Staying at Ty-Maen cottage -#BridgendBites

Whilst we were staying as guests of Bridgend Bites, our home for those hectic few days was Ty Maen (http://www.ty-maen.co.uk/ ) converted cow byre on a farm about 5 miles from Bridgend itself.
TY-MAEN COTTAGE 1

The directions were detailed, and we soon followed the past-the-school, past-the-pub instructions (it’s funny how they always look confusing before you set off, and then when you’re in place it all becomes clear), and we found ourselves driving up the track, past the magnificent viaduct, round the hairpin bend and Ty Maen came into view.
TY-MAEN COTTAGE 2
The cottage is attached to the owners farmhouse, but has its own entrance, garden and parking.

The situation would be idyllic, we’re it not for the fact that Llangynwyd as clearly grow a lot over the years, causing an unfortunately big nightglow, and the noise from the main road which can be clearly heard from the garden.

However if you stand at the side or behind the property, you would think you had stepped back 100 years, looking out over hills and moorland and wild open spaces.

TY-MAEN COTTAGE 4

I have to say that the cottage itself was probably the cleanest I have ever stayed in (and I’ve stayed in a few over the years!); it really was immaculate. There’s a mix of styles in the decor – contemporary bright and clean walls and laminate floors mixed with rather dated furniture and plates on the walls.

But it was comfortable, warm, and the six of us were able to sleep and eat and sit.Ty maen cottage kitchen bridgend

The kitchen/diner was snug – it’s a fairly small kitchen to start with, and having the table and 6 chairs in there really made it rather cramped when we were all eating.

ty-maen-sitting-room

It’s also a bug bear of mine when a holiday property sleeps 6, but doesn’t provide comfortable seating for everyone in the sitting room. A 3-seater sofa and two armchairs means that someone always had to perch on the footstool, or stretch out on the floor.

There are no carpets in the property, it is laminate throughout. Whilst this meant the sitting room lacked a certain cosines, even with a rug in front of the log fire, it was easy to keep clean, and there were no worries about a muddy dog hurtling in after a day out in the rain.  I started off not loving the floors, but by the end of a few hectic days in very wet weather, I grew to absolutely love their practicality!
TY-MAEN COTTAGE3
The two bathrooms we more than enough between us, and the showers were properly amazing – always a Good Thing when you’re on holiday, I think. The cottage was well-equipped with basic kitchen essentials, and washer, dryer and a small table-top dishwasher (which isn’t really big enough to cope with a meal for 6 so we treated the children to lessons in washing and drying. They were thrilled!). Towels, bedding and fuel are all included – and nothing quite beats curling up by a log fire after a cold wet day crammed with activities, does it?

log fire and woolly socks

Log fire + woolly socks = Happy

Ty Maen is a great place to explore this area of Wales – we were only 20minutes from surfing at Porthcawl, half an hour at the most from Swansea and Cardiff – but head North for  15 minutes and you’re in the Brecon Beacons. I’m not sure I could name a better location for touring and exploring this amazing region. We’ve often stayed in the Brecon Beacons in the past, but never the Bridgend area of Wales – it always seemed just that bit too far to reach.

But during our four days we really did fall in love with the area and the people, and we fully intend to go back for a much longer visit, to see and do all the thigs we wished we’d had time for on this trip.

7 Nights in Ty Maen costs from £450, and there’s a £25 supplement for the dog.

Http://www.ty-maen.co.uk/

Author: Courtenay

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