Bwthyn - Hot Tub Cottage with Snowdon Views

Bwthyn is a beautifully renovated stone cottage in Capel Curig, right in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. There's a handmade cedar hot tub on its own patio, a log burner for the evenings, and a view down the valley to Snowdon. It's a traditional Welsh miner's cottage, and a comfortable, characterful base for up to four guests. The space Capel Curig is a hard place to beat. You're not driving to the national park, you're in the middle of it, and some of the best walking, climbing and mountain biking in the country starts more or less at your front door. Bwthyn (it's the Welsh word for cottage) is a charming place, with a warm and easy-going vibe. It's a proper home from home. Inside Downstairs has lots of good stuff: exposed stonework, original beams, slate floors, and a log burner set into a slate fireplace that becomes the centre of the room once it's lit. The furniture is the sink-in, stay-put kind, and we leave logs for you, so your evenings don't start with a trip to find fuel. The lounge and dining area are an open, sociable space, and the kitchen sits just off, fully equipped for cooking properly, if you fancy channelling your inner chef! The recently renovated shower room is downstairs too. And the 'smallest room' really is the smallest room! It punches above its weight though, with a large walk-in shower, proper water pressure and plenty of hot water. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, both with lovely wooden floors and deep windowsills. The double at the front catches the morning sunlight and the twin at the back looks up to craggy Clogwyn Mawr. Comfy beds, good storage, and all the linen and towels you need. Up to two well behaved dogs are welcome. Outside The front of the cottage is where the best views are. There's a stone patio with seating, and from here you look straight down Dyffryn Mymbyr to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at the end of the valley, or up towards the ridge of Moel Siabod above the forest opposite. Enjoy it in the morning sunshine with a hot coffee or watch the sunset behind the mountains with an evening glass of wine. Or both. Your cedar hot tub is at the front too, steps from the front door. It is screened, to give some privacy, but with an open outlook up towards Moel Siabod. Off the lounge, through French doors, there's a small enclosed patio with a bistro table and chairs. A sheltered corner for a glass of wine when the wind's up. Guest access The whole cottage is yours, along with the front patio and seating, the enclosed rear patio, and your own private hot tub. There's parking at the cottage for one car. The parking area sits below the cottage and is reached by a dozen steps. Other things to note The cedar hot tub The hot tub is handmade from sustainable cedar by the craftspeople at Rustic Tubs, and it's a beautiful thing to sink into after a day on the hills. It's not a typical plastic tub, though, so here's how it works. It's electrically heated by an air-source heat pump, which means it's always on and always up to temperature. No building a fire, no waiting around, no faff or fuss. It sits at a constant 38°C which is the optimum temperature (and not adjustable). Consequently the hot tub heats faster, holds the heat better and uses less energy than a conventional tub. You'll also notice there are no jets or bubbles, just a gentle flow of water. There's a reason for that. The bubbles in an ordinary hot tub are full of cold air, so they actually cool the water down, and the jets are noisy and need a lot of cleaning and chemicals. Leave them out and the water stays warmer, cleaner and quieter. More time in the tub, and more enjoyment. Even guests unsure about a hot tub without bubbles are converted the second they climb in. A word on the weather This is Snowdonia, and the views come with the weather that makes them. Some days the mountains are crisp and clear, some days the cloud comes down to say hello. It's all part of being here. One safety point There's an unfenced drop of around 7 feet from the garden down to the parking area below. It's worth being aware of, and children shouldn't play in the garden.