Bridgend Cottage - Escaping to Happiness

Bridgend Cottage is a quirky Welsh cottage perched on the river Leri, it is built into a beautiful humpback bridge. Dol Y Bont is a small hamlet in a farming community. The cottage is the perfect romantic rural getaway. You can lie in bed and listen to the river running below the window. Outside the garden is on the riverbank or there is a balcony over the river. Our lovely old cottage retains many original features including low beamed ceilings. Sadly we are unable to accept guests under 12. The space Bridgend Cottage is a traditional semi-detached stone and cob built character cottage perched directly on the banks of the river Leri. The front wall of the cottage is partly formed from the bridge which was built in the 1780’s. There are exposed beams and traditional lime plasterwork in the cottage. We are very keen on traditional building methods and Bridgend Cottage has been a labour of love for us. We love welcoming our guests and hope that you find the cottage as rewarding as we do. The compact, enclosed rear garden sits directly on the banks of the river and is a very special spot for relaxation. You could choose to have your breakfast on the small river balcony which overhangs the river and then have afternoon tea in the garden. Our lovely old cottage retains many original features including beamed ceilings (mind your head) and lots of quirky and innovative ideas. Please be aware that there are very steep stairs, umpy bumpy floor levels and some low beams in the cottage so it is not suitable for everyone. Slate floors can be chilly under your tootsies so slippers are a good idea. We do not allow pets or smoking in the cottage. We have endeavoured to renovate the cottage using traditional building methods and materials - obviously in cottages of this age some allowances have to be made to the structure of the building but we think a little bit of quirkiness adds to the pleasure of staying in Bridgend Cottage. We endeavour to run the cottage in as sustainable way as possible and the heating is provided by a multifuel log burner. We supply the fuel for you and you will need to tend the fire. We’re on hand if you need any help. Hot water is heated via Economy 7 water heaters. We use all Eco friendly cleaning products throughout the cottage. We wash our towels and bedding in Eco friendly products and dry them all without the aid of a tumble dryer. We have a septic tank and request that guests are conscious of what they put in the waste water system. UPSTAIRS Bridgend cottage has 2 double bedrooms, one with a kingsize bed and one with a double, there is one bathroom with a shower which is on the first floor. In Bedroom 1 (Riverside) the river runs just below the window and it's a great place to lie in bed and listen to it tinkling past. The headboard is an upcycled panel from a priest's house. There is a chest of drawers and under bed drawers in this room together with out 'Wallrobe' made from a hanging rail from an old railway hut. In Bedroom 2 (Riverview) the window looks straight down the river and you can watch and listen to its tinkling. There is a wardrobe of sorts which is above the bed. There is a settle built into the window which was left in the cottage when we first brought it and we don't like to waste anything, it even survived the floods of 2012. The bathroom window looks directly down the river and you can stand in the shower peering down the Leri. You’ll have to guess what the legs holding the basin up made from?? DOWNSTAIRS Downstairs you will find a unique living space which has one wall which is cut into the bridge and below the ground level outside. The front wall of the cottage is ‘subterranean’ and gives an interesting view of the passing traffic. There is a sofa and 2 armchairs, a coffee table, a multifuel stove, 2 glazed doors with access directly onto the riverside balcony and views onto the river and underneath the arched bridge. There are plenty of books with local walks and a selection of information about our fabulous area, oh and did I mention the river view?? There are even some jigsaws, games and a selection of magazines. We have a galley kitchen with ancient pine units topped with marble which were reclaimed from a farm kitchen in a manor house near Bromyard, there is a Belfast sink (reclaimed from an old school in Worcestershire) and a tiny dishwasher. We think the kitchen is pretty well equipped as I'm a bit of a foodie but please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything else. There is no washing machine as there is simply not the space but if I'm home I'll happily pop you a load in mine. A riverside walk to the sandy beach in Borth is a must, the petrified forest is an ancient relic which is easy to visit at low tide. We are situated just 6 miles from Aberystwyth. There are loads of amazing walks straight out of the front door, you can find a plethora of footpaths to follow in some amazing circular walks. Please note the cottage sits on the lane through the village and as a farming community tractors are passing by regularly. There is a BBQ for your use in the garden and we have fishing rites in the Leri and are happy to find you a rod to borrow. We have parking for one guest car on site and there is no additional parking in the village, we can suggest parking nearby but we are a small agricultural village and there is a shortage of parking in the village. There is WiFi throughout the property, the mobile phone signal can vary depending on your supplier. Guest access We welcome all of our guests and show you around our quirky little cottage. The cottage is semi detached (we live in the adjoining cottage) it is completely independent and has an enclosed private garden overlooking the river. Other things to note Please be aware that use of the river deck is at your own risk. Please use it sensibly. We live in the heart of a thriving farming community and at certain times of the year there are plenty of tractors in the village.