Escape

Surrounded by mature landscaped gardens on the edge of the village of Rowen, just inside the Snowdonia National Park, Tir y Coed is situated four miles from the World Heritage town of Conwy. The house enjoys far reaching views of Rowen, the most picturesque village in the Conwy Valley, extending to the magnificent Carneddau mountains beyond.

Tir y Coed is a seven-bedroom Edwardian country house, owned and run by Sandra and Chris, who took over in 2016 after falling in love with this idyllic corner of North Wales.  Conceived and built as a gentleman’s country retreat, the house retains that timeless, peaceful aura.  Think large comfortable beds with luxurious feather and down duvets, fluffy white towels, a cosy drawing room with wood burning stove, and an opulently decorated traditional dining room that evokes the glamour of the Edwardian era with a modern twist and is perfect for group bookings.

Expect chilled out informality, home-baked bread, freshly cooked breakfasts, offering the best from local butchers, and in the evening, a licensed bar, where you can step on to a west facing balcony offering stunning views across the gardens towards the mountains. It is where, in the evening, you can find a comfortable chair, treat yourself to a drink, listen to the birds and watch the sun dip below the mountains.

Endulge in a spa treatment in our new holistic therapy room where Sarah’s magic hands can provide extra relaxation to release tension and ease sore muscles.

Outside, the gardens offer plenty of quiet spots to sit and relax. If you have a book to read, you may find it hard to open as the aeronautical performances laid on by the finches, tits, woodpeckers, robins, goldcrests, nuthatches and jays can be mesmerising.  The gardens were inspired by the world-famous ones at Bodnant (just a few miles from here) which is a must-see for many and draws visitors from around the world.

Explore

On our doorstep, in the mountains above the village lies a section of the Roman road that connected Chester with Caernafon. Venture up here and spot the Carneddau wild horses, a unique breed that have been isolated here for over 700 years. There is also a Pilgrims’ path and a beautiful but isolated church to explore along the way. There are numerous very good walks from the village, and many more starting within a few miles.

Bodnant House with it’s a Grade 1 listed gardens is just four miles away and just beyond lies the medieval town of Conwy, with its majestic Edwardian castle towering dramatically as the gateway to the North Wales coast.

North Wales is a great place to experience world class outdoor adventures; well known for climbing, there is also one of the world’s largest artificial surfing lagoons on our doorstep. Adrenaline junkies love Zip World, which offers treetop obstacle courses using zip and high wires, mountain carting, giant underground trampolines, and 100 mph zip wires. Overcome those challenges and you’re ready for canyoning, gorge walking and abseiling, all of which are available nearby.

Cyclists of all persuasions love the range of options available – mountain bikers can choose from miles of tranquil forest trails and some serious downhill, whilst roadies have miles of scenic, quiet roads and the challenge of the hills and mountains we are surrounded by.  We have secure bike storage, route maps, cleaning facilities and track pumps available, and there are good bike shops nearby if you need spares.

Energise… and leave relaxed

No hustle and bustle, no noisy children (much as we love them) and no calls from the office (your mobile won’t pick up and how would they know that there is superfast broadband here?) Just make yourself at home with something from the bar, enjoy watching the wildlife, drink in the beauty of the sun setting behind the mountains with the birds providing the soundtrack.

We have just seven bedrooms which helps create the intimacy that differentiates us from hotels. Each room has its individual character, and all have ensuite bathrooms, large comfortable beds (most of which can be specified as twin beds) and views. The rooms at the front look out towards the mountains whilst those at the rear and side have garden or woodland views.

As part of our ongoing refurbishment programme, four of the ensuite bathrooms (both suites, and rooms one and six) are now equipped with the latest eco-friendly Japanese style toilets. Invented in a country renowned for it’s futuristic innovative designs, and a no-nonsense approach to bathroom hygiene, they operate in the same way as conventional toilets but have an added bidet facility. So, if you have never experienced one, this is the perfect opportunity.

Once you’ve torn yourself away from the bathroom, you can relax; everything you need is close by. Within two miles are two historic, well-maintained hostelries serving good pub food, with Conwy offering many additional options if you drive a couple of extra miles. We will be happy to give you some ideas and make reservations if you wish; weekends during the summer months tend to be busier and advance reservations are essential. We can provide a list of the best options if you want to make your own plans – just ask. For group bookings we can arrange supper here, if you let us know in advance, we are always happy to talk to you about the local food and the options available.