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Pen Hendre Holiday Cottage REVIEW: A family holiday in North Wales

Blog· Europe· Travel· UK

1 Mar

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

Trefor beach and harbour, close to Pen Hendre Self Catering holiday cottage.

Pen Hendre – North Wales holiday cottage

  • Pen Hendre – North Wales holiday cottage
  • Pen Hendre – Family friendly accommodation on the Llŷn Peninsula
  • Pen Hendre holiday cottage – the little things
  • Travelling with young children?
  • Exploring the Llŷn Peninsula
  • Review: Pen Hendre holiday cottage North wales – final thoughts

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.

Trefor beach, a ten minute walk from Pen Hendre holiday cottage in North Wales

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!

Living area at Pen Hendre Holiday Cottage, Trefor, North Wales.

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.

Kitchen area in pen Hendre holiday cottage

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!

first floor seating area with guitar, retro games and toys for the children at Pen Hendre holiday home

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.

Pen Hendre holiday home - a luxury self catering property to rent in Trefor on the Llyn Peninsula

Exploring the Llŷn Peninsula

You may find my post on things to do on the Llŷn Peninsula useful

Abersoch beach and beach huts

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.

Abersoch harbour on a sunny day

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.

Llanbedrog beach on a winter day on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales

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

You may also enjoy – Surfing in Snowdonia

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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.**

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

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