Frequently Asked Questions

Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is by 11am. This five-hour window between check-out and check-in is what allows us to get the cottage properly cleaned and prepared between guests — we don't cut corners on that.

The cottages are self check-in via a key safe — full details and the access code are sent to you in your booking confirmation email, so there's no need to wait around for anyone to let you in and no need to worry if you arrive late.

Sometimes, but we can't guarantee it. We genuinely won't know until the morning of your arrival whether an early check-in is possible — it depends entirely on when our cleaner can finish. Late check-outs are the same story: if someone is checking in after you, there's no flexibility. If you message us on the day we'll always do our best. What we'd ask is that you don't base your travel plans around it.

The postcode for sat nav is LL24 0EF and that will bring you straight to us. One important note: if you use the "Get Directions" link in Google or Apple Maps it can send you to completely the wrong place. We have no idea why, but it happens regularly. Use the postcode directly in your sat nav or Google Maps and you'll be fine.

Coming from Betws-y-Coed: Take the A5 towards Bangor. After the entrance to Capel Curig village, pass the Tyn y Coed Hotel and then Cobdens Hotel on the right. After a right-hand bend the road straightens — look for Caffi Siabod on the right and turn up the lane just before the café car park, between it and the bus shelter.

Coming from Bangor: Follow the A5 into Capel Curig. At the bend in front of Joe Brown's shop, stay on the A5. Pass the Bryn Tyrch Hotel and Plas Curig Hostel on the left, then look for Caffi Siabod on the left. Immediately after the café car park, turn left up the small lane.

When you turn off the A5, drive up about 50 metres. For Eryri and Siabod Cottages, pass the cattle grid (don't go over it) and the parking area is on the right. If you are staying in Bwthyn, turn right just before the cattle grid and drive over it. After 20 metres you'll see a metal gate on the left — that's your parking area.

The parking area comfortably takes one car per cottage. With careful parking a second car can sometimes squeeze in, but please don't rely on it. If you're bringing two cars, the closest free parking is behind Joe Brown's mountaineering shop, about half a mile away on the A5. Please always park considerately and leave a clear space for your neighbours.

Capel Curig is served by the S2 Sherpa bus, which runs between Betws-y-Coed and Pen-y-Pass along the A5. It stops in the village, a short walk from the cottages. Very useful if you want to avoid parking at Pen-y-Pass for Snowdon.

Yes — all bed linen is provided and made up ready for your arrival. We provide a bath towel and hand towel for each guest. If you want your favourite fluffy robe or towel for the hot tub, feel free to bring them!

Reliable. We have fibre broadband at around 70Mbps — fine for video calls, remote working, and streaming. WiFi details are in the welcome pack in the cottage.

We don't provide one, but you're welcome to bring a portable or disposable barbecue. Just please don't use it on the wooden outdoor furniture — we've lost two tables to that over the years and we'd rather not lose any more!

Bikes can be stored in the garden area. There's no dedicated secure bike storage, so if you're bringing expensive bikes you may want to bring your own lock.

You can book directly through this website or find us on Airbnb. Direct bookings save on Airbnb's service fees. Once your booking request is approved, you'll receive a confirmation email with everything you need. Payment is by bank transfer.

Yes — we have a minimum stay of 2 nights. During peak periods (school holidays, bank holidays) the minimum is typically longer. The booking calendar will show you the applicable minimum for your chosen dates.

No. A single night doesn't give you enough time to properly enjoy the cottage and the area — and factoring in cleaning it simply doesn't work for either of us.

Yes, and we'd encourage it — you avoid Airbnb's service fees by booking directly with us. Use the booking form on this website.

Direct bookings avoid Airbnb's guest service fee — which adds over 15% on top of the nightly rate. We pass that saving directly to you. The price you see on this site is the price you pay, with no platform fees added on top.

Rather than hiding it in the nightly rate, we show it separately so you can see exactly what you're paying for. It covers a thorough professional clean of the cottage and hot tub between guests. It's a one-off charge regardless of how long you stay, so the longer your stay the better value it becomes.

Yes — our base rate covers up to 2 guests. We charge £10 per night for guests 3 and 4. This reflects the additional laundry, hot tub usage and cleaning involved. Two guests staying will always pay less than four — which we think is fairer than averaging it out into the nightly rate.

Yes — there's a flat £30 fee per stay, regardless of how long you're here. It's just to cover the additional cleaning involved. We don't charge per dog, so whether you're coming with one dog or two, it's the same £30.

Yes — stays of 4 nights or more receive 5% off, and 7 nights or more receive 10% off. We also offer exclusive discounts to returning guests who book direct. If you've stayed with us before, get in touch.

Our standard policy is non-refundable once a booking is confirmed. We know that's stricter than some, but it reflects the fact that a last-minute cancellation at a small property is very hard to fill. We are human though, and where we can help, we will. Cancellations with plenty of notice are sometimes possible. If something comes up and you need to talk to us, please do.

If you need to move your dates, get in touch and we'll do what we can. We can't always accommodate changes, particularly in peak season, but we'll always try to find a solution.

Absolutely — four-legged guests are just as welcome as two-legged ones! All three cottages accept dogs, with a maximum of two per booking. If you have more than two dogs, or particularly large ones, please get in touch before booking and we'll see what we can do. A small pet fee of £30 applies — see Booking & Payment above.

We do have a few sensible house rules: dogs are not allowed upstairs or on the beds, shouldn't be left alone in the cottage, and you'll need to clean up after them outside. Other than that, make yourselves at home.

The rear gardens in Siabod and Eryri Cottages are fenced, but we wouldn't describe them as fully escape-proof for a determined or athletic dog. The side fences are waist-high picket fences — fine for most dogs, but a larger or more agile dog might be able to get over them. Bwthyn has its garden at the front rather than the rear. If your dog is a Houdini hound, it's worth bearing this in mind and keeping an eye on them outside.

Yes — the Tyn y Coed Hotel in the village is dog-friendly and excellent. The bar at Plas y Brenin is also good. Both are within easy walking distance or a very short drive.

Yes. We have a travel cot and highchair available — just let us know when you book and we'll have them set up in the cottage ready for your arrival. We only have one of each (storage is limited!) so it's first come, first served, but we'll always do our best to accommodate you.

Please bring your own cot linen — for hygiene reasons we don't provide it for the travel cot.

Yes — the hot tubs are on 365 days a year and are never switched off. They're handmade from cedar and heated by an air source heat pump, which means they're always ready at a constant 38°C when you arrive. You don't need to switch anything on.

The temperature is set at 38°C and can't be adjusted by guests — this is the optimal temperature recommended for safety and comfort. The hot tubs don't have jets or bubbles; this is a deliberate choice as jets make the water much less energy-efficient and cool it down quickly.

Yes. The hot tub is always on. On very rare occasions the hot tub needs extra cleaning, and it can take up to 24 hours for the water to reheat. In ten years it's happened only a handful of times, but if there's ever an issue we'll communicate with you immediately and do everything we can to sort it as quickly as possible.

Each cottage has its own private hot tub — you don't share it with the other cottages.

Yes — each cottage has its own log burner. There's nothing quite like a real fire after a day in the mountains.

No — we provide logs throughout your stay. Unlike some properties that give you a small starter pack and expect you to buy more, we keep you stocked up. You won't run out.

We provide kindling to get you started. If you need more, there's a kindling chopper outside Siabod Cottage that all guests are welcome to use — it's straightforward to use and turns larger logs into kindling or smaller pieces. Logs without knots split most easily, if you're choosing which ones to chop.

We don't have a dedicated EV charging point yet — dedicated charge points are planned for later in 2026 — but there are external 13A sockets that guests are welcome to use for overnight charging. We operate a simple honesty policy: just log how many kWh you put in and we'll charge you the rate we pay for electricity (currently £0.26 per kWh).

For faster charging, there are commercial chargers in Betws-y-Coed, about 5 miles away.

Yes — when you arrive you'll find a small waterproof OS map in the cottage, which is yours to keep when you leave. It covers the local area and has several walks marked on it, ranging from short strolls to full mountain days. Flip it over and you'll find the main routes up Snowdon marked on the back too. It's a handy thing to have in your pocket on the hill.

Yes — Siabod is right on your doorstep. The mountain rises directly in front of the cottages and the route starts from the cottage door. It's a genuinely rewarding mountain with a proper rocky ridge near the top and views that take in most of Snowdonia on a clear day. Allow 4–5 hours for a comfortable round trip. No car needed.

Two favourites that guests enjoy:

• Llynnau Mymbyr (Easy — about 45 mins to 1 hour): A short walk straight from the cottage door along forestry paths that brings you out at the twin lakes. In clear weather, particularly around sunset, the views — especially the reflection of the Snowdon Horseshoe in the water — are spectacular.
• Llyn Crafnant (Moderate — about 6 miles): A longer walk over the hill behind the cottage, down into the next valley and around a beautiful lake. A proper half-day out.

Cwm Idwal in the Ogwen Valley is one of the most atmospheric walks in Snowdonia — a dramatic glacial cwm with a dark lake, ancient geology and incredible views. It's a fairly short and not overly strenuous walk, though it does require a short drive up the A5. Parking is at the Ogwen car park. Suitable for most abilities.

Not directly — the main starting points are a short drive away. There are at least eight recognised routes up the mountain. Here's a brief guide to the most popular ones closest to the cottage:

• Llanberis Path (Easy): The most straightforward route, following the line of the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis. Well maintained, well signposted, with a café halfway up and one at the top. Plenty of paid parking in Llanberis.
• Pyg Track / Miners' Track (Intermediate): The classic routes — you can take one up and the other down. Both start at Pen-y-Pass, which is pre-book only from April to October and books up weeks in advance in summer.
• South Ridge from Nant Gwynant (Intermediate — Ian's personal favourite): Up the Watkin Path past Gladstone Rock, then diverge onto the South Ridge to the summit. More ascent but more interesting and less busy. Parking at Nant Gwynant.
• Crib Goch (Hard — experienced mountaineers only): An exposed, technical ridge forming part of the Snowdon Horseshoe. There are fatalities every year on Crib Goch. Only attempt this if you are experienced on mountains and comfortable with heights — and avoid it entirely in any wind.

The weather on Snowdon can change dramatically and quickly. Always check the forecast, go prepared, and err on the side of caution. The S2 Sherpa bus stops outside the cottage and connects to Pen-y-Pass.

Quite a lot. Some highlights:

• Zip World has multiple sites nearby — including the fastest zip line in Europe at Penrhyn Quarry, Fforest (high ropes and Forest Coaster) and Llechwedd (zip lines and underground trampolining).
• Adventure Parc Dolgarrog has indoor activities for kids and adults.
• Snowdon Mountain Railway runs from Llanberis to the summit — a great option if you'd rather not walk.
• Paddleboarding and watersports on Llyn Padarn in Llanberis.
• World-class mountain biking trails at Penmachno and Gwydir Forest, both within easy reach.
• Gorge walking with local guides — a brilliant wet-weather option.
• Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed — beautiful and an easy walk from the road.

Pen-y-Pass is the busiest car park in the National Park and the start point for the Pyg Track and Miners' Track to Snowdon. From April to October it is pre-book only — turn up without a booking and you won't get in. It books up weeks in advance during summer and school holidays.

Book in advance via JustPark or the Eryri National Park website. From November to March it operates as pay and display.

If you haven't pre-booked, there are lay-bys with pay and display spaces near the Pen y Gwryd Hotel further down the mountain — allow an extra 20–30 minutes each way to walk up to Pen-y-Pass from there.

There is pay and display parking at Nant Peris, a useful overflow if the Llanberis town car parks are full. Llanberis town itself has plenty of paid parking options close to the path start. See the Eryri National Park parking page for current details.

The Ogwen car park is pay and display, right at the head of the valley on the A5. It can get busy on weekends — arriving earlier is better.

Nant Gwynant has pay and display parking and is the start point for the Watkin Path and the South Ridge. It's less busy than Pen-y-Pass but still fills up on good days in summer.

For up-to-date information on all National Park car parks, charges, and seasonal changes, the Eryri National Park parking page is the most reliable source.

One important note: don't park on grass verges near popular trailheads — wardens are active and fines are issued regularly.

Yes — the Tyn y Coed Hotel is less than half a mile from the cottages (turn left at the end of the lane and walk down the A5 towards Betws-y-Coed — you can't miss it, there's an old stagecoach in front). It has a great selection of local ales, good quality food, and a proper pub atmosphere. There is also a bar at Plas y Brenin, just over half a mile in the other direction, with good beers, wines and an amazing view of the Snowdon Horseshoe.

Caffi Siabod is at the end of our lane — literally a two-minute walk — and does excellent coffee, food and cakes. A perfect start to a day in the mountains.

The nearest supermarkets are in Bangor, about 15 miles away — there's a large Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Aldi and Lidl. Most major supermarkets will also deliver directly to the cottage (use postcode LL24 0EF). The nearest smaller shops are in Betws-y-Coed, about 5 miles away.

Betws-y-Coed is 5 miles east along the A5 and has a good range of cafés, restaurants, outdoor shops, a Spar and Londis. Bethesda is about 8 miles to the west and has a Tesco Local. Llanrwst is about 10 miles away and has a large Co-op. Bangor is the nearest city at around 15 miles.