The iconic Ugly House on the A5 at Capel Curig will open its doors to visitors for the spring bank holiday as a fully refurbished cottage tearoom, set in five acres of woodland and garden.

Tŷ Hyll, or the Ugly House, is a unique cottage owned by the Snowdonia Society. Reputed to be a ‘tŷ unnos', or a house built overnight, visitors have long been fascinated by its unique construction out of huge, rough boulders taken from the surrounding hillside.

Now visitors will be able to step inside this magical house and learn more about its history and legends while enjoying delicious local food and drink in the cosy cottage tearoom. The Pot Mêl tearoom is a new business set up by Tim and Ayla Maddox, who also run the historic Tu Hwnt i'r Bont tearooms in nearby Llanrwst. Excited by this new venture, Tim explains, "The location and nature of Tŷ Hyll have always appealed to us and offer the ideal opportunity to open a second tea room. We can't wait to open the doors and look forward to our freshly baked goodies selling like hot cakes..." Refreshments will be available from 10.30am to 5pm, six days a week (closed Mondays).

Generous support from the Snowdonia Society's funding partners has financed the refurbishment, including improving access to the house and grounds for people with limited mobility although, as the essential nature and character of Tŷ Hyll has been retained, users may need to be used to some rough and sloping ground. This means that wheelchair users will be able to visit Tŷ Hyll for the first time in its history, a considerable achievement for this Grade II listed building.

Tŷ Hyll woodland is also set to become a haven for honeybees, with beehives due to be installed over the summer. It will be the site for drone rearing and queen mating, just one of the projects managed by the new National Beekeeping Centre Wales, whose visitor centre will be opening soon at Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy valley. The national centre aims to help arrest a potentially disastrous decline in honeybee numbers by raising awareness of the issues and promoting beekeeping. Visitors to Tŷ Hyll will be able to enjoy the wildlife garden and woodland, which are a hive of activity for all pollinators at this time of year, thanks to the efforts of a voluntary team of gardeners.

The upstairs of the house will open as an innovative visitor centre in the second half of June 2012, where people can learn more about the fascinating history and ecology of honeybees and their importance today.

The Snowdonia Society is indebted to the following funding partners for their support:

• Communities and Nature (a strategic project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by the Countryside Council for Wales)

• Heritage Lottery Fund

• Cronfa Arbrofol Eryri (administered by Snowdonia National Park Authority)

• Esmé Kirby Snowdonia Trust

• The National Beekeeping Centre for Wales

The charity would also like to acknowledge donations that its members made to a special appeal and the contribution of numerous volunteers who have put so much time and effort into bringing this initiative to fruition.

For further information, images or advice on accessibility, please contact Acting Director of the Snowdonia Society Sarah Medcalf on 01286 685498 or by email: sarah@snowdonia-society.org.uk

DON'T FORGET - SNOWDONIA SOCIETY MEMBERS RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT ON FOOD AND DRINK FROM TY HYLL TEAROOM, JOIN NOW AND SUPPORT OUR WORK IN THE NATIONAL PARK.