Bryn-y-groes is a large country house standing in it’s own grounds overlooking Llyn Tegid (Bala lake), the largest natural lake in Wales. The house is owned by the EMW and is available to churches, schools, university and college Christian unions, Christian organisations, Youth groups, and senior citizen groups. It can be used for conferences, houseparties, retreats, holidays, camps etc, or as a base for outdoor activities such as walking, site-seeing, climbing, water sports and much more.
We offer comfortable full board accommodation, which consists of bedrooms ranging from twin bedded rooms to family rooms. Some bedrooms are situated in an annexe and are ideally suited for young people. All bedrooms have their own washbasins and have fitted carpets. Beds are supplied with blankets, Welsh tapestry bedspreads and pillows.
Facilities
Bryn-y-groes has a large lounge/meeting room and two smaller lounges ideal for seminars etc. The large lounge will seat about seventy people and has a piano and electronic organ. An overhead projector and screen are available for use in the lounge, as are a television and video. One of the small lounges also has TV and video connected to an aerial. There is a beautiful dining room and large entrance hall where there are some books and cards etc. for sale. In the entrance lobby there is a pay phone for guests to use. The buildings are centrally heated as needed and we hold a valid certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The numbers in some bedrooms can be varied to suit each party’s requirements and a number of the bedrooms will accommodate a cot. (Please see separate sheet enclosed for standard bedroom arrangements.) We also have a high chair for use in the dining room.
Outside facilities include a hard court for football, tennis and other games. A volleyball area, football/games field and a putting green are also available. Guests are invited to enjoy the beautiful gardens with a wide range of outstanding shrubs, trees, and plants. The gardens are the result of many years of hard work by the previous Managers of the centre. Parents or leaders of groups are asked to accompany children in the gardens, as there are a number of hazards around. A large field below the gardens has been opened up for youngsters to play in.
Catering
At present our catering arrangements are full board and we offer three meals a day with coffee served mid morning and an evening drink before bed. Drinks can be provided at other times by arrangement and an all day drinks point can be provided at a nominal cost. We undertake to carry out all that is necessary for meals including washing up. We do however ask if guests will help us by washing up cups from drinks times and the all day drinks point if provided at you request.
Breakfast is usually served at 8.30am but an earlier time can be arranged. Other meal times can be agreed with us to suit your programme. We ask however that Sunday lunch is arranged for 1pm as far as possible as this allows staff to attend morning worship at the local church.
We cater for people with special dietary needs but we would ask guests to give us specific information about those needs prior to your visit. It is a great help to us if guests bring with them some of the special foods that they need, e.g. wheat free bread. Many people already do this and it helps us make their stay a comfortable one!
Note
Please inform us in advance of any special needs of any kind that any person in your group or family may need and we will do our best to accommodate those needs. See the enclosed sheets for further information about the facilities Bryn-y-groes offers.
Out and About
Bryn-y-groes is situated on the outskirts of the town of Bala and within the outstanding natural beauty of the Snowdonia National Park. Bala is a busy market town with many interesting shops and has a rich history. It is the centre for many farming communities and has a regular animal market and other interesting events throughout the year.
Bala has known much of the blessing of God in its history. Here Thomas Charles preached. It was to Bala that the young Mary Jones walked to purchase her own copy of the Bible. Much more could be said of history but Bryn-y-groes has played it’s part as a place where many have met with the Saviour and many Christians have been encouraged, refreshed and blessed here.
Bala is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Berwyn, Aran and Arennig. This is indeed an area of outstanding beauty and the possibilities for visitors are endless. Try walking, climbing, pony trekking, swimming, canoeing, sailing, fishing or bird watching. Within an hour you can be at the coast or on top of a mountain, or if the beauty overcomes you, you can visit the city of Chester or the towns of Wrexham or Oswestry, all within easy reach. There are castles, slate quarries, woollen mills, craft centres and much more. Across the road from Bryn-y-groes is a leisure centre with swimming pool etc. an excellent Tourist information Centre and across the other side of the lake runs a narrow gauge railway.