Guest Information & House Manual

Arrival
& keys.

Check-in: From 4:00pm onwards.
Check-out: By 10:00am on departure day.
Late arrival: If significantly later than 4pm, please let us know in advance.
Keys: Held in the key safe at the front of the property. Your unique code is sent by email the day before arrival. Please keep hold of the keys throughout your stay — a replacement charge may apply for lost keys.
Entrance: Important: the front door has been sealed for the winter months — the exposed slate slab at the entrance faces north and acts like a refrigerator in cold weather. Please use the side entrance.

The Hive system: Gwynfryn is heated by oil-fired central heating, controlled via the Hive smart heating system. Pre-scheduled to come on for a few hours in the morning and again in the late afternoon and evening.
Thermostats: Located in the main hallway and living room — set to 18–21°C for comfortable use.
Heading out: If heading out for the day, please turn the heating down rather than off. Please don't override the Hive schedule unless absolutely necessary.
Oil supply: Please read: we are currently facing a critical shortage of heating oil. Supply in North Wales is extremely difficult and we are actively conserving what we have. We kindly ask all guests to be as mindful as possible — keep doors closed, use the fire in the evenings, and avoid overriding the schedule.
Open fire: The main living room fire is fully operational and we strongly encourage you to use it — especially in the evenings. Plenty of seasoned firewood is available from the local store in the village. Kindling and firelighters are provided in the log basket. Please always use the fireguard when leaving the room or going to bed.
Snug fireplace: Do not use. The fireplace in the snug has been fully decommissioned and the chimney is completely blocked off.
Hot water: Also managed via the Hive system, scheduled to run daily. There should be a plentiful supply every day. Any issues, please contact us immediately.

Wifi: The router is in the lounge. Scan the QR code on the card next to it to connect instantly — no typing required.
Booster: A wifi booster has been installed in the top hallway to extend coverage to the upper floors. Please don't unplug or move it — removing it will drop the signal upstairs.
TV: Has Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other streaming services. Instructions in the lounge folder.

Equipment: Fully equipped for self-catering: oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washing machine. Instruction manuals for all appliances are in the kitchen drawer.
Dishwasher: Please run only when full.
Breakages: Please just let us know — no need to worry, it happens.
Recycling: Gwynedd Council is one of the best in the UK for recycling. Blue bins are separated: plastics in one container, glass and paper in the other. Please try to minimise general waste in the green bins — they are collected only once a month. Bin collection days and outdoor bin locations are noted on the kitchen noticeboard.

The Bulb, Harlech — excellent deli and wine shop with a lovely café. Great for local produce, wine and provisions.
Co-op & Iceland — Barmouth (8 miles).
Tesco — Barmouth (8 miles).
Aldi — Porthmadog (approx. 12 miles).
Lidl — Porthmadog (approx. 12 miles).

Back steps: Extremely slippery when wet. Please take great care at all times, particularly when it has been raining. Hold the handrail and take your time.
BBQ: Standard safety precautions at all times. Keep children and pets away while in use and ensure it is fully extinguished before leaving it unattended.
Walking to the pub: Do not use the road. It is narrow and genuinely dangerous, especially in the dark. Instead: cross the bridge from the house, follow the river path all the way down, and you will arrive at the Victoria Inn through the farm. A beautiful walk and takes about the same time. Much safer and far more scenic.

Gwynfryn is a Grade II listed Victorian building with a history stretching back over 150 years. As a listed building, it has been carefully preserved and restored.
As with all old houses, being a listed Victorian building Gwynfryn is not as thermally efficient as a modern home and can feel cool in winter. The fire, the Hive heating and extra throws are all there to help.
Cobwebs and spiders can appear overnight in an old stone house — simply nature at work, and entirely normal. The house is professionally cleaned before every arrival.
Cleaning: by Kayla and her team. If on arrival anything is not as it should be, please contact Kayla directly — she's responsible for the clean and will put things right promptly. Kayla Jones Cleaning Services: +44 7723 653032.

Dogs are not permitted on the beds or sofas — for health and hygiene reasons, as future guests may have allergies to pet hair.
Pet throws are provided in the utility room if you'd like your dog close by on the sofa.
Please dry muddy dogs in the utility room before they come inside — old towels are there for this.
Please don't leave pets alone in the house unattended for extended periods.
Please clean up after your pets in the garden and on all public land.
Any damage caused by pets will need to be covered by the guest.

Property owner: Steve · 07903 679900
Cleaner: Kayla Jones Cleaning Services · 07723 653032
Emergency services: 999
Nearest A&E: Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor (approx. 40 mins)
Local GP: Ardudwy Health Centre, Harlech: 01766 771955 (branch of Bron Meirion Surgery). Out of hours: call 111.
Pharmacy: Rowlands Pharmacy, High Street, Harlech: 01766 780254
Taxis: Local (Llanbedr): 01341 241423 · Harlech: 01766 781313 · Barmouth: 07555 280242
Takeaways: Fish & Chips Harlech: 01766 780229 (Fri & Sat only, 4:30–8pm) · Harlech Tandoori: 01766 780229 · Lemon Tree Indian, Penrhyndeudraeth: 01766 770283