Is this a troll's house?

[Kkimm]

The river valley Pete and I walked up a few days ago to reach this little restaurant for lunch was so amazing and magical I kept having to remind myself I was not in a fairy tale nor had I been transported to Middle Earth in Lord of the rings.

It is actually a National Trust property, an ancient cottage called The Ugly House would you believe. It goes back to a time when a person could put a claim on a house and the land it was on if they started building the house and had built a chimney and had a fire smoking in that chimney by morning.

The lunch we had included sandwiches with homemade Welsh chutney, Chocolate cake, warm Welsh cakes, scones, jam, cream and butter. There was so much we took half of it away with us!

The fungi on the trees added to the magical feel to the forest. Mushrooms often appear overnight as if by some spell.

Hope you enjoy this little bit of whimsy.

Best wishes to you all.

Kim

[Veteran250]

Hi Kim …… pray where is this magical grotto? 🙂

[Kkimm in reply to Veteran250]

It is a walk from Betws y Coed to The Ugly House along the river valley. It gets tough and difficult in places so it is better to climb up to the forest road and walk along that in the middle section. It passes the Swallow falls which are quite spectacular.

[Kkimm in reply to Kkimm]

Hi Veteran.I have just posted another picture of the Ugly House as a reply to this if you're interested.

[Mrspjsmom]

Lovely. I would love to hide in the troll house by myself.

[Kkimm in reply to Mrspjsmom]

It certainly is a beautiful cottage. Inside there is a big fireplace which we sat by for the meal. There is a pretty woodland garden in the forest. The chimney stack is enormous and the whole cottage is made from huge lumps of rock. It also sits on the edge of a beautiful wild river.I can understand wanting to have some time there to yourself.

Hope you are doing well, you've had alot to cope with lately.

Very best wishes.

Kim

Stone cottage made out of massive lumps of rock set in a forest.

[Veteran250 in reply to Kkimm]

Thank you Kim, but for some reason, I can only see photos on original posts, but not half way through a post❤️

[Kkimm in reply to Veteran250]

Oh, that's a shame.

[Mrspjsmom in reply to Kkimm]

Thank you Kim. I have had alot going on lately but I'm plodding my way through.

[Kkimm in reply to Mrspjsmom]

You're doing well, how is your ear now and how did your dental treatment go?

[Mrspjsmom in reply to Kkimm]

The infection in my ear cleared up and most of the stitches are out. Still healing but not red and sore anymore. As for the dental work my jaw isn't as sore and my gums aren't bleeding around the temporary filler he put in. I go back next week for appointment #2 then on the 29th he will put the permanent bridge in. Still have to be careful what I eat. So I am getting there slowly.

[Kkimm in reply to Mrspjsmom]

Ouch poor you!!

[Mrspjsmom in reply to Kkimm]

I'm feeling like poor me but trying not to think that way. It's been quite a year so right now I'm trying to get through 2021. Hopefully I can put this behind me.

[Kkimm in reply to Mrspjsmom]

Yes, that is the way to see it.

[MadBunny]

What a beautiful place Kim. And the lunch you had sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing it with us xx

[Kkimm in reply to MadBunny]

Thanks for your lovely reply, I've just attached another picture of the Ugly house if you're interested.Kim

[MadBunny in reply to Kkimm]

Thank you. It looks a fascinating place. So quirky it's beautiful - if that makes sense🤗

[Kkimm in reply to MadBunny]

Yes, I know what you mean, I like the ivy etc growing on it, it looks somehow organic as if it has grown out of the rocks and forest itself.Kim

[Kkimm in reply to MadBunny]

Just to let you know I have just added a new reply and photos to this post with a bit more about the Ugly House if you are interested.

[Midori]

I love the Ugly House, but I haven't seen it in years, and it wasn't a cafe then, people lived in it!

[Kkimm in reply to Midori]

How interesting, that must have been a while ago.

[Kkimm in reply to Midori]

Hi Midori and anyone else interested.I have just looked a bit more into the history of the Ugly House or Ty Hyll as it is called in Welsh.

The first man who was recorded as living in it was a Mr Roberts in Victorian times. It had just one room downstairs as it has remained and a ladder with a sleeping loft upstairs. The fireplace which we sat by for our lunch was for doing all the cooking and heating the house.

When I looked through my photos I saw that I had taken a quick shot of a picture on the wall near where we sat. It is great as it shows previous owners of different eras sitting by the fireplace. I wish I had studied it more closely and taken a better picture as it is fascinating.

One picture shows a lady in traditional Welsh costume if you look closely.

The people who lived in it for the longest were the Riley's who lived in it from the 20s to the 80s. They used to invite people in and tell them tales of the house. They had a cockatoo as a pet who entertained the visitors also.

It was taken over by the Snowdonia Society in the 80s and was an antique shop at one point but continued to have people living in it for many years which must have been when you saw it.

Hope that was of interest.

Best wishes.

Kim

Collage inc huge chimney etc and a photo of pics of previous owners by the fireplace

[MadBunny in reply to Kkimm]

Thank you for posting this Kim. It really is fascinating.

[Midori in reply to Kkimm]

Yes, it was in the 60's I knew it. I always found it fascinating!

[Dolphin14]

I would love to move in. What a calming place it would be,

Ty Kim, I love your posts. Lunch sounded great

❤️🐬

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

Thanks Dolphin

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

Hi Dolphin.This is just to let you know I have just done another reply with more photos about the history of The Ugly House I have just found out about.

Hope you find it interesting.

All the best.

Kim

[Dolphin14 in reply to Kkimm]

Kim

Thank you for alerting me to the update I like seeing the house up closer. It looks like it's right out of a fairy tale.

I love all the history you provide. The photo on the wall is perfect to show more of the history.

How many people can be seated inside for lunch?

❤️🐬

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

I would say about 15.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Kkimm]

That's a good size. Nice and cozy.

[Kkimm]

Perhaps you are a Goblin?

[Kkimm]

Could be a Gremlin and we intact. Just the right house for one to live in.

[Hidden]

Thank you for sharing this, it looks like a magical place.

[Kkimm in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, yes it is really beautiful.