Welsh farmhouse in the mountains of Snowdonia , with 2 dogs, 2 cats and chickens
Introduction
My husband Tony and I love travelling in our campervan and were taking our dogs with us to Europe each year upto the covid pandemic as well as exploring the U.K. . Then we had a 4 year break and were caring for my mother who moved in with us and who has now sadly passed away . So we became free to travel again and will take our dogs with us if we can if we go on a long trip each autumn . So sometimes it’s just cats and poultry and garden maintenance to do but there will be care of the dogs too sometimes. Eg. when we go to visit family in Africa we don’t take the dogs with us nor if we fly to Europe occasionally or go away for some weekends where dogs are not welcome. Tony is a retired landscape gardener who still hand carves lettering on stone when he has time and I have had a variety of careers over the years ( counsellor, tutor, housing support worker) and was a local volunteer at Citizens Advice as well as their trainer until a few years ago. We are both retired now and are both keen walkers and cyclists with Tony never happier than up a mountain. We sing in a natural voice choir and dance the 5 rhythms ( an improvisational movement practice.) Tony also plays the whistles and ukulele and I love reading. We both love wild swimming although unlike Tony I stop swimming in the lake up the hill behind our house in winter. We can be in the sea in less than 20 minutes drive too or we cycle there along the Mawddach trail in just over an hour.
Show more...Home & location
Our 250 year old Welsh stone farmhouse has been extensively renovated to be cosy and warm in winter with a log fire and underfloor heating throughout the ground floor. It has 3 bedrooms upstairs and is open plan mainly downstairs. The front garden has a large sunny patio , conservatory with a view of Cader Idris , lawn and a pond seating area. The remaining grounds are a couple of outbuildings/ wood sheds, a wooded copse , a small paddock where we keep chickens and a veg garden with a greenhouse and polytunnel. One acre in all. There are numerous walks through fields of sheep or through the woods , where both deer and badgers live , up the small mountain with a river and lake to swim in behind us , as well as access to other paths in south Snowdonia right from our door. Dolgellau with it’s good pubs and restaurants is 2 miles away and there will be bikes available to use. It is 9 miles to cycle the old railway line which is now the well known Mawddach trail , across the estuary to the tourist town of Barmouth with its sandy beach or a bit further to the less touristy beach at Fairbourne with its little railway.
Show more...Responsibilities
Feeding the dogs their dry foods with a spoon of wet tinned dog food mixed in - around 7.30 am and 6.30 pm . Taking them for walks once or twice a day . The longer the better although 20 minutes up the footpath would do in very heavy rain! Feeding Ella half a sachet of wet cat food twice a day and both cats dry food on demand in different places ( although they eat each others too) , All 4 are on different Dry foods and should not eat each other’s ideally as Ella is on a senior 11+ diet but the cats do eat each others. Zola is on a satiety diet as she is always hungry and would get fat if she could eat regular dog food . Chickens need food topped up every other day in winter but less frequently when there is fresh grass to eat and a couple of handfuls of corn an hour before they go in at dusk in winter to keep their bellies full and keep them warm. They are given fresh water too if they do not have access to the stream as it gets blocked in winter with leaves or may dry up in summer. Chickens need letting out each morning and shutting in at night to protect them from foxes. From May onwards 3 hanging baskets and a dozen or so pots of flowers on the patio need watering with water from the pond ( 3 watering can loads a day). Grass Lawn in front and side of house needs cutting fortnightly or every 10 days in summer with electric mower. Depending on the time of year there maybe veg to water in the small greenhouse and small polytunnel and even to pick and enjoy if we go away for any length of time and they would go to waste.but in 2024 we are having a year off gardening as we are travelling so much and friends are taking over our veg garden . No medications at the moment .
Show more...Meet the pets
Zola
4 years
Jess
2 years
Ella
17 years
Myszka
4 years
Sitter Reviews (14)
Homeowner Reviews (0)
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Krystina & Tony live in a really idyllic part of North Wales in a small cottage with beautiful views and great walks right from the front door. There is also a great cycle path which leads all the way to the coast along the stunning Mawddach Trail. But the real highlight of this house sit was the animals! Kashia & Nika were great fun and typical terriers who exploded with excitement for their walks, very energetic and just a tad mischievious. We really enjoyed our walks with them everyday and our snuggles every evening. Cara & Ella are very sweet cats. Ella is a little elusive and likes to keep herself to herself and Cara is very friendly and best pals with Nika - was very cute to watch her & Nika play together. Thank you both for choosing us as your Trusted Housesitters :)
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I had a great time with the dogs, cats and chickens! Christine lives in a idyllic cottage in the heart of beautiful North Wales. Lots of amazing walks directly from the house and a mountain to climb only a stones throw away! To top it all a hidden lake to swim in is a short walk from the cottage. The dogs are fun, energetic and loving and the cats are friendly too! It’s great having fresh eggs from the hens everyday! Overall if you want to get away from it all this is the perfect sit with lots of lovely animals to keep you company and a v comfortable place to stay. Thank you Christine for being a great host!
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It was a great pleasure to look after Christine and Tony’s lovely home and pets. Their cottage is in a great spot with fantastic local walks. We fell in love with the pets immediately - such characters. Kasia and Nika their dogs were very entertaining as they dashed off excitedly on their walks, making us smile every time we took them out. Both dogs were very affectionate, snuggling up to us when they had the opportunity. The way the dogs played with the younger cat was very entertaining too - the cat seems to think she is a dog and wants to play with them. The older cat generally keeps to herself and is no trouble at all. Looking after the chickens was really easy. Christine and Tony are very nice, easy going people and we would highly recommend sitting for them. We certainly would like to return sometime.
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I loved housesitting for Krystyna and Tony - such brilliant animals with great personalities who I fell in love with and hated leaving, absolutely idyllic scenery with lovely forest walks on the doorstep and not far to mountains and the coast, and beautiful home. Also doable without a car which was great, as Asda deliver! Krystyna and Tony were also really lovely people and I'd be more than happy to look after the animals again any time. Highly recommended!
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Christine
