Update! Pen Hendre is no longer available. For family friendly stays in North Wales, you may enjoy Surf snowdonia camping pods, Llechwedd glamping tents, or choose from some of the best family friendly campsites in North Wales!
We have just returned from a wonderful family holiday in North Wales. We used to have a family caravan in Llanbedrog in North Wales, so I have some wonderful family childhood memories of long Summers spent here, and like to think I know the area fairly well. I always had an aim to return every year with the children in tow, but we just haven’t managed it for the last couple of years. We are always on the look out for brilliant self catering accommodation options in North Wales that are family friendly and provide a super base to explore the Llŷn Peninsula. When I was searching for North Wales Holiday cottages I came across Pen Hendre – an exceptional Llŷn Peninsula holiday cottage in the village of Trefor, North Wales.
*AD – review stay
Pen Hendre – North Wales holiday cottage
Pen Hendre is a 5* Visit Wales spacious holiday home in the village of Trefor, North Wales. Pen Hendre is a family friendly and dog friendly North Wales holiday cottage, and offers an ideal base for exploring the Llŷn Peninsula.
Llŷn Peninsula map
Trefor is a village on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a traditional village with the Yr Eifl Mountain behind the village, and has its own sandy beach and harbour, and a post office, village shop and local pub.
Pen Hendre – Family friendly accommodation on the Llŷn Peninsula
Owned by Craig, Louise and Gregor, Pen Hendre is an exceptionally beautiful self catering property that is both family friendly and dog friendly. The moment we walked into the property I knew we would have a really lovely holiday in North Wales. The house itself is a contemporary and spacious home – and beautifully decorated. Craig and Louise have literally thought of everything…and more – with so many beautiful touches to make your stay special.
I started writing this cottage review sitting on the sofa, watching my children play happily in the living room of Pen Hendre. They were playing with all of the board games and toys available for the children. As I mentioned before, there are so many added things to really make it homely. In the living room there is WiFi, a record player (and eclectic collection of vinyl), DVD player, (and a range of DVDs), DAB radio/CD player, Alexa with unlimited music account, and a SmartTV with Netflix, Amazon Video and Freesat box. Gosh, the kids had fun with the linked Alexas!
The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need for your stay, with all the necessary utensils, crockery and cutlery you will require. There is a fridge freezer, microwave, oven/hob, dishwasher and washing machine. There is also a Nespresso compatible coffer machine. Craig and Louise provide a lovely welcome pack with milk, water, tea bags, coffee pods and a few local goodies (the fudge is amazing!!) to keep you going on your arrival.
Upstairs you will find a beautiful additional seating area, with books, games, retro toys, local guides, miniature snooker/football table, and playing cards, so there is plenty to keep you and the kids entertained if the weather is poor. So much so that we found it difficult to get the kids to go out – they were quite happy staying in!
There are two beautifully furnished bedrooms. A double bedroom on the first floor and a twin bedroom on the second floor. This luxury self catering holiday cottage in Trefor sleeps four, but our youngest slept on a Z bed comfortably with the girls on the second floor. Bedding is provided and we bought along our toddlers bedding from home for the additional bed. Another thing I loved was the little things like the stair gates – a great and thoughtful addition that makes travelling with young children stress free. The master bedroom had the most beautiful retro mid century dressing table (I need one of these for my home) and painted drawers and a wardrobe.
Finally, there is a large and beautifully modern bathroom on the ground floor with Molten Brown products and a shower. Towels are provided (do bring your own beach towels).
Parking is on the street outside and we had no problems parking outside the property during our stay.
Pen Hendre holiday cottage – the little things
I have mentioned these before, but it is the little things that really make a stay memorable and special. On arrival we spotted three activity packs, marshmallow lollypops and three soft toy lambs left for the children with a little handwritten note. An absolutely beautiful and thoughtful gift. I also spotted a box that contained a little treat for your dog, a dog bowl, towel, mat and two dog tags that read ” I am on my doggy holidays”…another gorgeous touch.
Dotted around the house there are lovely little messages on coasters, posters and on pebbles. My favourite was the instant camera where they ask you to take a picture and include it with your comments in their comment book. We took a couple of selfies and added it to the Pen Hendre guest book at the end of our stay.
You will find all the extras, blankets, umbrellas, toys, and buckets and spades, fishing nets etc – I can’t emphasise this enough – they have thought of everything for your stay.
Travelling with young children?
Pen Hendre also has this covered. There are baby gates available. There is also a travel cot, bedside guards, a high chair, baby bath changing mat, toilet seat insert all provided.
If you need plastic plates, cups and utensils these are also available.
We didn’t need to bring any toys with us as there is a huge selection of board games and children’s toys (it took me a while to get my youngest to part with the Postman Pat toys!). There is also plenty of beach toys including buckets and spades and fishing nets.
Exploring the Llŷn Peninsula
You may find my post on things to do on the Llŷn Peninsula useful
There is so much to do around the area. I love nothing more than a holiday in North Wales. The weather has been so dreadful this week but there is still so much to do and the area is beautiful whatever the weather. We spied a break in the rain and headed to the popular seaside resort of Abersoch for a few hours. Abersoch village is about 25 minutes drive from Pen Hendre. I can highly recommend Zinc bar and cafe for a bite to eat. We wandered to the main Abersoch beach, where there are numerous water-sports and sailing events held here each year (and they have the most gorgeous ‘instagrammable’ beach huts). We spent a couple of hours here enjoying the winter sunshine.
We also visited one of my favourite beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula – Llanbedrog (about 20 minutes drive). I absolutely love it on Llanbedrog beach – the children spent hours collecting seashells and pebbles to paint when we get home. Llanbedrog has a car park (free if you are a member of the National Trust). The beach also has National Trust beach huts that are available to rent between April and September and can be rented at seasonal, weekly and daily rates. There is a cafe and toilets here too.
Review: Pen Hendre holiday cottage North wales – final thoughts
We had an absolutely wonderful short stay in North Wales. Pen Hendre has to be one of our favourite family friendly self catering holiday cottages that we have stayed at. The kids loved it – so much so they didn’t want to leave (or go out for that matter!) and I would not hesitate in booking to return for a holiday on the Llŷn Peninsula. Thank you so much for having us Craig and Louise. You have an absolute gem of a cottage that will be part of some wonderful holiday memories for so many guests.
For more information and to book visit Pen Hendre holiday Cottage North Wales
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**Disclosure – We were invited to stay at Pen Hendre for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own.**