Tŷ Hyll was constructed from boulders weighing up to three tonnes
A famous and unique ‘ugly’ house steeped in Welsh folklore has gone on sale for £199,000 – but locals aren’t happy.
Tŷ Hyll, also known as The Ugly House, is a Grade II Listed property recognised as one of the most distinctive and photographed buildings within Snowdonia.
The historic property sits in a prominent roadside position on the A5 between Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig and is being offered with approximately 5.19 acres of adjoining land.
It was constructed from boulders weighing up to three tonnes and has fascinated generations of visitors with its fairytale claims.
One story describes it as a 15th-century robbers’ hideout.
Another suggests the building was a “Tŷ Unnos” – a house that, if built overnight on common land with smoke rising by daybreak, was yours to keep.
Tŷ Hyll first opened as a tearoom after the First World War and was renowned for its bad-tempered, cursing cockatoo.
It is surrounded by mountain scenery and occupies a prominent position on one of North Wales’ busiest tourist routes, as reported by Luxury Property News.
The property is in the rural hamlet of Capel Curig, within the Snowdonia National Park, around three miles west of Betws-y-Coed.
The area offers opportunities for walking, climbing, cycling and other outdoor pursuits, while Betws-y-Coed and the wider road network are also within easy reach.
Although the property requires minor upgrading and improvement, it offers buyers the opportunity to restore and enhance a building described as having genuine historic importance.
But prospective buyers have been warned that the existing drainage arrangements will require replacement or substantial upgrading.
The purchaser will be responsible for ensuring a compliant septic tank, mini treatment plant or alternative drainage solution is provided, along with all associated consents, installation costs and ongoing maintenance.
The estimated cost of a replacement system could range from £20,000 to £80,000 depending on future use.
A petition claiming Tŷ Hyll is a “symbol of Snowdonia’s heritage, and identity” and calling for the sale to be paused has collected 540 signatures.
Petition starter Catherine McGuinness said the wider community had been “devastated” by the announcement.
She said: “Tŷ Hyll is not just a building, it is a symbol of Snowdonia’s heritage, folklore and identity.
“Generations of locals and visitors know it as a place to get a taste of homemade Welsh food, to experience the peace of its grounds and get lost in it’s beauty.
“The woodland, bee garden, and tearoom have been cared for with love and dedication, by the staff there that go above and beyond for all who visit.”
It is being auctioned by Town and Country Property Auctions on 23 September with a guide price of £199,000.
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