Two stone cottages in Cwm Cywarch
Cywarch Cottages has two self-catering cottages in the peaceful Cywarch Valley (Cwm Cywarch) near Dinas Mawddwy in southern Snowdonia. Each stone-built cottage sleeps six, and short breaks are offered out of season. The owners sum up the appeal simply: a peaceful valley location, ideal for exploring both Snowdonia and Mid Wales. If you want quiet, this is the real thing — a dead-end valley folded into the hills, where the loudest thing you're likely to hear is the stream.
Between two market towns
The cottages sit about 10 miles from each of the market towns of Dolgellau and Machynlleth, which makes Cwm Cywarch a genuinely handy base despite its end-of-the-road quiet. Dolgellau, beneath Cadair Idris, is the starting point of the Mawddach Trail along the estuary towards Barmouth; Machynlleth — the ancient capital of Wales — has its Wednesday street market (chartered in 1291), the Owain Glyndŵr Parliament House and the MOMA gallery. Dinas Mawddwy itself is linked to Machynlleth by the number 36 bus via Cemmaes, and mountain bikers will find servicing and hire at Bandit Bikes in the village.
Days out from the valley
For a big mountain day, Cadair Idris (893 m) is close at hand — the Minffordd Path from Dôl Idris is a strenuous 6-mile round trip of about five hours and 788 m of ascent, with parking, an accessible toilet and a tea room at the start. Gentler days might take in Tal-y-llyn Lake beneath the mountain, or the Talyllyn Railway from Tywyn — opened in 1865 and, since its rescue in 1951, the first preserved railway in the world — whose steam trains climb seven-plus miles to Nant Gwernol, calling at Dolgoch Falls on the way. The beaches are closer than you might think too: Aberdyfi has golden sand, a working harbour and a famous links golf course. Back towards Machynlleth, the Dyfi Valley offers the Mach mountain-bike trails and, on selected days from April to November, ~50-minute steam trips on the Corris Railway, the oldest narrow-gauge line in Mid Wales.
Getting to Cwm Cywarch
Dinas Mawddwy, the nearest village, is linked to Machynlleth by the number 36 bus via Cemmaes, though for a cottage holiday in a valley like this a car is realistic — the A470 and A487 put Dolgellau, the Mawddach estuary, the coast and the whole Dyfi Valley within easy reach. Machynlleth's railway station on the Cambrian Line (direct trains from Shrewsbury and Birmingham) is the practical railhead; see our Getting Here page for times and routes.
Practical Information
Each cottage sleeps six, so the pair together can take a two-family party of twelve; short breaks are available out of season. Details were supplied by the business — please contact the owners to confirm current prices, availability and booking terms.
Contact: Ebrandy, Mallwyd, Machynlleth, SY20 9AE, UK
Telephone (UK): 01650 531662 · Telephone (International): +44 1650 531662
Website: www.cywarchcottages.co.uk
Coming and going from the valley
Machynlleth station is the railhead: a staffed, step-free stop five minutes' walk from the clock tower, with about thirty free parking spaces and direct trains from Shrewsbury and Birmingham. Route 36 links Dinas Mawddwy with Machynlleth via Cemmaes, and Bandit Bikes in the village offers servicing and hire if you bring bikes. The Maengwyn Street car park in town (SY20 8DY) charges from 8am to 6pm — around £1.50 an hour under the tariff introduced in August 2025, with overnight parking free. Check the council's pages, as tariffs are reviewed. More on our getting around page.
Two more days out
There is a second way up Cadair Idris: the National Park gives the Pony Path from Tŷ Nant, on the northern side, as 10 km with 727 m of ascent and about five hours. Dolgellau sits at the centre of the Dolgellau gold belt: Clogau St David's at Bontddu produced gold from 1862 until 1911, and Welsh gold has gone into royal wedding rings since 1923. Riders have the Dyfi Bike Park at Pantperthog, advance bookings only, and the free-to-park ClimachX loop at Ceinws.
What the owners' own site says
The two cottages are described separately. Terwyn is a stone-built farmhouse at the foot of Aran Fawddwy, with pets allowed, wi-fi and a hot tub; Ceunant is a stone-built farmhouse set in 450 acres at the top of the valley, with pets allowed. Each sleeps six, and short breaks are offered out of season. The owners suggest the valley walks or the climb to the top of nearby Aran Fawddwy, which they give as 2,971 ft, and point towards mountain biking at Coed y Brenin, fishing and pony trekking. No rates are published, so ask the owners what a week or short break will cost. From Dinas Mawddwy the road over Bwlch y Groes climbs to one of the highest public road passes in Wales.
Day trips