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The Retreat

Guest Rating
Rating
5.0
out of 5
Carmarthenshire » Llansawel
Sleeps up to 15
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 6
Welcome to The Retreat, a much loved family home since 2006 and a place where memories have been made for decades. Over the years, this remarkable property has watched children grow, echoed with laughter during music festivals and weddings, and provided a welcoming haven for hundreds of happy campers; Today, after thoughtful and sympathetic renovation, The Retreat has been transformed into a spacious, character filled sanctuary set within the peaceful grounds of the historic Glanrannell Park estate, right in the heart of the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside.
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At Sykes Cottages
 

About The Retreat

Welcome to The Retreat, a much loved family home since 2006 and a place where memories have been made for decades. Over the years, this remarkable property has watched children grow, echoed with laughter during music festivals and weddings, and provided a welcoming haven for hundreds of happy campers; Today, after thoughtful and sympathetic renovation, The Retreat has been transformed into a spacious, character filled sanctuary set within the peaceful grounds of the historic Glanrannell Park estate, right in the heart of the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside.

Sleeping up to 15 guests, The Retreat is the perfect setting for multi generational family gatherings, milestone celebrations, or simply reconnecting with loved ones in a serene rural landscape; Every corner of the house has been designed with comfort, warmth, and togetherness in mind. Inside, you’ll discover six beautifully appointed en suite bedrooms, each offering its own charm and a restful place to unwind after a day of exploring; A convenient ground floor cloakroom with two WCs ensures plenty of space for larger groups; The elegant drawing room invites you to sink into soft furnishings and enjoy relaxed evenings, while the magnificent open plan kitchen and dining area provides the ideal hub for cooking, sharing meals, and lingering over conversation; A modern utility room adds practicality for longer stays.

Step outside and you’ll find your own private courtyard, a wonderfully sheltered space centred around a covered pergola—affectionately known as “the cwtch”; This cosy outdoor haven features an outdoor heater, comfortable seating, festoon lighting, an additional WC, a BBQ area, and a generous dining space; It’s the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee, long lazy lunches, or magical evenings under the glow of the lights. Beyond the courtyard, the estate opens up into a world of natural beauty and adventure; Wander down to the tranquil lake, where paddle boards and a rowing boat await those who want to get out on the water; For pure relaxation, slip into the warmth of the lakeside hot tub and take in the peaceful surroundings; Guests can also enjoy gentle river activities or spend time meeting and feeding the friendly pigs and striking peafowl that call the estate home.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

Cottages Near The Retreat

8 Miles
Sleeps 8
Pets 1
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 5
Aberdauddwr
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The Retreat Reviews

Pauline
We booked a family weekend to celebrate two milestone birthdays a 50th and an 18th! It was without doubt the best weekend ever in quite the best place we have ever stayed! Fabulous house and grounds in a beautiful area of Wales. Plenty of space to play board games, read, watch television, socialise and chill out. A real feeling of luxury! We didnt manage to take advantage of all it had to offer but imagine boating and paddleboarding in better weather would be great fun. The Kitchen was very well equipped tho we thought a 4 slice toaster would have been even better to cope with the number of guests! And our chef for the weekend suggested a need to move the shelf where the probe goes for the oven to avoid possible damage The hot tub was much appreciated and well used a bit far from the house in the inclement weather?! We did think the addition of pathways to the hot tub and some paving around it would be a good way to stop the mud The youngsters loved the games room and the dressing up box in fact the dressing up box was voted totally AWESOME by all and particularly by our 5 year old granddaughter! Lovely bedrooms and comfy beds though the bed in the master bedroom was a little on the high side for us! But I guess it needs to be high to make the most of the fab view! A fabulous, elegant house and grounds which had everything we needed and more with some lovely touches. Would definitely recommend to others and return next time we are planning a family get together. Many thanks to our hosts Beth and David for their warm welcome into this lovely place.
The house was phenomenal! We booked at short notice over new year, due to an issue with another property booked through Sykes. The owners could not have been more accommodating. Its a beautiful house, with superb finishes. Long drive to the house and loads of parking. The kitchen is like new, all mod cons, including two dish washers, a fridgefreezer, separate fridge and wine fridge, new appliances, plates, cutlery etc. Fab large dining table and a piano. The rooms are elegant and comfortable. We loved the TV screen in the front room we were convinced it was a picture, very clever and tastefully decorated. There are two downstairs toilets and each bedroom has its own ensuite. The owners have thought of all the finishing touches, board games, dressing up outfits for the kids and a record player and vinyls to name a few things. You couldnt hear a thing downstairs from the bedrooms, which is a massive plus when your with a large group. Beautiful grounds with its own boating lake, I imagine paddle boarding on this in summer would be amazeballs. It has loads of out door seating, an outside toilet and seating area right near the house with BBQ and heaters. A separate seating area and a hot tub at the bottom of the garden past the lake. Its snowed during our stay and it was magical, they had put up Christmas decorations. We used the hot tub in the snowy conditions and it was perfect, stayed so hot! We stayed for 5 nights and Beth and Dave were brilliant. Dave let our little ones feed the pigs and visit the peacocks. Ted, their son, was super welcoming and so helpful. I could go on and on. If youre looking for a chilled family holiday with plenty of space inside and out, with activities for the family and a quality finish, book it I promise you wont be disappointed !
Weve just returned from a family holiday during half term. The house accommodated 14 of us beautifully in lovely big bedrooms all ensuite. The lounge was big enough to sit and watch tv or chill out and read, and the log burner was very welcome in the evenings. The huge dining room table was perfect for family meals and for board games. The kitchen was very well equipped, lots of crockery, glasses, pans, oven dishes etc, very useful two dishwashers. Also two fridges plus freezer which we made full use of. The small lake with its rowing boat and paddle boards was a big hit with the teenagers, as was the table tennis. The adults enjoyed the hot tub, especially after dark when they could stargaze. The house is set in lovely grounds, very peaceful. Plenty of parking. Would love to return in summer when we could sit outside and enjoy the surroundings. David and Beth were very helpful when we needed anything, but also very discreet.
Heather
A most memorable and happy week end that easily and comfortably accommodated our 8 adult, 6 children family. Beth and Dave could not have been more welcoming for our special birthday celebratory stay the birthday bubbly, and the welcome pack was much appreciated. So much fun also for the younger members in the games room, feeding the pigs, and the hot tub was a particular hit for adults and children. The accommodation could not be bettered, tastefully furnished with ample and quality kitchen ware. Many happy memories were certainly made during our stay, we will certainly return to this idyllic place.
We have just returned from the most incredible weekend at The Retreat at Glanrannell Park House and we cant stop talking about how wonderful it was! Three families 6 adults and 6 children from ages 3 to 12 stayed together and from start to finish it was absolutely fabulous. The children and adults! had endless fun on the pond with the rowing boat and paddleboards it was such a unique highlight and created so many happy memories. The woodfired hot tub, tucked away in its beautiful and peaceful setting, was another favourite the perfect place to relax and unwind while soaking up the surroundings. Our host, Beth was welcoming from the moment we arrived, and went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. One evening she lit the firepit for us and surprised the children with a bag of giant marshmallows and extra long sticks so they could toast them over the flames a lovely touch that made the experience truly magical for them and us!. The house itself is stunning, spacious, and perfectly set up for groups. The kitchen has everything you need and a fabulous big dining table. We also enjoyed a BBQ and catching up outside in the relaxing, private 'cwtch' area with the outdoor heater. Weve all said the same thing it was one of the best weekends we've had, and were already planning when we can come back.
Lovely place, well thought and well organized.
Zainab
We had an absolutely wonderful stay! The place was awesomebeautifully kept, full of unique pieces and furniture that gave it so much character. The view was simply fantastic, and everything about our visit was superb. All the families, including the kids, truly enjoyed themselves, and warm hospitality made our time there even more special. Well definitely be coming back to visit! Thank you again for everything. It was an unforgettable experience! Zainab Qazi
The Retreat a Is just beautiful. Not only do all the bedrooms have en suite facilities, they are very spacious and decorated beautifully. The grounds surrounding the house are stunning, including views across the lake. We loved the cwtch where we sat outside many times to enjoy a BBQ or to listen to Millicent and Maude, the resident pigs! The accommodation was amazing and so were the owners! The whole family were so friendly and approachable. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and David even went above and beyond when he took the tyre off one of our cars following a puncture! Would absolutely have no hesitation in recommending this beautiful property, and should we be venturing out this way again, would love to pay another visit. Thank you, Beth, David, Lydia and Ted for such an enjoyable holiday!
Victoria
This newly renovated property was perfect. The indoor decor was a mix of modern and traditional and done with real flair and attention to detail. The kitchen was well stocked with good quality utensils and cookware to enable a feast to be made. The dining table was feast worthy. The outside areas were stunning terraced lawns with peacocks, a lake, a hot tub and games room with ping pong and darts. Plenty of parking. It was a really great place to escape to with friends. David, Beth and Ted were fantastic hosts and I wish them all the best with this venture.
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Attractions Near The Retreat

While there'll be plenty to keep you entertained at The Retreat itself, if you plan to get out and about and see some of what Carmarthenshire has to offer, here are some of the nearby attractions you can enjoy during your stay. Please note that some of these activities and days out are paid and it's always a good idea to book in advance to secure your place where applicable.

Found a special day out near your cottage? Please let us know and we'll add it so that other visitors can enjoy it too!
Dinefwr Park and Castle - SA19 6RT
about 9 Miles
Dinefwr Park and Castle is the perfect place to come if you like the great outdoors. These stunning ruins are one of the areas most iconic landmarks and are surrounded by breathtaking scenery and wildlife of all descriptions. There is also a 17th century mansion to explore with grand rooms and wonderful exhibits of paintings and tapestries. The gardens feature amazing floral displays and there is also a delightful Tea Room. Children can let of steam on the adventure playground.
National Botanic Garden of Wales - SA32 8HN
about 14 Miles
When the weather is nice this attraction is perfect as you can wander around and admire the superb range of exotic trees and shrubs.  They look different at different times of the year but one of the most popular times to see them is in Autumn.  With various events throughout the year such as Apple Weekend there is always something new to experience.  You can watch a 90 second film about this attraction on their website which is excellent.
Merlin Hill Centre - SA67 8BP
about 15 Miles
Merlin Hill Centre is a working dairy farm located deep in the Carmarthenshire countryside. Although not a petting farm the farm is still very family friendly with plenty of fun activities to keep children happy. The farm has a good sized play area and plenty of picnic tables as well as a Farmyard Heritage Centre where visitors can learn all about Welsh farm life and about the mystical Legend of Merlin. Get there early if you want to watch the cows being milked!
Cantref Adventure Farm - LD3 8LR
about 26 Miles
Cantref Adventure Farm offers hours of indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family. Inside there is a huge soft play area with a separate area for toddlers as well as ball pools, climbing frames, slides and chutes. The Cannon balls are a big hit with children of all ages. New for 2010 is the Badgers quest interactive maze. Outside there is a play area, large boating lake with paddle boats, nature trails with clues and quizzes and an agility course. At only £29.00 for a family of 4 the park offers outstanding value for money.