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Green B&B

Listed as one of the 30 coolest B&Bs in Britain in March 2010, by the Times, Bryn Bella is an eco-lover’s dream. Here are some of our highlights..

  • electricity from renewable sources
  • water heated by solar energy
  • actively recycle wherever possible
  • home grown fruit and vegetables
  • eggs from our chickens
  • free electric car charging point for our guests
Bryn Bella has a large rear garden that can be used by guests. During the day it is a haven for birds, insects and small mammals. During the evening, when there is no cloud, the lack of light pollution means we get beautiful starry skies, which, combined with the sounds of the courting owls and the many bats, make it an enchanting place.

The garden is accessed by the path at the side of the house. There are 2 steps at the bottom of the path and further steps at the top with hand rails where necessary. There are two patio areas at the rear with seating and parasols, as well as other seating areas dotted around the garden for your enjoyment. The garden is lit purely by solar lighting.

Admire the industrious birds as they fly in and out of the nest boxes feeding their young. Watch the butterflies and bees flit from flower to flower collecting pollen. In the evening listen for the hedgehogs snuffling around in the undergrowth. Listen for the familiar “twit twoo” of the courting tawny owls and look out for the bats as they fly by collecting insects

Green Garden

We have removed the non-native conifers and replaced them with native species. We now have a wildlife pond which encourages more wildlife into the garden and have created flower beds which have been seeded with native flowers including bluebells.

There is also a front garden which catches the sun all day with a relaxing patio area. In addition there is a pond area as well as a selection of bird feeders which provide plenty of entertainment throughout the day.

The garden is not just an area of beauty; it is also a working garden.

Bryn Bella was the first B&B in North Wales to receive the prestigious Gold Award from the Green Business Tourism Scheme, and was named “Most Sustainable B&B” in the Green Snowdonia Tourism Awards. Since then we have continued to improve our credentials by reducing our carbon footprint, a fact recognised in the Carbon Foot Print awards of 2011. In 2012 we became the first guest house in Snowdonia to install electric car charging points as part of Zero Net – the UK’s only unrestricted national electric car charging network.

 

In 2012 we were awarded Free2Network Green Business of the Year, and in 2013 we were awarded the Green Tourism Business of the Year by the Conwy Valley Rural Business Partnership. We are keen to promote sustainable transport and concepts such as car-free tourism where possible and have devised a number of routes both for guests to arrive at Bryn Bella and for them to enjoy the area using the Sherpa bus service or the many other local buses and trains. For those wishing to explore the region by bike these can be hired locally.

For those travelling by public transport, check out Traveline Journey Planner to see how easy it can be to travel to Bryn Bella. Collection can be arranged from Betws-y-Coed train station with prior notification. We also have a guide to seeing Snowdonia Without a Car for once you are here. Our gardens support a variety of wild life, a combination of mature trees, wild areas as well as flowerbeds and shrubs making up an eco-system helping to attract insects, butterflies, birds and mammals. See our garden page for more information View the Environmental Policy for Bryn Bella Guest House.

Our Eco-Pioneer Commitment

At Bryn Bella Guest House, sustainability isn’t just a policy; it’s our guiding principle. We have been recycling, insulating, composting and so much more for over 23 years. We believe in “Thinking Globally and Acting Locally” to ensure this beautiful landscape remains vibrant for generations to come and have won many awards in recognition of this activity.

The Green Growth Pledge

The Green Growth Pledge helps Welsh businesses take pro-active steps towards improving their sustainability, reducing their emissions, and demonstrating their positive impact on the people and places around them, as well as joining a growing community of forward-thinking organisations who are helping Wales transition to a low carbon future. The Green Growth Pledge suggests a range of straightforward, practical actions that can be taken, such as reducing vehicle use, increasing water and energy efficiency and working with responsible suppliers that will help companies become sustainable, more efficient and to decarbonise.

Home-Grown & Local Food

We take “local” to the next level. Our award-winning breakfasts feature eggs laid by our very own free-range hens right here at Bryn Bella. For everything else, we source ingredients from trusted suppliers within Conwy. By supporting small-scale traders, we reduce our carbon footprint and ensure our guests enjoy the freshest, most authentic taste of Eryri.

The Green Soft Soap

In our five ensuite rooms, you’ll find toiletries that are as kind to the planet as they are to your skin. We provide paraben-free products in eco-reusable packaging. We’ve eliminated the need for harsh chemicals, ensuring a natural, restorative stay.

Renewable Energy & EV Charging

As an eco-friendly pioneer, we don’t just talk about green energy; we generate it. Our guest house utilizes renewable energy sources for our hot water, and we are proud to offer on-site EV charging facilities to our guests, can you believe we installed our first EV charger in 2012! You can explore the National Park all day and recharge your vehicle overnight, right here at your base in Betws-y-Coed.

Linen & Water Conservation

Water is a precious resource in the mountains. We operate a Guest Reuse Scheme for all linens and towels. If you’re staying for multiple nights and happy to reuse your towels, simply leave them on the rail. We’ve also fitted low-flow toilets and low-energy lighting throughout the house to minimise our environmental impact without compromising your comfort. We also harvest water to use in the garden and regularly have 6300ltr for immediate use for growing, building works and many other activities.

Waste Innovation & Composting

We view “waste” as a resource. By managing our food waste responsibly, including our own on-site composting, we reduce the amount of material sent to landfill and the number of heavy vehicles on our local roads. Our goal is a circular system where our garden waste helps fuel the very land that produces our breakfast eggs.

Ethical Building & Maintenance

Whenever we update and maintain our rooms, we choose local and ethical materials. From Welsh slate to natural wood, our refurbishments are designed to extend the lifecycle of our furnishings and celebrate the craftsmanship of North Wales.

Chickens at Bryn Bella

Every breakfast egg you enjoy at Bryn Bella is laid by our resident ex-battery hens, who are now flourishing in their “second life” here thanks to the incredible work of the British Hen Welfare Trust. Even our chickens are recycled!

Plastic Free Eryri Champion

We are proud that Bryn Bella has achieved ‘COPA’ Gold status with Plastic Free Y Wyddfa initiative, aiming to make our mountains the first plastic-free peaks in the world. In addition Bryn Bella is also certified Silver SAS Plastic Free Champion. From removing single use bottles and containers to eliminating single-use plastics in our supply chain, we are constantly finding new ways to keep our community and our hills clean.

Think Globally – Act Locally. At Bryn Bella, every action we take is designed to protect the environment we call home. We invite you to join us in this mission during your next stay. Remember it’s the little things that all add up to make a big difference for us all.

Also check out our complete  Guide to Eco friendly Accommodation in Snowdonia