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.

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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.

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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 .

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Meet the pets

Zola

4 years

Photo of Jess

Jess

2 years

Photo of Ella

Ella

17 years

Photo of Myszka

Myszka

4 years

Sitter Reviews (14)

Homeowner Reviews (0)

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Stayed: 16 Nov 2018 - 11 Dec 2018
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What a little piece of paradise! The house is in a beautiful part of the world. Nika and Kasia are such wonderful dogs to look after. We loved taking them on long walks up and around the hills. Ella the cat is a sweetheart and the chickens were no trouble. Tony and Krystyna were wonderful hosts, truely lovely people who made us feel welcome and at home. We would recommend this house sit without a moments hesitation!

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Stayed: 31 Jul 2018 - 04 Aug 2018
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We had a wonderful time at Christina’s and Tony’s house looking after their pets. Kasia and Nika the dogs are very cute and energetic. We enjoyed going for walks in the woods or up the mountain with them. They also love to just wander and lie around the garden. Christina and Tony gave many ideas on where to go for walks and what to see. That was very helpful. The house is very cosy and comfortable and has everything we needed. We would definitely return. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity.

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Stayed: 19 Jun 2018 - 24 Jun 2018
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Stayed: 29 Apr 2018 - 08 May 2018

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Christine
Last time sitter needed: 2 months 21 days ago