Yr Onnen

Why you'll love staying here

Yr Onnenn is a delightful holiday cottage converted from the former dairy on a traditional sheep farm in Mydroilyn, a charming village not far from Lampeter in Ceredigion. The property has been thoughtfully restored to retain many of its original features, including timber beams and exposed stone walls.

The spacious open-plan living area has a modern fitted kitchen fully equipped to help you cook up a storm. On arrival, the owners will welcome you with a generous hamper filled with homemade Welsh delicacies, giving you the chance to taste the local produce.

The lounge area is designed for relaxation, with a wood-burner-effect electric stove, comfortable leather sofas, and footstools, perfect for putting your feet up with a glass of wine while watching a film or bingeing your favourite box set after a day exploring.

Both bedrooms have been created with comfort in mind, with crisp white linen and cosy blankets to guarantee a restful night’s sleep. All accommodation is on the ground floor, and the bathroom is equipped with helpful features such as grab rails and a shower seat, making the cottage ideal for guests with limited mobility or those using a wheelchair.

Outside, the cottage benefits from its own private patio with garden furniture and a barbecue, the perfect setting for a leisurely al fresco lunch or an evening drink while taking in views over the picturesque wooded valley. Guests also have access to the wider shared grounds, which include a children’s play area with a climbing frame, swings, and a slide, as well as a games room with a pool table and table tennis, excellent for burning off energy. A shared hot tub provides the opportunity to unwind in the bubbles under clear night skies while stargazing.

The farm’s lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout, and guests are welcome to fish on a catch-and-release basis using any bait. Kayaks and rowing boats are also available, allowing you to enjoy a peaceful drift across the water while looking out for the Canadian geese that raise their young on the island at the centre of the lake. Wildlife is abundant here, from red kites soaring overhead to owls and foxes calling after dark.

Lambing season, from February to April, is an especially busy and rewarding time on the farm, and the owners are delighted to share the experience with guests. You can watch lambs being born or simply relax on the patio and enjoy the sight of them playing in the nearby fields. Young cattle are housed in the farm buildings during winter, and there are also two friendly donkeys who love attention and treats from visitors.

If you can bear to tear yourself away from the farm, the surrounding area offers plenty to see and do. The nearby town of Lampeter has an array of artisan shops, local markets, and inviting pubs clustered around the old University of Wales campus. Founded in 1822, the university buildings were designed in the style of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges, complete with a central quadrangle and fountain.

A little further inland, in the beautiful Cothi Valley, lies Dolaucothi, the UK’s only Roman gold mine and a fascinating place to visit. You can choose from a range of underground tours that explore the mine’s remarkable history, culminating in the chance to try your hand at gold panning. Above ground, the 1930s mine yard has a collection of metal sheds housing original machinery, equipment, and tools, all brought to life with informative displays. Managed by the National Trust, the mine sits within a vast 2,500-acre estate of oak woodland, upland farms, parkland, and riverside walking trails.

For a day by the coast, Yr Onnenn is just a short drive from Aberaeron, a picture-perfect seaside town with colourful Regency houses, a pretty harbour, and a vibrant cultural scene, including art galleries and a programme of festivals and concerts. Boat trips depart from the harbour, offering the chance to spot bottlenose dolphins in Cardigan Bay, as well as seals and occasionally even minke whales. Follow the River Aeron upstream in spring and you’ll be treated to carpets of bluebells in Panteg Woods, while herons wait patiently for fish along the riverbank.

Continue along the valley and you’ll arrive at Llanerchaeron, a distinguished gentleman’s estate now cared for by the National Trust. The Palladian-style villa, designed in the 1790s, is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash, the architect behind London’s Regent Street and Regent’s Park, and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. On the working organic farm, you can meet sheep, pigs, and Welsh Black cattle, or wander through the walled gardens where ancient fruit trees, productive kitchen plots, and historic horticultural artefacts are preserved. Don’t miss the chance to sample homemade Welsh cakes cooked on the Edwardian range in the servants’ quarters.