Mid Wales · near Machynlleth
The kayaks live down by the water and they are yours to use, a few steps from your door. Paddle the quiet pools, drift past the reflections, then pull in by the fire pit. Five little self-catering cottages share our private 75-acre valley, with wild swimming, a real fire to cook on, beavers at dusk and some of the darkest skies in Wales.
Blaeneinion is twenty years of careful, loving work: woodland, ponds, permaculture, and since the beavers came home, a sanctuary you can hear at dusk. This is our private home, not a business, so anything you see is a suggested donation towards its keep, never a commercial rate. When you stay you have our unique 75-acre site almost to yourselves. Please do come and slow right down.
A wild family of around ten feeds by the fire pit at dusk, in the same spot every evening. Sit still and keep quiet and you can watch them up close. Please be kind to them, they are wild creatures and only come because they trust us to be calm and peaceful.
We have no light pollution out here, so the stars really are phenomenal and the dawn chorus is something else. You can walk straight up into the Cambrian Mountains from the farm.
The kayaks, fire pit and grounds are all communal. Wild swim and plunge, cook supper over a real fire, meet the bees, and share our 75 acres with voles, newts, pine martens, polecats, dragonflies, herons and bats.
An evening with the beavers
This is simply how the evenings go here. The beavers are wild and free to come or not, so some nights they are out for an hour and some nights not at all, and that is really the whole point of it.
More about the beavers and how to watch themThey feed at the bottom of the valley, by the communal fire pit, a short walk from every cottage.
Dusk is the time, and spring through autumn is best. Bring something warm to sit in and a little patience.
Sit still and keep your voice low. We follow the simple advice for watching beavers kindly, so they keep trusting us with these evenings.
From both bedrooms in The Haven you can see one of the beaver wetlands and the beavers swimming near their feeding place. It is the closest you can sleep to them.
See The HavenEach one is small, warm and a little different, with its own character. They're all fully self-catering, with wood heat and freshly laundered bed linen, towels and tea towels included.
Suggested donationfrom £120 / night4.9Sleeps 5
A very pretty cottage over two floors, with sole use of the octagonal glass gazebo and its wood burning stove. Sleeps up to 5.
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Suggested donationfrom £95 / night4.95Sleeps 4
A pretty little wooden house with a double mezzanine bed and flexible sleeping below. Composting toilet, bucket shower and a wood burning stove inside. Sleeps 3–4.
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Suggested donationfrom £105 / night4.87Sleeps 6
Single storey and all on the level, step-free throughout. A wood burning stove, a groovy avocado bath, and room for up to 6. Honest, affordable, no frills.
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Suggested donationfrom £135 / night4.91Sleeps 6
Also known as Stone Cottage, one of our larger properties, with two double bedrooms and an open-plan downstairs. Comfortably sleeps up to 5 adults and a child.
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Suggested donationfrom £145 / nightBeaver views4.89Sleeps 6
The original 16th-century part of the house, lovingly restored: two double bedrooms with beaver-wetland views, a cast iron bath, and a good Wi-Fi connection. Sleeps up to 6.
View cottageAirbnb Superhost · Guest favourite
Guests have stayed with Sharon at Blaeneinion year after year. Across her five cottages that is 1082 reviews on Airbnb over 13 years of hosting, as a Superhost with identity verified.
“This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places. Obviously living next door to beavers is magic, but the birdsong, the sound of running water, the clean clean air, and the peace as you sit on the balcony looking up into the hills or sit by the stove at night, help your heart and soul unfurl and revive your spirit.”
“Myself and my family had a perfect mini break! The accommodation was beautiful, simple and rustic, just as described, but the real gem was the idyllic surroundings. We enjoyed every second exploring, feeding the friendly chickens, playing on the swings, sitting at the campfire toasting marshmallows, and meeting a wild beaver. We absolutely loved it.”
“A magical off-grid escape! Sharon is a wonderful host and Blaeneinion is a hidden gem. The absolute highlight for us was watching the beavers at dusk and enjoying the absolute peace of the valley. Highly recommend for any nature lover!”
A few honest practicalities, so you arrive knowing what to expect. Anything else, just ask and we'll happily help.
We're at the head of a quiet valley up a single-track lane near Furnace, between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth. Please follow the directions we send rather than sat-nav alone, and watch out for the cheeky potholes. There's parking for two cars at each cottage.
There is little to no mobile signal here, which most folk grow to love. There's shared wifi in the Breakfast Room for essential messages, but we are three miles from the exchange, so please don't expect super-fast speeds.
Every cottage is fully self-catering with a wood burner or stove. We supply freshly laundered linen, towels and tea towels, and the basics to get you started.
With no light pollution the stars are phenomenal. The fire pit, kayaks and 75 acres are yours to share, and the beavers feed by the fire pit most evenings.
You arrange everything privately, directly with us. No middle-man and no platform in between, just a friendly hello and a reply from us. Anything you give is a suggested donation towards the place.
Pick a cottage and your dates and send them over. It's just an enquiry, nothing is held or agreed until we reply.
We'll reply ourselves to confirm the dates work, and send simple bank-transfer details for a deposit towards your donation.
The deposit holds your dates, and you give the rest when you arrive. That's the whole thing :)
Pick your dates and send us a request. We'll always come back to you ourselves.
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