. The view of Cadir Idris was ever changing, but no less special. The Precipice Walk is well worth the effort for the views. We had a wonderful week.

This lodge was an absolute delight – from the first view from the driveway, with stunning vista views across to Cader Idris range! The lodge itself was so enchanting. Comfortable, cosy and with everything we needed to make our stay memorable. The Nannau Estate is a wonderful area, close to amenities at Dolgellau and beyond and makes a great base for exploring the beautiful area of the Snowdonia National Park. We will definitely return to continue our magical experience at Hywel-Sele-Lodge. Thank you so much for allowing us to experience this wonderful lodge and area – and thanks also for the chocolates and wine on arrival – a lovely touch.
Teresa, Phil and Willow the Border Terrier! xxx

We went away to celebrate my girlfriends birthday. It was such a lovely trip and the lodge is incredibly unique and picturesque! The views are amazing and we will miss waking up to them everyday!

A wonderful location in which to get away from it all and enjoy the views and the peace and quiet. Good walks from the door if you feel inclined and plenty of interest just a short drive away. We were very fortunate to have a dry and sunny week – almost a March heatwave – so we didn’t need to use the log burner. Some of the facilities are a bit old and tired (the kitchen sink, the shower and the tiny sink in the bathroom come to mind) but that all adds to the character of the historic property. Bed was comfortable and the library was quite extensive. TV reception and Wifi were good considering how isolated the cottage is. Would heartily recommend the cottage as a great place for a holiday.

Wow! This place is actually a little bit of heaven on a hillside. So cosy inside with everything you need. Loads to see and do in surrounding area. Cannot wait to rebook

A very cosy lodge with spectacular views of Cadair Idris. The house was extremely comfortable, warm (we enjoyed using the woodburner) and well equipped, all of which made for a very relaxing stay. Definitely somewhere we would like to revisit!

What a fantastic find !! Our first visit to Hywel-Sele-Lodge and already looking to book again. Beautiful place with stunning views and lots of interesting walks nearby. Had to be dragged out by my husband as i wanted to just snuggle up on the comfy sofa in front of the roaring fire and read, whilst pretending i was a queen in my mini castle. Dont think i have ever stayed somewhere so quiet. Its so peaceful. Comfy beds and a little garden that we got to sit in as we had some sun. Fab considering it was January and had been a bitterly cold night. We drove into the village as we are not great walkers, and had Sunday lunch in the ship, was very nice. Overall just such a lovely place to visit and stay in a lodge with a bit of History. Thankyou to the owner for sorting out posting my husbands amazon fire stick that he left behind at the lodge. We are super sorry for the back and forth telephone calls to yourselves and Dioni. But ever so grateful for your prompt replies and care, thankyou

Lovely place to stay. Good location with lots of fantastic walks (precipice Walk) and hiking for the more adventurous with Cadair Idris on the doorstep. The area is steeped in history with one guest leaving instructions for a walk around the Nannau Estate with historical info included! (Last seen inside a book called Nannau at the house). The main house is directly opposite the entrance to Hywel Sele Lodge and wish I’d taken a look. Daytrips to Aberystwyth and Dolgellau are a must if can but also recommend Corris craft centre and Canlan farm shop. Otherwise relax, take in the beautiful view and cosy up by the fire.

Absolutely perfect for us, the accommodation ticked all of our boxes with walks from the doorstep. Surrounded by history but close to local amenities.
Buy logs from the hardware store in town if you need some as euro spar charges the earth literally!!!
It would be a dream come true to live here permanently but then pretty much everyone who has stayed before us says the same ❤️

What a wonderful stay, it definitely exceeded our expectations! The views were incredible, we were lucky enough for the sun to come out and watch the sun set from the walk down the hill, which was a moment I won’t forget. The lodge itself is well equipped and so cosy and so so peaceful! It has a wonderful quirky charm! I would definitely recommend the lodge for someone looking to get away to somewhere peaceful and to get away from a busy city! We will be stopping again there!

This really was an incredible place to stay. The peace and views were just what we needed. Everything we needed and thank you for the wine and chocolates. It was lovely to have real bath towels that were soft and fluffy. We enjoyed having the fire lit every night making us warm and cosy if an evening. Waking up to the views and field of sheep with a brew gave us a leisurely start to the day. A few minor irritations and I mean minor. Lightbulbs that needed replacing particularly the one on the stairs and the door handle leading from the sitting room into the kitchen fell off every time we used it. We have returned from our hols refreshed and batteries re-charged. Thank you

We stayed for 4 nights (October 11th to 15th) and just wasn’t enough, superb location and accommodation with everything we could want. We stayed with our two Griffon pointers who loved all the walks in the area.
In terms of improvements I would like to have a larger TV, the kitchen sink and taps could do with replacement, consider fitting a power shower.
Would recommend and we will definitely be staying again next year.
Thanks

Another excellent few days at Hywel Sele Lodge. Our third visit and we will be back – love the accommodation, the views, and the location. On this occasion we must offer special thanks to the housekeeper (whose name I forget) who turned out at short notice on the wet and windy evening of our arrival to sort a minor problem. It was all resolved professionally and swiftly. Hywel Sele is one of our favourite cottages, not just in Wales, but across the UK. Slightly quirky, lovely walks and cycle rides ‘on the doorstep’, no passing traffic, and excellent for exercising the dogs. Thank you again.

Wow!!! We loved Hywel Sele Lodge.
The lodge, the views, the walks around Nannau estate, all amazing.
We didnt want to come home.
Already planning on returning next year and cannot wait.

We and our mini dachshund just spent a weeks holiday in the lodge. The stay exceeded all our expectations. The view from the lodge and the garden is breathtaking and there are fantastic walks to be done in the area. The back garden is completely fenced in and was a safe place for our enterprising little dog, and the front garden was also relatively safe for her, although after a few days she figured out how to escape underneath the gates and forrage for a mouthful of sheep poo, which she considered a delicacy.
The lodge itself has all comforts and facilities you would expect in a holiday home. Perhaps a small suggestion for an improvement would be to have some washing lines so clothes can be dried without using the washer/dryer.

I can warmly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some time away from busy places like London and wants to enjoy the beauty of nature from the comfort of well equipped holiday cottage, and I look forward to visiting again in the not to distant future.

The location and setting of this property is ABSOLUTELY stunning and one of the most beautiful we’ve ever stayed in in the UK. Dramatic views of the surrounding welsh hills and mountains are breathtaking. And offer plenty of interesting walks and opportunities for exploration. It is simultaneously remote and also a quick drive down to Dolgellau which has all the amenities you might need. The building itself is also very unique and special.

My only tiny criticism would be of the interior furnishings and decorations – only as it is described as a “deluxe” stay. I think a couple of small thoughtful touches would go a long way to make this feel like a luxury stay (like having a hook outside the shower for your towel, some extra bedding etc) More books, and objects to make it a more welcoming and interesting place. Specially if you are stuck indoor due to bad weather.

None of that of course hindered our stay in anyway. This was a dream stay and a real gem. Will be recommending to all our friends and family. And most definitely love to come back again!

Thank you also to Steve for being so quick to fix our heating.

The two of us stayed 3 nights, late April 2021. Lovely place as described by other guests. We heard our first cuckoo of the Spring in the woods at the back! If I had to be super critical I’d say that Hywel Sele was not too keen on washing – the sink in the bathroom is suitable for the tylwyth teg (the fairies) I would say. Apart from that, everything was excellent, including the great weather we enjoyed. Diolch i Dioni am ein gwyliau.

This was our 3rd stay at Hywel Sele Lodge and it just NEVER disappoints ! We love it here, it’s a second home. Everything you could possibly need and more to enjoy a wonderful holiday. Great location, wonderfully romantic, great walks from the door, including the Precipice Walk. You can pop down into town and enjoy a wander around all the little shops and enjoy artisan coffee & cake at T.H Roberts. Great choices for groceries at the award winning Euro Spar at the bottom of the hill if you want to cook ( I cooked a full Christmas dinner here one year, so the lodge has all you could need to DIY ! )
Perfectly positioned to enjoy the beach at Barmouth and the sunsets, just wow !
I could go on but you really need to find out for yourselves !

What a beautiful lodge, amazing in every way and steeped with history. Maintained to a high standard. We had a great time. Beautiful walks on the doorstep and Barney our dog loved looking over the wall and through the gates at the scenary and the sheep! The town of Dolgellau is also great, just a short drive away with pubs and shops, really dog friendly. The only down side for us was the bathroom being downstairs, but we knew this before we booked and it didn’t stop us from having a good time. Lots of info provided at the lodge, in relation to walks etc… Chocolates and wine on arrival was nice too.

We had an absolutely fantastic week at the lodge. It’s a beautiful, homely and well equipped accommodation, with amazing scenery and walks right outside.
The welcome hamper was a lovely and welcomed touch. We were glad to be able to light the fire on the first night with the provided fuel and enjoy the wine you left us. Thank you
The garden is totally secure so we were able to let our small dog out and know she was safe.
We really could have stayed more than the week we were there so will definitely be back!

Located at the end of a private driveway, this is the perfect getaway location for anyone seeking a quiet and peaceful break away.

The building itself is an interesting conversion of an old lodge built between 1794 and 1818 and now tastefully furnished. The location is handy for Dolgellau (being only a short ride away, or even walked to) and other nearby attractions such as the Precipice Walk and the Mawddach Trail, Barmouth and Fairbourne etc. The view from the front windows is truly spectacular and ever changing with different weather and cloud patterns – in fact, on a rainy and windy day, it would be a delight just to sit in the front room by the window with the log burner on and a good book (there is a sizable collection to hand if needed).

Mobile phone coverage was good (EE) – a mast can be seen in the distant valley which is possibly multi operator, and in house wi-fi adequate for checking e-mails etc.

All in all, thoroughly recommended.

PS – in the unlikely event of any problems, phone Steve (whose number is in the guest book) – nothing is too much trouble for him.

Our stay at the lodge was perfect,so many places to go not to far away,so peaceful and the scenery is beautiful,the lodge its self was amazing.

As beautiful as we expected.Tastefully restored historic lodge with the best views possible. We had not expected the best quality cookware in the kitchen, the logs and coal ready for us to start a fire on arrival and the good quality books and music cds. Local walks are really lovely and the lodge is really peaceful and secluded. The beds are very comfortable with extra blankets if needed. Our only criticism was that in the second bedroom the bedding felt a tiny bit damp despite us trying to air it.But everything else was perfect.

Our 3rd visit. Again a wonderful stay. Have fallen in love with this place and already booked for next year! A beautiful quiet location and property is well equipped. So much to do in the area – wonderful walks, local attractions, steam railways, etc.

Ahhh what an amazing place. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The lodge is stunning with all the home comforts you could wish for, log fire, comfy sofas and comfy bed after a hard days walking. The area for walking is amazing with the local town nearby within driving distance. The lodge itself down a track and has an enclosed garden if you have dogs. Our dogs absolutely loved their stay too.
We loved our stay and wouldn’t change a thing. Highly recommended, you will not be disappointed.

Hywel Sele Lodge was a real treat to stay in. The very quiet setting, beautiful furnishings and quirky character of the building all joined together to give a truly unique experience. We could have stayed here for a month and been quite happy not to leave. Can thoroughly recommend this as a lovely to place to stay for couples though I wouldn’t like to see children running around due to all of the lovely furnishings.A magical experience which we would love to repeat sometime soon, thank you .

We’ve just got back from 5 nights in this gorgeous rural retreat, we know the area and tend to stay in a few different self catering cottages every year, but this is right up there with our favourites, firstly…the location is STUNNING, you can literally go for a ramble from your doorstep in any direction, the surrounding countryside is just beautiful. Secondly the lodge itself….so cozy, I wouldn’t stretch to ‘Luxury’ as they call it, but it is so full of character and history that you can’t help but fall in love with it. It’s got everything you need and more. some things that weren’t mentioned, there is an enclosed small back garden which is very handy if you take your dogs with you, but saying that, the front is also enclosed so there’s no need to worry about that either, the drive up the lanes to foot of the drive will test you, it’s single lane for a couple of miles so be prepared for that, but I will say this, 9 out of ten journeys away from the lodge will send you left out of the drive, but at least once…go right, and follow it through Coed-Y-Brennin forest park, the drive is unbelievable, there’s even a couple of beautiful picnic areas by the stream on the way, and it will still take you to the main road anyway, it’s worth the extra ten minutes or so believe me.
All in all we and the kids thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, would we return?…possibly, I never stay at the same place twice and there are that many beautiful cottages still to try, but if I ended up with a short list of ‘return to’s’…then this would definitely be on it.
I’d also like to add that Dioni were a pleasure to deal with, and the welcome pack was exactly that…very welcome indeed 😉

This place is amazing. Very cosy with stunning views. We had fantastic walks straight from the lodge. Great communication with Steve as we had problem with heating. All sorted out quickly. Defunietely worth to visit.

The lodge was everything it said it would be but more. Our few days stay was idyllic enhanced by a dusting of snow. We had a wonderful time in the gothic lodge. Steve made sure we had everything we needed and couldn’t have been more helpful. The lodge was perfectly located with wonderful walks such as the Precipice walk on your door step. We would definitely stay again in such a peaceful setting.

The cottage was absolutely amazing! Felt like our own cosy castle in the middle of nowhere for our Honeymoon. The location, scenery and nature is absolutely breathtaking!

We really enjoyed walks in Deer Park and the Precipice Walk too. There’s lots of nice pubs within a short drive and it’s a good spot to get to other attractions.

We really didn’t want to come home! 🙂 We hope to come back in the future.

Abi & Matt

This was our second stay this year (we were there in January), and I’ve already booked for the weekend of my birthday next year! I think that probably tells you all you need to know about what we think of the place. It is our favourite place for a winter break, a perfect combination of quirky, comfortable, off the beaten track, but near enough to civilisation (Dolgellau) if you need anything.

The lodge was a perfect place to stay for our family of three. It was so cosy and well appointed that we didn’t venture very far afield, taking advantage of the great kitchen to cook all of our evening meals “at home” – which it really felt like! We enjoyed the Precipice Walk in glorious October sunshine, and just roaming around the deer park and sheep trails was fabulous, with the constantly changing skies and stunning colours this time of year. Highly recommended.

This was the perfect location for our vacation. If it would be possible, we would have settled down here! It’s quiet, unique and surrounded by beautiful nature. One morning we woke up to sheep grasing on the front yard. Everything was clean and the furniture ist just right for this place. We felt like living in our own little castle. We will come back, that’s for sure!

Hywel Sele Lodge is set in a great location for boating, walking or sight-seeing so we were spoilt for choice.

The lodge itself is cosy and very well presented, sitting in a secluded spot with some wonderful mountain views. It’s one of the few holidays where we have all said we would return at some point in the future.

Our only gripe – the skylight directly above the main bed doesn’t have a blind. In the summer months this makes the room very light from about 5:30-6am onwards.

To add some detailed (but small) points: We felt it would be useful for guests to be able to fill in a simple itinery sheet so that anything which doesn’t work or is broken/missing could be looked at before the next guests arrive. This happened to us and while these weren’t issues which negatively effected our stay it would be useful to keep on top of when managing a holiday property such as this.

A fantastic place and one we will be returning to.

Well what can we say another fabulous stay with dioni . Hywel is realy special with its castle looks and rustic location you do feel like your king of the land . The cottage has everything you would expect in a rental including a washer dryer which we found very useful on this trip . The precipice walk is on the th door step and is a must do walk when staying at the lodge . There are a couple of things I think would benefit your stay though so no1 a full sized ironing board no2 have some of the tree taken down outside the front to get that full view it’s a shame you can’t see it from the cottage no3 there is a Problem with mice which I assume is very normal in these very rural ereas but maybe that is somthing you can look into no4 again the WiFi is terrible and is actualy pointless as you can not connect to it and when you do the signal is so weak . These are very small issues and would not stop us from returning . Location wise it was great too pretty easy to get to all our usual places and the local restraunts are great fox crosses was decent for food and wine and if you fancy somthing. A little more special try ynyshir we had the best meal there ! Also castle cottage in Harlech was just as good . Sonallmin all we had a fab stay many thanks drew and steve

We have just returned from a week in this truely unique property, my 6 year old son was over the moon to stay in a castle! The property is very comfortable and we found it a good base for exploring the local area and further afield (Snowdon, Betws-y-coed, Coed-y-Brenin, Portmeirion, Barmouth). Lots of fun to be had at Zip World Fforest and we enjoyed King Arthur’s Labrynth and the craft centre. All in all a fantastic break 🙂

Another memorable stay at the lodge. We have really fallen in love with this place1
The weather was mostly kind for our visit as well.
Great walks and many interesting narrow gauge railways in the area.
We will definitely try to return again next year.

Interesting property, in a very quiet settling. Amazing walks straight from the front door. Great to have an enclosed garden that’s suitable for small dogs that they can’t escape from. TV & radio signal wasn’t very good, so ipad was good to have as back up. As we arrived in cold weather, we spent a lot on extra logs – warm slippers are a must.

We had a fantastic stay at Hewel Sele Lodge. Fantastic scenery, lovely walks, peace and quite. All we wanted from a holiday!

Just returned from our third visit, it was as wonderful as ever. There’s nowhere quite like it.

Hi
Arrived just before dark, and the Lodge looked just what we are a custom too, we have stayed in lots of self catering but this is far the best yet,
The Lodge was warm and inviting, as night fell we settled in.
All rooms were clean and well presented, master bedroom was perfect,
Wish we had more time to appreciate the location.

We had no problem with the satnav it took us right to the drive leading to the fairy tale Lodge.We were not disappointed in any way,it was very warm and spotless and comfortable. The views are stunning.Perfect Base for day trips or just taking in and soaking up the peace and quite.
We just loved it.Thank you.

Read the numerous favourable guest comments that say a great deal about this unique property.

I had a great week of walking on the coast and in the mountains with my Springer Spaniel in mixed weather. You’ll find the mountains here a great deal quieter than northern Snowdonia.
The following are personal observations that may help you.

I would advise anyone arriving at ‘The Lodge’ not to wear their best shoes as the lane leading from the road is 300 meters of gated muddy farm track which has pot holes which can fill with water in heavy rain. Someone has to get out and open the two gates!
The welcome chocolates and bottle of Rose’ wine were a welcome treat.
You may find a pair of slippers useful as the property has a stone ground floor.
The wifi is limited and the downloading of large files problematic,
I had no problem with receiving emails, my Vodaphone mobile coverage was good.
There isn’t a separate freezer, there is a freezer compartment inside the fridge.
If you need a whisk when cooking bring your own.
The DVD player has a background hum that can be negated by turning the volume up, your in the middle of nowhere, with no neighbours to complain!
Given this is a listed building and alterations maybe prohibited the ONLY part of the property that disappointed me was the small downstairs shower room.

This is probably the closest I’ll ever get to staying in a castle and loved it.

This has got to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever stayed at. I woke the first morning with views to trees and mountains through every window, the bed was very comfortable and bedding soft and clean.
You are completely sucluded with the odd walker passing by.
Anyone with a love for what’s old and steeped in history will enjoy every moment of there stay here.

I am not sure that we would describe the accommodation as deluxe, very nice, yes, but certainly not deluxe. Stained towels, and on arrival, the kitchen smelling like bacon had just been cooked in it. A handful of sticks to light a fire was a tad mean. Not a good start. On a positive note the bottle of wine and chocolates was very welcome. The bed is very comfortable and the bedroom very spacious. The entrance to the lane from the road is not for the faint hearted. Thankfully there is not a lot of traffic using the road and just requires great care pulling off and and onto the road. The drive along the lane to the cottage is via two closed five bar gates. The lane adds to the remoteness of the cottage. Be warned, wet weather, and we had plenty, makes the lane extremely muddy and large puddles to negotiate. Thankfully the gate job was my wifes and so not a problem… The cottage garden is secure which means the sheep don’t get in, unless you leave the gate open. All in all, despite the very very very wet conditions the cottage was good, but deluxe is stretching the truth. Unique, quirky, different, is a better description, but not deluxe.

One word : amazing! We Always look for a self catering cottage on a beautiful location, but Hewel-Sele-Lodge was very unique : like our own private castle on a magnificiant location with geat walks, nature, scenery and lots of things to do and to see in the area. The dogs and us had a great holiday!

What a fantastic place Howell Sele Lodge is. Full of original features and lots of character. also very cosy and comfortable with the lovely furnishings and wood burning stove. Well placed to visit nearby towns and beaches and fantastic area for long walks.

Wonderful place in beautiful, peaceful location. Will certainly come again. Would prefer to book by phone or by cheque, which Dioni find problematic. Can this be made easier?

A beautiful cottage with wonderful views all around. It is larger than it looks on the website. Away from it all and surrounded by wildlife. We saw a huge variety of birds just from the garden. It was lovely to be able to step out of the cottage and instantly be amongst the sheep, wild flowers, butterflies and birds. It is a short drive to the shops in Dolgellau.

The cottage was really comfortable and well equipped. A unique holiday.

A very unique and amazing cottage…much more spacious than it looks from the outside.Sorrounded by outstanding scenery and with plenty of wildlife to enjoy on your doorstep..buzzards,ravens and the added enjoyment of low flying planes using the Mach run.First time here and would thoroughly recommend this cottage for a quiet getaway…would definitely like to come again.

It’s hard not to say “Wow” as you see the Lodge on your right as you drive up the hill, even though you’ve seen the photos ! Once you’re there it is even better. The position is great with fab views down and across the valley, and absolute peace and quiet. There are the most lovely and inquisitive sheep just outside the gates too. You can walk, e.g. the Precipice Walk and down to Dolgellau, without using the car, and there are maps and route guides aplenty. Our Labrador loved it, and she clearly wanted to stay when it was time to go home. Inside the Lodge there are original and unusual hand made wood fittings, marble extras and more. It is very comfortable. In the kitchen it would have been good to have had a little more cutlery and a couple more pans, and maybe a small folding table/tray to use outside.

A fantastic place, which we loved staying at !

Had a wonderful few days here. Weather was superb which enhanced the views. Peaceful and comfortable. I saw the property many years ago when it was a shelter for sheep, and knew the dear man who lived there and put in all the woodwork. If you want to be near to things but still get away from it all, this is ideal

This is a very special place. So peaceful and beautiful. The children had a fantastic time playing outside as it gave them a great sense of ‘famous five’ freedom while we felt safe because there’s no traffic. The sheep were lambing so that was very sweet too. Enjoyed the fire and blankets to snuggle in front of a film. The owner also very kindly let us change our plans because our situation changed on the run up to staying. My tips to other visitors would be to bring slippers/crocs/warm socks to keep toes cosy on all the stone floors downstairs, perhaps bring some board games/cards/pens etc for quiet time indoors in case it rains and firelighters if you’re a bit rubbish at getting fires going, like us. Wifi, tv, dvd, stereo and shower worked really well. We biked from Dolgellau town to Barmouth beach (wide, flat paths) and also the family mountain bike track at Coed Y Brenin park (much steeper/rockier), walked up Cadair Idris and Precipice Walk (our kids are 7 and 9 years). Dioni staff are a pleasure to rent from and we’d definitely use their website again. Thanks for a lovely time.

Have looked at Hywel Sele Lodge a few times on the website, we finally booked for a long weekend at the end of Jan. It didn’t disappoint. The building is unique and comfortable, the setting is equally amazing and inspiring and the gardens were safe to let our two Patterdale’s out. We really had a fabulous break and would definitely return for a longer break next time!

Loved the peace and quite. It must be totally different in the summer months. Know the area well so enjoyed revisitting the local walks.
Ideal property to get away from it all. Can’t fault it

If you want to step away from the crazy pace of life, the endless demands on body, mind and soul, you can not go wrong with this as your destination.
Re-connection to all that really matters is possible in the tranquility and simplicity of this place.
We love it. We love the house, the surroundings, the town, the ease with which to move around and explore by foot, or by car.
We have stayed before, spending Christmas here and we shall be back to stay again.
This is our little ‘retreat’ place, but we don’t mind sharing ! ; )

Had a wonderful time in Wales. Breathtaking scenery. Did the world’s fastest zip wire and found some lovely walks – can recommend the precipice walk and the beautiful lake. Our stay at Hywel Select Lodge perfected the experience. This magical place has all you need for a comfortable relaxing stay, and will stay in our memories for a long time. Would love to return one day.

Quirky accommodation in a quiet but not isolated location. Had everything we needed. Loved our stay there. Cosy with the wood burner but it gobbled a lot of logs and coal! Great walks on the doorstep and within easy driving distance. The Torrent Walk near Brithdir was good, especially as the weather had been wet. Interesting arts and crafts style church at Brithdir as well, unassuming from the outside but with a beautiful copper pulpit and altar. Thoroughly enjoyed our long weekend in a stunning part of Wales.

What magical place to stay – we would love to stay again.
The Lodge and the Nannau Estate has such wonderful history – a very special place.
Very tastefully furnished with quality bedlinen , towels etc in a beautiful location. Lots to explore locally and further afield.
Whilst quite remote , the Lodge is only five minutes from a really good EuroSpar – which has all you need.
It was a lovely place to come back to after a day exploring, light the Woodburner and enjoy

We have just returned from a fab break at the lodge, or castle as our two year old called it!! It’s a magical place, secluded but close enough to local amenities and surrounded by beautiful countryside and lovely walks! The lodge is beautifully furnished with everything you could need. Its appreciated that somewhere so lovely accepts dogs as our Labrador loved it!! We’d highly recommend walking up Cadar Idris and cycling the mawdach trail! We also had the added treat of the jets flying over on the Mach route!! We’d love to return!!

We had a lovely stay in the Hywel sele lodge! Everything was super

I like the place very much ,very remote ,peacefull,especially when it snows! Nice walks from here

I love this cottage so much, we have stayed twice now and would go back in an instance. It is set in the most beautiful location, and the cottage itself is comfortable, stunning and memorable. It is furnished and equipped with quality products, and everything you need. We will be back!

We only had a 3 night stay at Hywel-Sele Lodge and enjoyed the quirky house and area so much, we wished we’d had longer! We loved local walks- Precipice Walk and one from LLanfechan, also a walk from the toll bridge at Penmaenpool.
The house is comfortable and full of interesting shelves and crannies,is cosy and so quiet-altogether most relaxing.We would have appreciated more logs,as it was very wintry , but my husband found plenty of wood close by, and by luck we had a saw with us!
My only criticisms are that it is obvious that dogs have stayed ( slight doggy smell) and also I hope that the large amount of sand which had accumulated under the rug in the lounge, has been cleaned up.
Would love to go again….

Hywel-Sele was better than we thought it would be.We have never stayed in a place like this before.It is no1 place to stay for us.Words cannot describe how i felt when we saw it on our arrival.It just takes your breath away.Stunningly beautiful and more.So peaceful.Will stay here again when we come back to Wales.

Visiting from NZ, had never been to Wales before, we weren’t sure what to expect. We ended up having a wonderful, wilderness (and mostly wet) week staying at the unique Hywel-Sele Castle. Ok, its not a real castle but to us it felt like one and it had everything we needed, was warm and comfortable and beautifully quiet. The local Precipice, Torrent and estuary walks were great and warmed us up well for the spectacular Cadair Idriss. All the locals made us incredibly welcome so it was a week we will always remember.

Wonderful few days spent at Hywel Sele Lodge. It’s a quirky little house in a beautiful location. Nothing to disturb the peace and quiet except the sheep! Haven’t slept so well in months. Thank you.

Had a fantastic week in Hywel Sele Lodge. Love the location and the peace and quiet. The dogs loved it too. The lodge was well equiped and gorgeous views all around. Would love to return and will recommend. Thank you for a lovely stay.

Amazing place! Location is perfect, so many lovely walks with amazing views and wildlife. The lodge was warm, comfortable and had everything we needed. No wine or chocs for us though 🙁 Hope to comes back next year.

We had a superb stay at the charismatic and quirky Hywel Sele lodge near dolgellau. For quietness the location was superb with walking from the doorstep.Our dog had a wonderful time, the enclosed front area gave her plenty of space to sniff about and kept the sheep out. Go through the gates to some wonderful peaceful walks
it was very cold on arrival as the heating wasn’t on- A phone-call to Dioni put me in touch with Gwion who, even though on holiday himself, was able to tell me who to phone and where to find the number to sort this out. The housekeeper then talked us through getting it on-The previous occupants had turned the heating off at the thermostat. From that point on we were warm and snug. The cottage owner also called to ensure we were OK.
The log burner is a bit of a wood chomping beast but is worth lovely and the friendly garage at the foot of the hill sells wood,coal and kindling. Great Spar a few doors down too, very friendly people locally.
This lodge is really somewhere special and we will definitely go back. It has been so lovingly restored
We were very impressed with Dioni too, someone always answers the phone, they respond quickly and appropriately to email queries and they obviously know their properties very well.

Had another fabulous weekend in Hywel Sele Lodge. Could not ask for more in a getaway. Snow (which we had hoped for!), great walks, roaring fires every night, peace, quiet and solitude. A perfect location to unwind and de-stress. Hopefully will come again next year! Thank you, once more, for the opportunity to stay in such an amazing place.
Sue & Dave

We have had a great week. Location is fantastic, brilliant views & walks. House unique & rustic, wood burner essential at this time of year as the house, despite central heating, was very cold. The beds were very comfortable & duvets nice & warm. We had better come back in the summer. Thank you for the wine & chocs.

Had a great Christmas week at Hywel-Sele-Lodge. Warm and cosy with the stove alight. Peaceful and restful.

Absolutely stunning place in a wonderful location away from it all. Fitted out to a very high standard with all the creature comforts you could wish for! We could not recommend this place highly enough!!

From turning the bend and driving down the tree lined lane to seeing Hywel Sele Lodge for the first time it was a magical holiday. The lodge is beautiful and so peaceful, tranquil and relaxing. Managed to see two young deer on the lane, and got some wonderful pictures of the Buzzards, the RAF flypasts in a morning were super, and fed the local Robin every morning. Local places were wonderful and pleasant drives to them. The welcome wine and chocolates are a lovely gesture, and enjoyed a log fire every evening. We loved it that much that on our final evening we booked to return in May for our wedding anniversary. It was a pleasure to stay there, keep up the great work guys and thank you all so much again x

We enjoyed a fabulous week in this gorgeous Lodge, blessed with sunshine every day. The lodge is hidden away down a beautiful tree lined path, as you arrive at the property it is a magical site. Everything you could possibly need is there, the bedroom is so spacious and the views are amazing. Our only neighbours were the sheep and birds; we loved being tucked away in the peace and tranquility. We enjoyed coming back from our days of walking with our dog, Cooper, and sitting in the front (enclosed) garden with a glass of wine in the sunshine just taking in the peace and tranquility of the place. Fabulous walks from the door; we enjoyed the Precipice walk and walks down hill into Dolgellau which is a lovely little town (but walking back uphill was a bit of a killer)! The Mawddach Trail was great, from Dolgellau to Barmouth; we were rewarded by a cold beverage in one of the many pubs (most are dog friendly) when we arrived back in Dolgellau! We also enjoyed one of the circular walks (maps provide in cottage) from Llanfachreth. Overall I would highly recommend this lovely lodge. Thank you again for the wine, chocolates & dog biscuits
Jo, Tony & Cooper

Our holiday was amazing and we had the most wonderful time. my husband walked up caeder idris with our dog ellie and thought it was amazing.
We would definately love to come back and do more of the walks that we didnt get done this time. So many things to do and not enough time.
Thank you very much,
Stuart, Karen and Ellie xx

I found this cottage quite by chance and booked to stay to celebrate a milestone birthday! It could not have been better and the reality of the lodge, the setting and even the weather fulfilled all expectations. it was fantastic and we left wanting more and to come back again!
My husband went off cycling and I explored lake Vrynwy and the Precipice walk with the dogs – they loved it!
It truly was a wonderful place in a lovely area, we’ll have to stop telling everyone about it though as we’ll never be able to book again!
Thank you
Nesta, Martin, Ludo and Merley

We drove the forrest way up and … wow! What an amazing location we picked for our rest of the spring holiday up in Scotland, where we stayed 10 days before.
It’s not the first time in GB we stayed, neither the first time in Wales. But … it truly was the most amazing house we rented ever! Just the right size for the two of us and our Alsatian Dog called Wanko. He indeed loved it as we did.
If we will come back – and only be the two of us – we surely will book again if it’s free.
It was the non-plus-ultra!!!
Thank you for having us let stay there.

Thomas, Marija and Wanko

Our little bit of heaven … What an amazing cottage.
Great walks, fantastic views and the weather was kind to us too.
We would recommend the Precipice Walk, the lakes are lovely
Thank you for the opportunity to explore this special part of the country, we hope to come back soon
Suzy & Janice

Lovely location, stunning accommodation – and the weather was perfect too! We will definitely return and are looking forward to it already.
Thank you for providing such an amazing place.
Silvie & Ric

What a wonderful relaxing place. Beautiful surroundings, plenty to do and the house itself is just stunning. The main bedroom windows overlooking the view were a lovely touch and the whole break left us feeling relaxed and chilled. Definitely want to book again.

There was one problem though…. we just didn’t want to leave!

Thank you for the opportunity to stay in a place with so much history and beauty.
Sue and Dave

The Lodge was everything that we expected and more ! The furnishings and facilities are top class, the icing on the cake being the log fire. We had some lovely walks in the hope of spotting a deer but never mind, maybe next time !! Its a really comfortable and homely place to stay if you need to get away from it all for a while. Would thoroughly recommend staying here.

The Lodge was a delightful place to stay and despite the rain we managed to get out and do a selection of walks using the helpful maps that were available. It was a nice surprise to have a fire already laid for our use with a plentiful supply of coal and logs.
The Lodge was remote and just what we needed to get away from it all. It was comfortable, clean and exactly as described. A beautiful setting and a place we would love to return to. I would highly recommend it for a romantic break for 2…

Sally & I decided to get away for our Ruby wedding anniversary(15th December 2013), luckily we found Dioni and Hywel Sele Lodge at Dolgellau, Quaint,Quirky, Quiet the perfect recipe; we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there and would recommend you try it!

Sally & I chose to get away to a relatively remote and isolated location for our Ruby wedding, 15th December 2013, Hywel Sele Lodge fully met our requirements, it was Quaint, Quirky, Quiet, loved our time there.

Location, location, location. Peace & quiet, great views, great walks.
Our only regret is that we didn’t stay for longer. That could possibly be rectified in the future.
Would we recommend this to others? Already have.

Fantastic location, very peaceful. The welcome pack of wine, mints and a bone for Murphy was a nice touch. The lodge was very cosy and well equipped – loved the wood burner and the wooden shutters, nice to close in windy weather (and it was very windy!). Barmouth beach was excellent, the Precipice walk was also great, very peaceful. We would have liked to stay longer and explore a bit more – great weekend break.

A perfect cottage in a beautiful location. Well equipped. Would have appreciated some firelighters and more wood/ coal for the stove rather than the bottle of wine and after dinner mints, but that’s just personal preference.
For those interested in local history; Hywel Sele, 6th Lord of Nannau was murdered by Owain Glyndwr 1402-04 ( some history in cottage folder) If you walk through the arch ,and gate on right you will see a house below. The walled garden( now just a field) was once part of the Nannau estate. On the back wall is a standing stone ( you may need binoculars to see it) There, once stood an oak tree where Owain hid Hywel’s body ( not discovered for many years) Hywel was buried at Cymer abbey ( a local attraction)The oak fell down in 1813.
On the hill above the cottage are 3-4 ancient mounds, apparently warrens built to farm rabbits! From there a view of Nannau Hall ( now empty), and fabulous veiws of the Cader Idris range.

What a wonderful place to stay , so quiet
Wonderful views,great walks
We didn’t want to leave

What a wonderful place to stay , so quiet
Wonderful views,great walks
We didn’t want to leave

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we arrived here….this place is absolutely amazing! Everything you could possibly need has been thought of and provided. We really didn’t want to go home!
Great location for our dogs too, who have never had so much fun as they have this week. The welcome pack for us and the dogs was a lovely thought, much appreciated by us all!
All in all we had a thoroughly wonderful week and will definitely be coming back again!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful house with us! Stunning in every way!

What a magical place to stay…. Felt like we could relax and sleep peacefully in the blissful quiet.
There is so much to do here and the location is amazing.
It’s a joy to be able to come back after a long days walking and settle down in front of a blazing stove with a nice glass of wine.
Lovely things to do: Arthog Walk, Snowdon, Precipice Walk, and the Panorama Walk.
Wonderful!

The lodge fulfilled all our expectations and more. Wonderful ambience and character and in a memorable setting….our own private mountain for a week!
So special we spent many of our mornings and evenings here rather than out and about.
The local area in general is stunning and the Precipice Walk an experience in itself. Also check out the Forest Garden Walk with waterfalls five minutes further down the lane.
All in all we had a wonderful stay….but sshhhh! Don’t tell too many about it. There are only 52 weeks a year and we want to come back.

Thank you, the little touches left for our dog were very thoughtful. We loved Barmouth, a little gem of beautiful beaches along with gorgeous weather. The Precipice Walk was great too- fabulous views along with the tranquility of water.
Sadly, we have to leave and would love to revisit this little “chateau” in Snowdonia in the future.

Great property, real get away from it all & switch off.
Would definitely recommend

What a beautiful building and a stunning location. It’s well equipped and very comfortable.

It’s not possible to explain in words how magical it is. The views were inspiring and it was great to be away from light and noise pollution. Sheep, frogs and we were woken by owls!

Not far from Barmouth and Fairbourne. If you are going in peak season and you have a dog then head for Fairbourne as its not so restricited but also check out the Forestry Commission areas which are very close to the Lodge. As the temperatures increased, it was much better for the dogs to walk them in the shade of the woods.

We really didn’t want to come home.

We were the first guests in Hywel Sele Lodge near Dolgellau. Just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to experience the delights of this beautiful, unusual property. We had a lovely time … It’s a wildlife haven … The furnishings and accessories were lovely. Thank you again, we shall return!!