Gilar House	The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse, added in 1623, is one of very few such remaining in Wales. Both buildings retain many original features including exposed oak beams, large fireplaces and oak panelled walls. Although no longer used as the entrance, the Gatehouse still houses the original gate and is about 35 yards to the front of the main house. Welsh farmhouses of this period were often built in two halves to house two generations of farming families. The other half of Gilar House is home to a couple who have farmed actively since 1965 and are a blessing to have next door – there is no crisis they cannot deal with!

Gilar is set on a 500 acre working hill farm which runs Welsh sheep and some cattle. It is hoped that visitors to the house will explore the farm, following the private road that runs up through ancient woodland to wilder rocky slopes, almost to the top of Garn Prys mountain. Once there you will find two small lakes, both stocked with trout, from where there are sensational views of the entire Snowdon range — the perfect spot for a getaway picnic. Gilar was featured in the BBC TV Holiday Programme, 10 of the Best UK, as well as in Food & Travel Magazine in March 2004. To quote the latter, ‘the main house is stunning with oak panelling and fireplaces large enough to hide a whole herd of sheep. There is even a 7ft wide four-poster bed’.

Dining Room	Living Room

North Wales offers a huge range of things to do for all age groups and all tastes, but Gilar is particularly well served for those keen on fishing. Game, coarse and sea fishing opportunities abound within easy reach of the house.

Ground floor: Entrance porch to huge, studded front door. Entrance hall. Large, oak panelled, beamed, superbly comfortable sitting room. Large log fireplace – logs supplied. Radio/CD, TV and DVD player. To the right of the hall is a magnificent dining room with stunning oak refectory table big enough for 10, plate warmers and huge (non-working) fireplace. Through the dining room is a downstairs bathroom with roll-top bath with splendid, centred shower over. At the end of the hall, a step leads into the quite small, but very well equipped, modern fitted kitchen with dishwasher, double oven, microwave, fridge and freezer. There is cutlery and crockery for ten place settings and drawers and cupboards offer a wide range of pots, pans and modern utensils. There is a good-sized under-stairs cupboard which houses iron, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, floor polisher etc.

The stairs in Gilar House are one of the more ‘quirky’ features. They are quite steep, irregular and, in places, awkward. The owners have taken every possible precaution by reinforcing banisters, adding handrails and fitting appropriate carpets, but guests should take great care using the stairs and we recommend that small children should be accompanied.

Master Bedroom	The Gatehouse

First floor: Spacious, panelled master bedroom with super king size (7 ft.) oak four poster bed with wealth of exposed beams. Main twin bedded room with glorious original floorboards and rugs. Cosy single bedroom. Upstairs full bathroom.

More stairs lead to second floor twin bedroom with sloping ceiling – always a favourite with children.

Behind the house is a separate ‘washhouse’ containing washing machine and tumble dryer.

The Gatehouse room is reached by a flight of outside stone steps. It is attractively furnished with a quality double sofabed, tables, lamps and a chest. To accommodate a party of nine at Gilar linen will be supplied for the bed. For parties of seven or fewer, the room will be set up for use as a day room for anyone wanting a little peace and quiet, reading room, games or wet weather picnics. The main window faces over the large walled garden to the front of Gilar House and the view from the top of the steps, over the farm, is lovely.

Gilar House has central heating and the Gatehouse can be warmed by an electric oil-filled radiator.

Outside: Large garden, tables, benches, chairs and ‘oil barrel’ barbecue. Kennel. It must be noted that Gilar is a working farm and occasionally the yard not far from the house may contain sheep or cattle. It is also essential that children are made aware of the danger of vehicles moving about the farm and not enter any of the farm buildings or play near farm vehicles or machinery. Dogs must be kept on a lead around the farm and all livestock.