Ty Morgan

What Claire thinks...

These family friendly holiday cottages are an ideal spot for a peaceful family break in the beautiful South Wales countryside.

Set in a pretty rural hamlet in South Wales, Church Cottages is just a short drive from the Gower beaches in Swansea, the Brecon Beacons National Park and the award-winning mountain bike tracks at Afan Forest Park (Afan Argoed) in Port Talbot and Brechfa in Carmarthenshire. 

The owners, Helen & Allen, live just a few yards away from the cottages and are fantastic hosts, always on hand to recommend activities, local events, places to visit or family friendly pubs, thoughtfully suggested with their guests’ specific interests in mind, to make the holiday even more relaxing and memorable. 

Helen, a Welsh language teacher, aims to give guests a taste of the country’s culture, with lovely little touches of Welsh (‘Bore da’ – or good morning - was spelt out in magnetic children’s letters on the fridge when I arrived), Welsh signs on the doors and an abundance of information about the area and language. With a keen interest in arts & crafts too, Helen is happy to run craft or Welsh languages sessions for little ones, giving parents a well earned hour or two to themselves!

A holiday at Church Cottages is the perfect way to escape the rat race, truly wind down and spend some quality family time together.

Upon entering this family friendly holiday cottage, guests find a cosy hallway with hooks for coats and space for boots when you return from a family day of fun in the fresh air.

First left is the spacious family bathroom with loo, sink, walk-in shower and bath with shower head, for easier bath time hair-washing. Across the hall is the downstairs bedroom/playroom, with a single daybed, wardrobe, TV and plenty of toys and games. This is a good spot for an accompanying grandparent or older child, or alternatively as a playroom.

At the end of the hallway is the pretty, welcoming sitting and dining room. At one side of the room there is a TV (with Freeview), DVD, squishy sofas and a pretty fireplace with a log burner (fireguard provided), for cosy evenings with a glass of wine once the little people have gone to sleep. The opposite end contains the dining table with chairs for 5 and highchair room.

From here, an archway leads into the kitchen, where you'll find everything you'd need for family meals at home (as well as the welcome pack and homemade cake or local Welshcakes provided by the owner - yum!) Off this room is a utility/boot room, where you'll find the washer dryer, a boot storage bench and plenty of space for a buggy and sleeping tot to be gingerly pushed in from the patio area (via another door).

Back in the sitting room is the wooden staircase (with grippers to avoid slipping, gated top and bottom) that leads to the 2 upstairs bedrooms; these lovely rooms have the same latched cottage doors that are common throughout the property. Straight ahead is a pretty single bedroom with a wardrobe and teddies for night time cuddles; there's room for a cot here too and a nightlight is provided.

To the right is the lovely, welcoming double bedroom with built in storage, room for a cot and view across the surrounding fields. The wonderfully comfortable bed (I speak from experience!) and pitch black of night time in a rural hamlet is sure to give you a superb night's sleep (the little people may even lie in if you're lucky!)

To the front of both cottages is a gravelled driveway off a very quiet country lane (gated from the lane). There is sufficient parking for both cottages and a shared grassy garden area with a playhouse.

From all sides are an abundance of walks, ideal for setting out on a family adventure with a picnic.

At the front of the cottage (safely enclosed by gates at both sides) is a private patio area that's just right for little ones to play in whilst parents are getting ready for the day of fun ahead.

Across the parking area, there is also a storage shed / drying room for bikes and other outdoor toys and equipment.

Parent points:

• The shared grassy play area at the front of the cottage is across the parking area so parents will need to watch their children when crossing it (though this part is only used by the guests in the 2 cottages so there is minimal risk).
• It is recommended that children are not allowed in the storage/drying room across the parking area (safely gated) as a low wall from here leads down to a maintenance area.

For the children...

Plenty of toys and books, ride ons for outside, garden playhouse, art & craft and Welsh language activities with owner. 

The cottages are set in a small, pretty hamlet, just a short drive from the beautiful beaches of the Gower peninsula and the breathtaking scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

There are plenty of walks straight from the door, and the cottages are only a short drive to the shops, pubs, swimming pool and other amenities of Pontardawe.

Swansea in one direction and the M4 in the other are also just a few minutes' drive away. Within less than an hour, there are numerous family friendly attractions, from gardens and castles to parks, museums and beaches - there's even roller skating if your little ones want to give it a try!

Owner Helen is the perfect host when it comes to finding things to do - she's passionate about helping her guests to find the right activities, events and attractions to make their holiday extra special, whether it be the perfect castle for little knights & princesses, the best beach for the time of year or a local fair that is great for families.

She's also delighted to provide nature ‘treasure hunts' and fishing rods for the local stream for a ‘back to basics' family day in the fresh air, laying on a picnic in the fields for you when you return (no need even to carry the basket!)

Children are also welcome to help with the chickens and horses at feeding time.

Before booking, please read our Terms and Conditions.

Bookings are generally taken for full weeks and the calendar below shows 7 night blocks; however many owners are happy to consider bookings for additional nights and to consider different starting and departure dates outside of the busy periods.  

Some booked weeks may only be partially booked, and some available weeks may have 5 or 6 nights available. 

Pleas enquire by clicking on the available weeks below or by emailing us on enquiries@totstotravel.co.uk to check you preferred dates.