Barn Owl Lodge

We had a wonderful time at the lodge, however there were a few issues that we encountered that would have made the stay that much better.

The biggest issue was the smell of urine on the bedroom carpet on the window side. We understand it is a dog friendly cabin and accidents happen. The steps down to the garden felt very unsafe. On the first morning there was an audible crack. I am 16 stone so not a lightweight by any means but the lack of a handrail too made it feel more precarious. Maybe consider a fluorescent strip on each step too. There is a plank loose under the single bed nearest the window for future reference. The TV wouldn’t find the WiFi so we didn’t use it. We aren’t big TV watching people but may be a problem for a tele addict who visits in the future. Not a massive issue but a hair dryer would be a nice addition to the bedroom too. The freezer inside of the fridge will need defrosting as it was impossible to get anything bigger than an ice pack into it. That said, we did enjoy our stay and found the site itself very tidy and welcoming. We would happily come again on the assumption that general maintenance would have been finished on the issues mentioned.

We had a lovely stay, had everything we needed, enjoyed the hot tub as an extra, the location of the lodge was great as it was isolated & away from civilisation and the birdlife was amazing - we saw birds of prey!

Would recommend to anybody wanting to get away for a few days!

We had the most amazing stay.

Everything was as described, clean and comfortable. The other guest's that were staying were very respectful and we enjoyed a peaceful break. My only gripe was not being able to get into the cabin till 4pm and leaving early for departure. I understand for cleaning but don't feel like we got the value of a full priced day.

Beautiful place and the lodge was so tranquil.

Perfect for our little family, we can not wait to return. Thank you! ☺️

We were really disappointed with the lodge, on arrival we found….

clock didn’t work, leaking radiator, freezer door broken, fridge leg broken, chair broken, mould in bathroom, horrendously squeaky floor boards in bathroom! Hot tub lid was almost impossible to move. The front door and patio door handles locks were really tough! The decking and verandas needed some TLC. The whole place was run down and needs some TLC and up lift! In current state, we wouldn’t return! Glad we didn’t pay much for our stay!!

Barn Owl lodge was lovely, clean, warm and had everything you could want.

Hot tub was exceptional and used this everyday! The location is quiet and private. Rhayader is only a short drive for essentials and is only 2.5 mile walk if that is your thing, although this is on the road. The only downside was the Wi-Fi it was so poor that ended up using phone as a hotspot but that was it! Would I stay again absolutely!!

Lovely lodge in stunning countryside.

Lodge was excellent & clean, only down side was the intermittent WiFi The hot tube was the icing on the cake. Would return, no problem.

We don't feel the property represented value for money.

We have stayed in many similar properties where there was a small welcome pack - small milk, biscuits or bread and a pack of butter for example, The fact we were asked to strip beds at the end of our stay, in what was a really expensive property seemed excessive. Overall, the property was OK but nothing special and we struggled to see how you can justify the high cost of staying here.

The lodge is in an amazing peaceful location, the views are to die for and has lots of different wonderful locations near by to keep you entertained.

The lodge on arrival was clean but could do with a freshen up, some of the drawer doors fall off when you go to open them, the hand towel and toilet roll holder were wobbly, and the beds are the noisiest uncomfortable beds I’ve ever had the displeasure to sleep on we almost went home a night early (we only booked for 4 nights!) because we just didn’t want another horrendous nights sleep which is a shame because it really pulls the place down, everything creaked from the floorboards to the bed frames! There is a welcome pack on arrival which gives you all the instructions and it comes with pamphlets, take away menus and a book on what’s around in the area which was nice. The hot tub was cold on arrival which following the instructions left, it still wouldn’t get warm, because we’d not seen any members of staff checking in we were only given a telephone number to ring if any problems not wanting to call someone we’d not met, we ended up Googling how to get it to warm up to find out it was in rest mode! The hot tub had a floating chemical distributer in it however the lid wouldn’t screw on properly so kept falling off so all the tablets were getting exposed to the water. In the advert it says that there is a good connection but can be intermittent at times however it was the connection that was intermittent. It would be handy to have a mop to be able to clean up foot prints from the shower to the hot tub and vice versa. It would be nice to have facilities included such as a hair dryer given the nature of the lodge and complementary tea, coffee sachets so that if travelling from a long distance you can have a nice warm drink before getting any shopping/it being delivered. More toilet roll would have been nice as we had to go out and get more as we were only left what was on the holder and an extra roll which for four nights wasn’t enough. Luckily we booked this as a last minute deal so was on for cheaper than what it should have been, I wouldn’t pay full price to go back and unless the beds were changed we wouldn’t.

Lovely quiet area perfect for relaxing break away

Lovely lodge in a beautiful location

Absolutely fantastic place everything was perfect.

Brilliant views from hot tub. One thing we could suggest is maybe new mattresses as beds where uncomfortable for us (some sticky out springs)

Really lovely lodge, supplied everything what we needed for cooking, clean hot tub, good privacy, beautiful views.

The road can be more appropriate for fully loaded cars.

As advertised, clean and well maintained.

Site very dog friendly. Will probably use again in spring.

Everything was perfect , the only issue was the internet dipping in and out of signal but everything else was perfect

Good location and standard of accommodation, although double bed rather uncomfortable.

Heating very effective and the hot tub was lovely! Customer service lacking somewhat - no visible presence. Confusion on arrival as we were left key for Snowy Owl with no advance explanation as to the reason ( hot tub apparently not working). We had to call the owner to clarify whereas a simple email could have avoided this situation!

I would love to give feedback for barn owl lodge but unfortunately we did not stay in barn owl the key left in reception was for lodge number 3 barn owl is number 6 no one about to explain no email from sykes to let us know had to wonder round to fined out for my self.

lodge 3 was not as nice as barn owl hot tub down steep slope we are both in our seventies so only used once .sykes should have informed us about reapers and gave us the option to come or not not fined out when we arrived. we have used sykes for a long time now an I must say this is the first complaint

We had a lovely stay, the lodge was clean and tidy and very welcoming.

We will definitely come back.

A lovely lodge with excellent views and cleanliness.

Is only a short distance from Rheader town and the Elan valley dams. Will be looking to go back again in the future.

Excellent experience will definitely be coming back highly recommend

We had a lovely stay.

.the lodge has most things you need for your stay. Just to advise you need to take hair dryer and hand soap, we always take our frying pans but there is enough items to cope quite well with. The staff were very helpful and are around if you need them but not intrusive of your space. We would definitely return, to sit in the hot tub looking at the view and watching the red kite is just perfect. The location is fantastic although you feel you're in the middle of nowhere. You are a ten minute drive from the village and 20 minutes from elan valley dams etc... perfect for dog walking.

Extremely quiet and peaceful location with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Highly recommended

Lovely lodges in a beautiful location.

Have visited many times as they're perfect when travelling with a dog. Had a lot of snowfall this time so we were checking the road conditions to plan our checkout, while doing so we met the owner & farmer who updated us on local road closures due to snow and reassured us we could stay until it was safe to drive. He was busy clearing the snow so the farms business could continue yet showed no signs of pressure and was very upbeat and happy to chat. We also received a text message checking we were OK. We use these lodges as a base for mountain biking so were gutted the snow stopped us, a short bike ride into town for supplies and a couple of days in the hot tub looking at the beautiful view made up for it though.

We loved the place.

There were a few, well 6 cats that came to visit us while we were relaxing in the hot tub. I love cats but I wasn't sure if they were wild farm cats after some food. It would have been nice to leave the patio doors open but couldn't as the cats would have got in. On the whole it was private, peaceful and just what we needed for the two nights we stayed. We would recommend the site to our friends and family. We will definitely be back.

Amazing place with outstanding views.

Lovely lodge with everything we need it :) Hot tub was a great add on to our stay .

We had a very relaxing 5 days at the lodge.

The lodge itself is lovely and clean and has everything you need for an enjoyable break. The hot tub was lovely and warm on arrival. The views from the lodge are absolutely stunning and you can watch the sunset from the decking.

Fantastic quiet place.

Lodge clean, Great weekend

Just got back from a stay at Barn Owl Lodge and it was amazing.

Very, very clean, comfy and well laid out. Comfortable beds and lots of space and enough storage and we take alot of things! A few niggles with WIFI connection mainly to the tv. It worked alot of the time with the laptop which was most important to us and especially our 16year old son..lol.. we could not get a signal on the tv long enough to be able to use Netflix etc. To be honest it wasn't something we needed so was not really a problem. The team tried their best to sort it and were very helpful and very apologetic. It was not their fault at all. They told us that the internet had just been improved there and it was obviously just a blip :) just one of those things which will be sorted. Obviously too the weather can play havoc with these things too.. We left before it could be looked at but to be honest we spent most of our days out before getting back in the evening and going in the hot tub. We were so shattered and so were our 2 dogs. The hot tub was a welcome treat and we used it alot. The garden around the lodge and the patio area was absolutely lovely and quite private and ideal for relaxing for us and our dogs. Beautifully planted with lovely shrubs and well kept grass and driveway..Very sunny and south facing, beautiful. There was no parasol but the team again were amazing and although could not get us a parasol at short notice they gave us a large gazebo for the second patio table which made the world of difference to us. I have to say that I feel that nothing was too much trouble for them and customer service was superb!! The maintenance man was constantly working and tidying up around the site, seemed like everyday and he was very polite. Very laid back site. Good for dogs, lots of little walks and paths on site with dog bins and water for them. We liked the wooded area on site too. We walked around it quite a few times and a lovely bonus for the dogs to sniff (and roll in things.. lol) and somewhere shady but it could do with a bit of fixing especially the two little bridges, usable but quite wobbly and clearing of a few of the paths. Am sure this is a work in progress and it did not deter us from using it at all. Bottom field was a lovely place to walk and sit.. I would recommend the lodges on Oakfield to anyone visiting Rhayadar and we would definately love to stay there again if we are in the area. It is a perfect home from home to return to after being out enjoying the area or for just for spending time.. Thank you for a fantastic holiday

Beautiful lodge in gorgeous setting.

The lodge was clean and tidy when we arrived and we were impressed with it. Very peaceful environment. Lovely walk in the grounds too. Hot tub was a massive hit! Thank you for a lovely holiday xx

Lovely property in a beautiful area of Wales.

Lodge was very clean and spacious. Easy to check in/out. Facilities and amenities were great. Hot Tub was amazing. Will definitely be going back.

The lodge was situated in a beautiful location, with a breathtaking view.

The rooms were airy and the beds comfortable, just a shame the double bed was very noisy, waking you up each time you moved, but just a little snag - overall the place was lovely and we would definitely look to visit again for a nice relaxing break.

I recommend it, a great place for a family holiday.

Well equipped kitchen. Hot tub is perfect for relaxing even when it's cold outside. Lodge is clean and has everything what you need. Beautiful views from the lodge.

We had a lovely stay, the cabin was really good, would definitely recommend!

A very good lodge Thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet

Very good location.

Lodge was lovely and had everything we needed. Very comfortable, hot tub was lovely and brilliant heating for drying towels/ swimwear. Would definitely return in the future.

Excellent accommodation for a dog friendly holiday.

It was doggy heaven with relaxed atmosphere, other holiday makers with dogs, two dog fields and a small wood for walks, and - best of all - plenty of dog poo bins provided. After a long day walking and enjoying (us and the dogs!) the beautiful forests, mountains, waterfalls, streams and nature reserves in the surrounding area, we (the humans!) could relax in the glorious hot tub while the dogs slept on the enclosed decking safe from harm. Some people have complained that the decor in the cabins is a little tired but I found that no problem. I would say it was well-loved and used by holiday makers and their pets. If it had been too posh, I would have been worrying all holiday in case my dogs did something to spoil it (even though they behave like angels). The cabin had everything we needed. We'll definitely be back.

Clean, well kept site.

We needed a quiet countryside place to base ourselves so that we could visit various parts of Wales and this met our expectations.

Barn Owl was basic in it's kitchen provision.

Shower was great. Beds were comfortable. Sofas in lounge area need to be dumped - they are totally sagging and without any comfortable support. Hot tub cover was split and full of water and nearly crippled my husband and I trying to get it on and off. We were advised another was on order but staff did find an old one which covered it although not a good fit. Two days later a new filter was fitted and the old one was very brown !! We did leave a whole day and a half early because apart from the bird nest in the corner of the roof and the dawn crying of babies wanting to be fed (this however was tolerable) What was not tolerable was the 130 plus flies we had to look at on the three fly papers we had to hang up. The worst bit was when they were bombarding you while in bed. Had enough by Wednesday and went home.

The site is lovely and the grounds are well maintained.

The cabins need updating, they are looking worn and sad, the woodwork is pealing badly. Furniture is very old and scruffy, paintings faded, a dripping tap, the remote didn't work very well, probably needs a new battery, the coffee table was wobbly, the dining chairs covers all need replacing. On the plus side, the bed was very very comfy, the bedding and towels excellent. The bathroom and kitchen were satisfactory. We enjoyed using the hot tub which was very clean and maintained every day. It badly needs a new cover and instructions about how to remove it as it was damaged. Lots of good points and the area was outstanding, scenery top marks, good pubs, people fantastic......and the ever spectacular Red Kites everywhere. We enjoyed our holiday and would recommend to friends.

Beautiful Lodge with amazing views.

Well equipped with just about everything you need. Only critique, and it is very minor, could have done with an iron and board, but overall a wonderful staycation..

Absolutely stunning!

. Staff amazing, bed linen and towels were so white. Hot tub was perfect!. Definitely return what a beautiful part of Wales.

The Wi-Fi was rubbish cut out every couple of seconds for the TV and the phone.

A fantastic place to get away from in all!

The facilities were excellent and we especially loved the hot tub in the evenings. It’s a perfect base. We will return!

Relaxing amazing scenery

The stars late at night in the hot tub are literally a life changing event , so beautiful!

! The views overall are stunning , lovely walks in woods very close to lodges.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay, hot tub was ready upon arrival which was great and the town was only a short drive to go to the shops.

Check in was easy and we found the lodge to be very clean, great facilities and the hot tub was in full working order and cleaned every day, great location for the Elan Valley and perfect for our few days getaway to relax and see pretty scenery.

We will certainly be staying here again.

Hot tub wasn't working when arrived, so they moved us to another lodge straight away with hot tub working.

Excellent lodge, and very peaceful place to stay