The Lodge

Very disappointed with our stay.

The property was advertised as dog friendly, however it was only partially dog friendly downstairs and we found nails, screws, and pieces of metal in the garden, which was extremely dangerous for our dog and completely unacceptable. The overall cleanliness and maintenance of the lodge were very poor. The saucepans were heavily scratched, worn, and unhygienic, and clearly should have been replaced. The grill handle did not even fit the grill properly, and there were very limited utensils provided. The furniture throughout the lodge was also uncomfortable and worn. The shower was dirty with visible mould present, and the shower door was broken. There were multiple maintenance issues throughout the property including towel rails hanging off the wall, stiff doors, a bathroom lock/latch downstairs that did not fit properly, broken door handles, loose plug sockets, a broken bin lid, and a light hanging out of the ceiling. The freezer clearly had not been defrosted in a very long time. The drawers were covered in thick ice, almost frozen shut, and one of the freezer drawers was also broken. We also found stained bed sheets, which added to the feeling that the property had not been properly cleaned or maintained before our arrival. Overall, the lodge was not up to acceptable standards and did not reflect the quality we expected when booking through Sykes Cottages.

Enjoyed a lovely break in the cottage, the location is amazing, many walks from the front door.

Kitchen well equipped. The property was very clean, but hot tub had some dirt in it and needed topping up from the 1st day. Local pubs do amazing food. We had a problem with the boiler pressure during the stay, the owner wasn't able to get someone out immediately, but we were able to resolve this ourselves in the end. After the break I reported some maintenance issues to the owners but received no reply, these are issues reported: - Temp control on double bedroom radiator not working so only option is for radiator on all of the time. -Towel rail in bathroom needs repair -Torch in boiler cupboard had no batteries in and had battery leak damage. (We had a few power cuts during our stay but had our own torches, not everyone has them though) -Big gap in door seal in bedroom balcony door, during windy weather there was a breeze coming through this. The cottage could be amazing if minor maintenance issues were addressed, I wouldn't have felt the need to leave a slightly negative review had the owner responded to the feedback given. They were very flexible about early arrival and late departure though due to weather conditions which we were greatful for.

We loved the location and setting of The Lodge.

Even in the rain and wind we were able to enjoy our stay. The location is within a good distance of Merthyr Tydfil for any shopping and there is plenty of access to the Brecon Beacon walks from here. The property itself is a little tired and could do with some TLC in places . That being said it didn't affect the enjoyment of our stay. Some of the pans in the kitchen hadn't been cleaned properly but this was easy to sort out. Well appointed kitchen with everything we needed. The hot tub was great even in the rain. Lovely view from the back of the property with glimpses down to the reservoir with plenty of wildlife to enjoy. The location was generally peaceful but we did hear some nearby fireworks, something to consider if you have a nervous dog at that time of year. A larger bed in the master bedroom would have been nice as there is plenty of room for one. We will definitely consider this or the neighbouring property for a future stay.

A lovely warm and cozy lodge tucked away in beautiful surroundings.

The property had everything we needed- a well stocked kitchen, large lounge area, comfy bed and the hot tub was amazing after long walks throughout the week. The location is perfect- we walked from the front door to Pen Y Fan and the outdoor centre! Also not far from the famous waterfall walk and within easy reach of Merthyr Tydfil to stock up on supplies. I would highly recommend this lodge for a quiet escape in the Welsh hills. We will definitely return soon!

Amazing location for a quiet relaxing holiday.

Access was easy through Key safe and property was as described. As stated on details phone signal quite poor, however my EE was fine, my friends other network didn’t have signal though, WIFI in property was good, so was able to use that. There was a few minor points that we felt could have improved things slightly. The hot tub was lovely and easy to use however it desperately needed more chlorine after a few days usage, so could have done with a bottle being left or someone coming in to add. The twin room beds were quite hard (personal choice so not a criticism) most cases this room would be for children but ours was used by adult. The stairs are very creaky so impossible to creep upstairs when others are sleeping. The bin system wasn’t very clear, one green and one black wheelie left but nothing to split recycling, we did the best we could and even ended up bringing the glass home, no bags found despite instructions booklet asking us to use coloured bags. All the above said we would not hesitate in staying at The Lodge again, there was never a huge problem and it was a beautiful setting and a perfect off the track retreat. Thank you .

A beautiful property, thoughtfully decked out with luxury bedroom linens and crockery, and a fabulously comfy 3 piece suite.

I just loved the garden design and planting, at both the front and back of the house. The hot tub was a sure-fire winner, what a treat! And the view, wow, just wow! The walks nearby are just superb, with a variety of woodland, reservoir, and spectacular views. I have absolutely no regrets booking this property ❤️

The lodge is just what we wanted, it’s in a great spot for peace and quiet.

We had a very relaxing holiday. We found the lodge clean and very comfortable. It had the basics of what you need on holiday. Though lacked the personal touches which would be nice for the price you pay. The hot tub could do with some maintenance as we couldn’t get the jets to work and disappointing that there are no bath robes available. All in all a nice little find.

Lovely location and the hot tub was a big plus point, so that was great.

And the views from the patio wonderful. However, and it is hard to define, but, there was an air of The Lodge being somewhat unloved.

Such a beautiful property - incredible views and the hot tub was a god send after we did the Pen Y Fan Horseshoe hike.

Clean and well maintained, I want to go back already!

Excellent base for exploring the beacons.

Very clean,comfortable with all the facilities you need. Nice secure garden for the dogs & plenty of parking.

The instructions to get to the property were really clear and the house was lovely.

Gorgeous views at the back too and the hot tub was perfect - thank you!

On arrival the property smelt of fish, which even with windows open etc we could not shift.

The flush in the downstairs bathroom did not work properly and you had to take he top of the cistern off to be able to sort it out. The location was great, the hot tub was a great touch and Apart from the above the property was great.

As described lovely place to stay

This was a lovely place to stay and ideal location for our lifestyle with two dogs.

Plenty to see with lots of amazing walks (even considering the snow). The property though has been neglected with dangerous decking broken lights and the cleaning was poor at best. The garden is also not secure as there is a style over the fence so we had to use what was in the garden to block this off so beware.

We had a lovely September stay with the most fabulous weather!

Everything as described and plenty of information. Can highly recommend the Red Cow just down the road, lovely people and great food

A torch would have been useful as there was a 13hr+ power cut late Tuesday - Wednesday afternoon and we did not take our mobile phones to bed.

Although totally beyond owners control, this did mean we were unable to make a hot drink or cook and required a 3.5 mile journey to obtain a mobile signal to ascertain what was happening via the National Grid. We found the property absolutely delightful in amazing surroundings. Easily accessible for local towns and mountains!!

Idyllic setting & amazing that google maps got you straight there!

Stunning surroundings, only birds, sheep and the train for company in the main. Really well-stocked too! A few things to note though: we went early June and hadn’t anticipated the midges - so pack bug spray/citronella. The back fence has a stye to the meadow behind. There is a largish gap here where dogs could jump through if they realised. We kept ours on a long camping stake for security in the main. Only two bath towels were provided but there were four of us so luckily my partner and I had brought our own towels and the kids used the ones supplied.

We had a great time.

This was our second visit peaceful and secluded. Would not change a thing. Just one small suggestion this is a small amount of mould in the lower part of the shower that needs removing. This will not stop.us from booking again in the future .

Beautiful location although the picture gives the appearance of direct access to the reservoir which is not the case.

Lovely views from the bedrooms and is a great base for walking, biking etc and very near to the Outdoor Centre. There is another home on the property with shared access. The cleaners appeared to have done the basics but there was cobwebs on lights and window blinds in the kitchen along with many marks on the walls in the front room; one small hole in the wall. Basic thing were missing from the kitchen such as a whisk, mixing bowl and ice tray Curtains throughout the house are filthy. The locks on the door to the kitchen from patio were broken which creates a security concern, especially of you're coming from an urban area of life. The downstairs toilet had a cracked lid and a large hole in the wall on the floor. Shower is decent and easy to access/control. Upstairs bathroom has reduced height due to the roof but other than that is okay. Main bedroom has a storage bed but the draw kept getting stuck as the bottom had fallen through so we couldn't use it. Smaller bedroom is great but the balcony rail looked like it needed some attention, I left the door open at night with the curtains closed and it allowed the room to remain cool. The garden could be beautiful if it was maintained and looked after, the security lighting didn't work and only one light in the decking worked so you wouldn't be able to stay outside safely after dark. Decking has many holes in it and we reported another as my son's foot went through it; clear from the wood it was rotten. Top of the posts had lichen growing out and the amount of it was clear that it's been like that for some time. We were informed that the decking is being replaced in June. The hot tub was decent but there was dirt in the bottom of the tub upon arrival and one of the jet filaments kept falling out. There is so much potential with this property but needed some work and subsequent regular maintenance along with Cleaners doing their job thoroughly. I would go so far as to say if they did there is the potential to increase prices.

We had an amazing weekend.

The place is phenomenally gorgeous & the location is perfect. Sat morning we sat outside in the back with the warm sun, birds chirping, the trees rustling having cooked/fruit breakfast and the peace of no cars. The garden looks over the water. The green scenery and trees made the place peaceful. The evening we sat in the hot tub with watching the stars with a cheese/fruit board until 0430. Although the shear darkness and deadly silence made a scene for a hot tube murder scene. Taking my missus away here for a birthday/proposal weekend was definitely a great decision and the weekend was special. The whole weekend was great plenty of walking routes to go and have fun in the wilderness wink wink. Honestly I could not say enough good things.

A very cosy and warm stay.

Everything needed for comfortable stay.

Loved our stay.

Few things could have made it even better. Firstly, no lighting outside on decking area. Secondly, a lot of rain meant couldn’t use the hot tub as often as we’d have liked as no cover over it. Thirdly, more info prior to arrival on local pubs where we could have eaten etc woykd have been nice. Fourthly, we were told to clean the hob with hobrite but there wasn’t any. Lastly, there were no bins outside for the property. So we struggled to know what to do with the rubbish.

Wow just wow.

We booked this for a couples weekend away as a base but it was more then this , a total home from home in beautiful surroundings. Fully equipped kitchen , Christmas tree and lights were a lovely touch , the hot tub amazing and relaxing after long walks. Made a celebration weekend 10x better we will definitely be back as a family. Dogs also enjoyed the garden area. Peaceful even with the lodge in front you don't notice any one is their.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cottage.

A great location for a quiet peaceful break away. Beautiful setting surrounded by lovely walks, cottage was decorated with Christmas tree lights etc which was a lovely suprise. Would highly recommend to others and will be passing details to family members and friends.

We had a lovely time here!

The garden was a little smaller than it seemed in the photos and not fully secure, but our two dogs still really enjoyed it. The hot tub was lovely and the whole space was very clean and well kept. And being right on the reservoir meant we were really close to lots of beautiful walks!

We had a lovely stay in the lodge.

Would highly recommend

We had a lovely 2 weeks holiday in The Lodge, it’s a cosy cottage with the most breathtaking views, the photos don’t do it justice ~ you have to see it with your own eyes to truly appreciate it :o) it’s very quiet & peaceful, you only hear the nearby sheep, horses, crows and birds, it is on a country lane with a few cars going past every now and then but we didn’t hear them, the hot tub is lovely too and being in it looking out over the stunning view is just so relaxing, there is another cottage ‘The Chapel’ next door but you don’t even notice it is there, the owners have built a fence between the 2 cottages for privacy which is great, the beds are really comfortable and the facilities in the kitchen was brilliant, lots of cutlery, great knives, crockery, pots & pans & casserole dishes, we have stayed in a few cottages through Sykes, but this was by far the best for kitchen facilities, there is no washing machine or dishwasher, but this doesn’t stop you enjoying your holiday, and in my opinion washing up by hand is always the best anyway, there really is no phone signal but I actually loved this as it meant no one could bother you, but only a short 5 minute drive away and the signal was back, just in case you need it, Wi-Fi was really good we thought, we lost signal a couple of times but it rebooted itself within seconds so you hardly noticed it, there are some lovely walks around the cottage to the reservoir and a cute quaint tea room that did the most amazing scones and tea, the cream was silky smooth and so delicious ~ definitely worth a visit, the vintage steam train is nearby which was lovely and there is an adventure company within walking distance that offer canoeing, zip lining, sup boarding, archery, hiking, cave diving and sailing etc which was great, or 20 minutes drive away took you to horse riding stables which we loved, you are totally in the quiet country side and yet 20 minutes drive away takes you to Merthyr Tydfil, a big town with great shops for retail therapy, great night life and a huge Tescos, there aren’t any wardrobes in the bedrooms but plenty of drawer space with hanging hooks on the back of the bedroom doors, perhaps having an iron & ironing board would be helpful but all in all this was an amazing holiday and we had the best time staying here, we honestly didn’t want to leave and I totally recommend staying at The Lodge for a quiet, cosy, relaxing and peaceful retreat

We had to do allot of cleaning before settling into our holiday, the shower was flooding because of the trap was full of hair so we cleaned that.

The decking outside was very dangerous and my hubby ended up having to clear a path for us to use that was free of moss, it was raining on and off and hubby went flying with the slippery moss. The downstairs loo wall on the left needed a clean because it was speckled with blood, no idea what had happened there!! It is a lovely property and in a great location but I’d suggest whoever cleans it to do a more thorough check. It didn’t spoil the stay (apart from the slip) but we had an issue with the cleanliness ,that said if the cleaning was done to a better standard we’d happily stay again, in fact we came home and bought the exact same sofas as they were superb

Amazing place to stay!

Gorgeous location and cosy lodge.The hot tub was brilliant and there is an enclosed field attached to your garden so you can let doggies roam without worry while you relax in the tub. It’s so quiet and peaceful and even though there is another lodge next door, the positioning of the buildings means you have plenty of privacy. The Wi-Fi was pretty good too. Only one negative point is that the dog poo bin was overflowing.

Lovely cottage in a idyllic location with everything that you need.

Had a great stay at the Lodge, a week of hiking was topped being able to go back to the lodge and relax!

Had everything we needed and the hot tub was a real treat to rest tiring limbs at the end of the day. Would 100% recommend it to anyone and if we go back to the Brecon Beacons we will definitely stay at the lodge again. Brilliant stay!!

The property is set in a beautiful location it is quiet and private even with another holiday home in the vicinity.

Everything as described and lovely touches with condiments provided. Highly recommended!

We rented both properties as a family, we were glad they were so close together, but had we not been with family, we would have preferred to know how close together they are, there is NO privacy if you were in the hot tubs between to two properties.

Although the Lodge was clean, we found a sock in the main bedroom, also the dog poo bucket was pm our decking absolutely full to the brim. The BBQ had also not been cleaned/emptied, it had rubbish in it. The landing light didn't work so we had to use our phone torch as there were no windows on the stairway. There were weeds round the entrance to the propert which don't give a great 1st impression. Also the dining table wasn't stable as one of its legs wasn't secure. No wardrobe/clothes rail in either bedroom, despite there being room. A washing machine would also be great (or make it clear that there isnt one in either property) We did thoroughly enjoy our stay though, but think there are a few things that could be improved

Really lovely accommodation had everything we needed.

It was in a gorgeous and quiet location with plenty of walks to explore. The hot tub was a lovely treat after a day's walk. We have already recommended to friends

We really enjoyed our stay at the lodge, we felt it was very cosy and clean.

The hot was such a bonus after long walks. This was also extremely clean. The only thing we felt was needed was more lighting outside during the evening when we were both in hot tub and letting our dog out.

Lovely lodge and Lovely grounds .

Nice and peaceful setting. Kitchen facilities and utensils was good. Supplied washing up liquid and hand soaps tea towels and Bath towels Great having the shower downstairs for when you get out of the hot tub. The lodge was always warm. Think the hot tub should of been checked for the pH levels. It wasn't checked all week. Would definitely go back again. 10 min drive to the nearest waterfalls ,plenty of walks and trails around and right next to the reservoirs.

The cottage is lovely, very warm and welcoming.

The cottage is easy to find from the instructions, however 4pm in winter might make it hard to find in the dark! Hot tub is a great feature. Very dog friendly. Lovely walks. Well equipped kitchen. Comfy beds!

Stunning lodge with beautiful surroundings

We encountered some issues while we were here which resulted in us leaving a day early.

Namely... The boiler broke down and overflowed leaving us with intermittent hot water and heating. This was nerve wracking given the closely located fuse box. When the boiler was fixed on our 3rd day, we had the opposite issue with the temperature unexplainably jumping to 25° in the night. We found the double bed to be very uncomfortable and instead took to sleeping in the singles which were a slight improvement but still left us with a poor night's sleep and ensuing aches and pains. On our second to last day, the fridge appeared to stop working, having days earlier done everything it could to try and freeze a lot of our food. When we were stripping the bed prior to departure, we found a not-small-amount of what appeared to be dog hair under the bedsheet / on top of the mattress protector which suggests that the cleaners had not washed and changed this from prior visitor(s). The only other thought or point of consideration for future visitors, is that the uncarpeted staircase is very noisy. If you have easily woken kids, this may be a problem for you. For those that need it, we didn't encounter any loss of internet connectivity during our stay. The owners were great through the issues that we faced, very responsive to our messages and they have, I'm told, visited the address after we left in order to resolve these issues. It has to be said that the location itself is lovely, and perhaps we simply fell on an unlucky week for the building. I would probably go back, if I knew that these issues had been completely resolved, as there is a lot of potential there and the location really is lovely - great for stargazing on a clear night and the hot tub was amongst the best that we have had on such a break. The building / other facilities just need a bit of work before I'd go back.

Beautiful cottage, lovely furnishings.

However we did not realise that we were right next door to another holiday let. There is no enclosed garden for the dogs. As it is dog friendly we were expecting an area.The beds were lovely and comfortable however the pillows were flat and uncomfortable. I would not stay here again simply because of the garden issue.

We have just returned from a fantastic week at the lodge.

The views and the surroundings are incredible. We went as a family of 4 (children 12&9) and 2 dogs we all had such a great time. We spent most of our time walking with the dogs but we also had a day in cardiff, a ride on the brecon mountain railway and booked the zip line at parkwood outdoors (highly recommended) We will certainly be booking again.

A lovely little cottage in a fantastic location.

Plenty of places to go and things to do locally. Great walks all around you. The property was great with lovely views. It was pouring with rain when we arrived, the gutters were blocked and we had a water fall right over the front door, luckily there was a ladder there so I soon had it sorted. The last people to stay also left several dog poos dotted around which was a little annoying. All in all we had a great time and we would love to come back again and again. J & L.

Nice property a little remote for us as we had a 6 month old baby with us but fantastic area for walking scenery was fantastic ,only down side I would say could of done with a washing machine & probably a small wardrobe in he main bedroom.

Apart from that Happy with every thing else .p

The Lodge was beautiful, clean and spotless inside and outside.

Perfect for us as walkers with dogs. As we arnt I T people it didn't bother us not being able to get WI FI or phone signals at all until we went to the Brecon Railway about 3 miles or so. We absolutely loved the property and I would say its the best one in every way that we've stayed in on your books.

Absolutely lovely lodge in beautiful setting.

Cosy and warm. The hot tub was relaxing even in the rain! Will certainly be back!

The cottage was beautiful.

The Wi-Fi however was scetchy and only really worked at the front of the house which was disappointing when you sit at the back to enjoy the views. Also could have done with a mop. Otherwise it’s was stunning!

We were surprised that The Chapel is a few meters from The Lodge, this is not mentioned in any of the descriptions.

If there had been guests it would certainly not have been the quiet getaway we envisioned. The Lodge itself is lovely, clean and spacious with lovely towels and plenty of options in the kitchen. The only catch was the freezer was unusable as it was completely frozen shut. There was no bbq upon arrival, but the owners quickly told us to use the one from the other property- so we lugged it over. The maintenance on the adjacent property,The Chapel, was on days noisy as they were doing building work and electrical work, in doing so they cut the wi-fi (which they quickly sorted when we asked them). The Lodge is also on a rather busy road so mornings and evenings outside will be interrupted by motorbikes, cars pumping music and hikers chatting as they either make their way up.or down- you are about 5m from the road so you can hear each conversation . To be honest we had hoped for a quieter spot! The area is perfect for hikes, check out the waterfalls on a hot summers day and a lovely tea room up the road that serves afternoon tea and great ice creams.

The only thing I would suggest is an oven glove for the kitchen and a possible 2nd towel to dry up with.

Overall we were really pleased with it and we would book again as it was great for the dogs and was a great base

Main points of issue of The Lodge: Garden was scruffy we, informed by the owner that a gardener came twice a week.

No evidence of that during our stay. Unable to find after searching the property a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher. Sykes spoke to the owner who said that there was one there but not where to find them. PAT testing on electrics in the property was out of date should have been checked August 2021. Central heating thermostat is in a locked box so you can not change the temperature. Sykes told us that they do not inspect the properties on their site, for accuracy of information which is supplied by the owner. We have used Sykes for a number of years and for reason above we would never use them again. Our families safety is more important.

The views from the property were outstanding, smells of pine, birds and mountain views!

. Very many beautiful walks with the dogs. We lost Wifi after a couple of hours and never got it back till Thursday afternoon. The downstairs shower room door sticks badly. I would also emphasis that the garden other than the patio is not dog friendly. Not a problem for our dogs but could be for others as they can walk out onto the next property which is unfenced. One small thing was there was no corkscrew.....most important for a good bottle of wine.

The property was in a very beautiful setting and it was pretty easy to navigate to shops and other amenities.

Would definitely recommend to dog owners as the walks are perfect.