Bryn Tyrch Hotel
When I was a small child, in the 1960's, we often stayed at Cobdens in Capel Curig. The hotel was then owned by a Mrs Newman, who also owned the Tyn y Coed just down the road. I think that she also owned the hotel on the A5 at Pentrefoelas. She lived in the house opposite to Cobdens, by the green bridge over the river. Cobdens was always a bit ramshackle, but in a nice sort of way.
In the 1970's Cobdens had really gone down hill and my parents started to stay up the road at the Bryn Tyrch . By this time I had left home, so didn't stay there with them, but often called to have a meal with them when my weekend trips to North Wales coincided with theirs. Over the years I have drunk countless pints of beer and eaten innumerable bar meals at the Bryn Tyrch. Recently the hotel has been refurbished and the standard and choice of food has been greatly improved. There are still the old photographs, taken by the guidebook author WA Poucher, who use to stay here.
We have three children and now that they are getting older, we tend not to stay in hotels and guest houses, as we can no longer all fit in one room, so it can work out very expensive. However, it turns out the Bryn Tyrch has a couple of bunk rooms inside the hotel, which meant that we could fit in one room and the children had a room to themselves. The food was excellent, importantly there were things that the children would eat available in child size portions.
The standard of the rooms was very good, with excellent breakfasts. The staff are also family friendly and the price for B&B for all five of us very reasonable. The location of the hotel in Capel Curig is ideal for visiting all parts of Snowdonia. In fact you can start many walks from the hotel itself, so you don't have to drive at all. I am sure that we shall be staying there again.