“Pretty good disabled access for a quirky property”
A hidden gem with a few flaws but still a gem despite this!
We found this place during a web trawl. We were looking for a place in Wales with wheelchair access as well as welcoming pets and we needed four bedrooms with one of them being adapted for a wheelchair user so this place fitted the bill quite nicely.
Be aware though Glan y Gors is quite isolated, a car is a must and be prepared for winding roads that go bump in the night and day as you make your way to your destination. Sheep are prevalent, as are walkers, serious bikers and even horse riders.
There is ample parking outside the cottage and if you don't have any mobility, or you don't feel you can negotiate the steep concrete slope, you can drive to the kitchen front door and park up. Entry is through the kitchen door which is wide enough to take my outsize wheelchair. The kitchen is big, there is a table for 8 in it, along with a hob, fridge, stove, washing machine, microwave, toaster, kettle, all the usual kitchen utility aids.
Be aware the microwave doesn't switch off, it heats your food but keeps on heating it! Well I said this little gem had a flaw or two! Plus some of the pans have seen far better days but the eating utensils from plates to cups are of a good quality. Sharp knives, bring your own, they do supply cutting knives but they are blunt to say the least.
Bedding is supplied but bring a towel as these are not included in your stay. The adapted bathroom is roomy, a shower chair is supplied, the loo has all the railings In place but be aware it is right next to a hot radiator and the plinth the toilet itself is on has been in situ since 1998 and needs replacing because when you sit on the loo you rock somewhat. One of the cottages little quirks that the owner says she will sort out. Until then just take a sea sickness tablet and try not to look at any paintings of ships riding waves in a raging sea whilst perched upon the pot.
The lounge is spacious, with another dining table and chairs available: there is a log burner to warm your bones on a cold night but there is also good central heating throughout the cottage. There is wifi, but BT apparently was in the process of repairing it during our stay. This is a new addition to the property so there are teething problems that need sorting out. In the adapted room downstairs you can get 4G so for the cyber lovers, all is not lost.
The TV had to be replaced as it was faulty, but in all fairness the owner did sort this as soon as we told them there was a problem. It's not a big TV but it is brand new!
A flight of stairs leads to three further bedrooms and two bathrooms. In theory a person in a wheelchair can access the rooms upstairs via a lift outside but this is not working, the owner is trying to get a second hand one to replace it but as it is obsolete this is proving somewhat difficult.
There is plenty of room for your dog to run around in, a closed in garden that you can use, remember to clean up after your pooch though, and as long as you are careful you can walk the lonely roads further afield if the fancy takes you.
This is not a perfect property but it ticks all the boxes I need it to tick. It's adapted enough for me, its quirks are my kind of quirks, plus my bedroom has a fabulous view, the family dog can come along, and it is remote enough for peace and quiet, but near enough to the likes of Bangor to get your big town fix without having to travel for hours. You are also near to loads of places of historical interest, you can get your mountain fix by admiring Snowdonia, and if you are a fan of trains, old and new, then this is the place for you.
Would I come back again? Yes, on the provision, that the loo ceases to rock on its own axis, I am all for new and different experiences, but that rocking bogs are a no no.
- ThugsofKali, March 2015
