Picture this: a quaint cottage at the bottom of a hill. Nestled deep within a beautiful park. Rustic stone. Cottage windows and an unassuming roof that might just slide off.
It could be straight out of a fairytale. But, it’s not. It is the Ugly House (or Ty Hyll) in North Wales.
What is the Ugly House?
The Ugly House is a traditional rustic home that sits in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.
Located just a few miles from Betws-y-Coed in Capel Curig, it’s easy to drive by Ty Hyll without a second glance. Give it a second glance — or better yet, a visit — and you’ll find the Ugly House isn’t ugly at all. In fact, it’s almost idyllic.
Ty Hyll History
No one really knows how the Ugly House came to be. Depending on who you ask, you’ll hear a different story. My favourite tale is of the two outlawed brothers.
Who Built the Ugly House?
The old story goes that in the 15th Century, Snowdonia was wild and unruly. The perfect place if you don’t want to be found. Two brothers — who were on the run — decided to build their home according to Ty Unos, a little known Welsh Law. This law dictated that if you could build a house with four walls in just one night and have smoke coming out of the chimney by morning – you claimed the house and the land.
Lo and behold, the brothers were quick builders.
From there on, the house became a meeting place for outlaws and vagabonds. It contained all sorts of ‘ugly people’ until the 19th century when Thomas Telford started building the famous bridge over the Llugwy river. The cottage was then said to act as shelter for the labourers.
Why is the Ugly House Called The Ugly House?
Again, there are only theories. As the house sits over the river Llugwy, Ty Llugwy was a fitting name. ‘Ty’ is Welsh for house. Llugwy for the locality.
But as Llugwy is often difficult for English visitors to pronounce, it may have eventually become the ‘The Ugly House’.
As time has passed, the name has been translated back in the local language to Ty Hyll — ‘Hyll’ being Welsh for ugly.
Or, we stick with our brothers’ theory — it housed people with ugly intentions.
Walks from Ty Hyll
If you’re looking for a short walk — opt for Swallow Falls. From Ty Hyll, track the banks of the Llugwy you’ll reach the top of Swallow Falls, and then on to a viewpoint at the bottom to take in the full picture of the falls. Circle back, and you’ll be back at the stone house within 40 minutes.
For something a little longer, extend the walk high above the river and up through Gwydir Forest to a beautiful picnic site with views you won’t want to miss. While there are some steep sections up through the forest, it’s an easy downhill route on the way back. This walk is around 5km in total.
If you’re looking to truly make an afternoon of a walk from The Ugly House, you can walk through Gwydir Forest to the Ty’n Llwyn viewpoint and on to peaceful Llyn Bodgynydd on the edge of the forest. It will take around 3 hours without stops, but well worth it on a nice day (weather permitting).
Restaurants near Ty Hyll
If you’re looking for a bite to eat after a visit to The Ugly House, try Plas Penaeldroch Manor on Pont y Pant. A breathtaking view, a lovely selection of homemade cakes and a wood burner to heat you up after an afternoon walk. Bliss. Jane and Carrie are both learning Welsh, so be sure to test them while they take your order!
If you’re happy to go a little further afield De Niros is 6 miles away, DeNiros is a family-friendly café catering to all tastes. Think homemade lamb hot-pot or fish and chips. It’s the perfect family-friendly cafe for a substantial bite to eat, and as I found as a traveller on a budget, really affordable!