The Hovel
Wonderful for couples or a family with two small children. Just east and high in the hills above Bala and at one end of our isolated “Long-house” is this cosy self contained cottage. Stunning views from over 1000 ft with the use of our gardens and also our lake, there is a rowing boat and a two man “sit on top” kayak for you to borrow down there.
The space
It is a great location for a couple, amazing for children, with little need to go elsewhere. It is also a convienient base for the mountains and beaches of Snowdonia and everything else this great area has to offer. One room with king sized double, and one small room with two beds set up rather like bunks for the children or incase the couple do not wish to share. We do not take groups of adults. You can walk or cycle from the door and fish or kayak on our lake and return to the wood burner and a film. We find it difficult to describe how wonderful the whole situation can be, just here in the grounds of the garden and woods, there is also the land to explore with its lake, stone circles and flint age camp! Coming back to base there is a Cinema system with Monitor Audio sound system for films, Netflix or playing with the Wii. There is a smart tv if you just want to watch the news! Also games and books in the cupboards or on the shelves! If you would like a really remote farmhouse have a look at Tyn Llyn by our lake for 2 people, basic and pretty off grid but with a wood burning sauna. Quite a spot!
Guest access
A private lake for swimming, fishing or boating. 600 acres of surrounding countryside to explore and the use of our gardens and adventure playground. Have a look at the link- “Tyn Llyn” this is the landscape, the lake is just over the hill, the drone takes you up to the fort “Caer Euni”
Other things to note
It is a very home spun place and we open the garden to the public in the main season when we run a small cafe. We serve a full menu including much home made food, great coffee and cakes too, but generally just ask if you want something, maybe a meal in the hovel in the evening?
We have Tilly and Nugget, spaniels that roams around freely though not indoors in the Hovel.
Try this recent Instagram reel.
If you want to research us further do try YouTube searches for “Hickish business” or “Caerau Uchaf Gardens”
We also have a really nice six berth caravan which is located in a wonderful spot high up above our garden. It backs onto the wood where the adventure playground is, so it is fabulous for children, we call it “The Gatehouse”
Contact Information
Toby and Stephanie Hickish
Caerau Uchaf
Sarnau
Bala
Gwynedd
LL23 7LG
Email: info@caerau-gardens.co.uk
Times & Prices
Thursday to Monday incl.
10.00am to 5.00pm
Entry to the garden is: -
Adults - £7.50
Children up to 16 - £4
Family Ticket - £20 (2 adults and up to 4 children)
Annual Membership - £50 for a Family / £18.75 for 1 adult / £10 for 1 child
Do consider membership if you think you may visit on more than 2 occasions in a year.
We are very happy to accept dogs on leads as long as they do not disturb the peace for our other guests.
Book to Eat
Please help us out and book for lunch. It's easy, you do not pay anything now, and to guarantee you a table we need to know numbers.
This becomes especially important on those Sundays when we are doing a “Sunday Lunch” which is not every Sunday. Look at “Details” when you go to “Bookings” to check which Sundays we are doing the roast. On those days we need to know numbers well in advance so we stop taking bookings for this by 10am on the day. We do not do the usual menu until after 2pm as we can’t do both at once.
Please click this link to book your slot