Our hut
![Cefn Garw in summer [photo: Neil Taylor]](Hut-Summer-Neil.jpg)
Cefn Garw is an old stone-built farmhouse, retaining much of its original character, which is located
close to Pentrefoelas on the A5, a few miles from Betws-y-Coed.
Cefn Garw has been OMC's home in the mountains since the 1960s and provides an excellent base for exploration of the Snowdonia hills. The Llanberis and Ogwen passes are a short drive away and a slightly longer journey takes the visitor to Tremadog and the Rhinogs.
Cefn Garw combines accessibility with peacefulness. It benefits from a secluded location at the end of a long track but is less than a mile from the main A5 route into North Wales. There are beautiful views across the fields towards the mountains.
The field behind the house provides a good location for barbecues etc and Cefn's location just outside the main mountain area ensures that the weather is usually much better than that further west.
There are two pubs within easy walking distance - the Giler Arms and the Foelas Arms. Both provide a good selection of beers and bar meals and are very welcoming to visitors. The village post office in Pentrefoelas is a useful local source of most food items, coal, firelighters and so on.
The hut accommodates a total of 24 people in three dormitory rooms, of which four places are always reserved for OMC members. Facilities include upstairs and downstairs WCs with washing basins, drying room, hot water in bathrooms and kitchen, electric storage heating, and gas cooking rings in the kitchen.
A large sitting room, heated by a pot-bellied stove, provides a good location for social events or communal meals cooked in the adjoining kitchen.
If you are visiting North Wales do consider making your base at Cefn. We welcome bookings from members of other British Mountaineering Council affiliated clubs please contact us if you are interested.
layout, orientation and facilities
- There are three rooms with alpine style bunks. The main rooms, Cairngorm and Alpine, accommodate 8 and 12 people. The 'members only' bunkroom sleeps 4.
- 2 washrooms each with a flush toilets, hand basin and hot water.
- Kitchen with sink, hot and cold water, 8 gas rings, microwave, pans, crockery, cutlery and utensils.
- Lobby / drying room - Leave wet and/or dirty boots and clothes here.
- Living room with stove, electric fan heater, chairs and table - no boots in here.
- Electric storage heaters in bunk rooms and living room.
- Camping: there is room for one or two tents in the area directly behind the house. Advise the Hut Booking Secretary if you wish to camp so that the farmer can be notified.
bring your own
- sleeping bag or bedding
- matches
- bin bags to take rubbish away - can be disposed of in Pentrefoelas
- loo roll
- kindling and coal for stove
- torch
- welly boots may be useful
conditions of use
The OMC calendar includes a number of meets at Cefn Garw. You may bring up to 2 guests per member for some OMC meets. Members are also encouraged to use the hut at other times. Booking is not required for casual use by up to 4 people. You may however wish to ask the Hut Booking Secretary whether other people are booked in. (In case another casual group should be around!) Booking will give you priority over unbooked people. You should book if more than about 4 people are going.
Groups from outside the OMC may use the hut only if booked in advance. Up to 20 places are available. One cheque for half the fees, together with a second separate cheque for £ 10 for a key deposit should be sent in advance to the Hut Booking Secretary to confirm the booking. The cheque for £ 10 key deposit will be destroyed once the key has been returned. The balance of the hut fees is to be sent promptly after the visit.
fees, payment of fees and expenses
| type | adult | student | unemployed | child (under 18) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMC Members | £ 3.00 | £ 2.00 | £ 2.00 | £ 1.25 |
| Non-members | £ 5.00 | £ 3.50 | £ 3.50 | £ 2.50 |
Please pay full/balance of fees to the Hut Booking Secretary within 7 days of the stay. Please include a Visit Form with details of the stay with the fee. These forms are with the log book at the hut. Make cheques payable to "Oxford Mountaineering Club".
If you need to replace and pay for a Gas cylinder, your costs will be reimbursed by the OMC if you contact the Treasurer and provide receipts. Please do not deduct the amount from hut fees as this causes complication to accounting systems.