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HPB provides holidays for life. As it is an investment product, however, it is subject to charges, your capital is at risk and you may not be able to cash in during the first two years. Please read "How HPB works" for a summary of the principal risks and benefits.

The Blue Lake, Fairbourne

Posted by Luci Ackers on 27 February 2017
Related property: St Brides Castle
The Blue Lake, Fairbourne

St Brides Castle is part of the Holiday Property Bond portfolio offering exclusive access to over 1,400 properties to its 42,000 investors across more than 30 locations. You can find out more about St Brides Castle here, but first some important information about the Holiday Property Bond. It is designed to provide holidays for life but it is an investment product so subject to charges, your capital is at risk and you may not be able to cash in during the first two years. For further details please read "How HPB Works"

Image: © Copyright John Lucas via Geograph and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons.

Near the little coastal town of Fairbourne on the Welsh coast you'll find a hidden gem well worth exploring!

This area of the coastline is part of the Snowdonia National Park, and full of interesting little caves and coves. If you want to find an excellent wild swimming spot, relatively unknown to many visitors of the region, you should definitely hunt out the Blue Pool.

What was once the Goleuwern Slate Quarry, located above Fairbourne, close to the little village of Friog, is now a hidden, high-ground lake. The quarry was opened in the 19th century but was never majorly successful and closed again in the early 20th century. Throughout the 1990s there were still remains of the mine but nowadays it is party filled with water. This mysterious little haven is surrounded on all sides by the steep quarry walls, offering protection from the elements and, thanks to the residual minerals lingering in the rocks, the water is a beautiful vivid blue and really clear too!

It's difficult to get to if this is your first time because there is very limited signage. A public right of way will lead you there from Friog, but aside from that, there is very little indication that you're on the right track. From the A493 in the centre of the village there is a tiny road named Fordd Panteinion; follow this, fork right and keep going. Pass a couple more tiny cottages on your left and walk until you find the public footpath sign and kissing gate on your right hand side. Keep following the path upwards through various slate archways.

Image: © Copyright liz dawson via Geograph and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons.

Eventually you'll come to a plateau with bits of old abandoned mining equipment. There will be a short low tunnel which will open out at the lake!

The walk will take you around 15 minutes. So it's not too far. Remember to go careful, especially if you're with youngsters, the ground can be unstable in places.

Image: © Copyright confusion via Geograph and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons.

FIND OUT HOW YOU TOO CAN STAY HERE SEE OUR OTHER 34 LOCATIONS
View more St Brides Castle articles
The Solva Woollen Mill, Pembrokeshire

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15 May 2017
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Pembrokeshire's claim to fame

Pembrokeshire's claim to fame

12 February 2016
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Luci Ackers

Luci Ackers

Luci loves getting out and about for a good cycle ride or easy-going walks in the countryside, and thoroughly enjoyed the time she previously spent working for the National Trust. Her love of writing started from a young age and on rainy days nothing beats curling up in a secret corner with a good book.

How the Holiday Property Bond works

This is a brief summary of how HPB delivers its holiday benefits. To understand it fully, including how its over 1,400 properties cater for all types of holidaymaker and the extra Holiday Points-free holiday opportunities and other offers available, you should find out more so that we can explain just how HPB can provide wonderful holidays for life.

  • An initial payment of as little as £5,000 gives you units in the HPB fund which holds the entire portfolio of villas, cottages and apartments, as well as a securities portfolio, the returns from which go towards management costs. The HPB fund has an initial charge of 25% and pays annual charges of around 2.5% as well as overheads.
  • Every £1 of your initial payment gives you one Holiday Point every year. You can use these Holiday Points to book the HPB property of your choice. The number of Holiday Points required for a property depends on its location and size and the time of year you want to go.
  • HPB's holiday benefits continue every year as long as you or your heirs hold the investment.
  • When you book a holiday you pay a no-profit user charge to cover the actual costs of running and maintaining the properties rather than a commercial rental charge.
  • The only additional payment is a modest quarterly charge of around £30, that is around £130 a year, which can be increased by no more than RPIX.
  • As the Holiday Property Bond is a financial product, technically a life assurance bond, its marketing and promotion requires that we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You will be given everything you need to understand HPB and in particular the risks as well as the benefits, including restrictions on when you can cash in your HPB investment. As it is a financial product your capital is at risk and you should not expect to get back the full amount you have paid.
  • All new investors benefit from a unique "Money Back Promise". If you take a first HPB holiday at any HPB owned property within three years of investing and are not entirely happy for any reason, you can apply to cash in your HPB investment within fourteen days of your return. Whatever the cash in value the parent company of the issuer of HPB will make up any difference so that you get back the full amount of your original payment. At least one Bondholder must take the first holiday.
  • HPB has no borrowings and all its assets, being the holiday properties, securities and cash, are held by an independent, regulated trustee company.

How much should I invest?

How much you should invest depends on your circumstances – in particular your holiday requirements and preferences. HPB's Holiday Points system is designed to be highly flexible and one of our representatives can explain it fully. Each £1 of your initial payment adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond.

The minimum initial payment to become a Bondholder is just £5,000. This is considered suitable by a number of new investors who pay this amount to try out the Bond and then go on to "top up" to increase their holiday benefits. Others choose to make a higher payment initially with the average investment in 2021 being around £14,000.

To understand fully how HPB works and to decide on an appropriate level of investment, please book a Private Tour at an HPB holiday location or book a Personal Presentation at a hotel near you. Or call free on 0800 230 0391 to arrange for a representative to meet you at a place of your choosing.

As we have already said this is a brief summary. To understand HPB fully and all its potential advantages, please contact us.

Close x

User Charge

The no-profit user charge is all you pay when you book your holiday. It covers the actual costs of servicing the properties, including housekeeping, laundry and maintenance of the many free-to-use-onsite facilities. It is charged per property - NOT per person. And it does not vary with the season: instead, the user-charge remains constant all year round.

For example:

A week for two in the Scottish Highlands could cost around £433 user charge, including VAT*, even at the height of the season.

A week for a party of eight in a four bedroom villa at Physkos, Turkey, in August could cost around £485 in user charge*

*Prices for 2021 and for Turkey based on exchange rate of £1 = 10.5 Turkish Lira (may vary)

Close x

Restrictions

If you do not use our "Money Back Promise" offer explained in "How HPB works", you may cash in after two years at a value linked to that of the properties and securities but you should not expect to get back the full amount you paid because of charges and changes in the value of HPB’s properties and securities. In exceptional circumstances cashing in may be deferred for up to twelve months.

Close x

Your inflation-protected Holiday Points

HPB's holiday benefits are provided through a Holiday Points system. Each £1 you invest adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond. Each time you book a holiday, you exchange Holiday Points for the accommodation you want, with the number of Holiday Points required depending on the location, size of property and season.

Here are some examples of how it works in practice (2022 rates):

For two people, holidaying out of season:
A week in Stigliano, Tuscany from 1,530 points
A week in The Trossachs, Scotland from 2,430 points
A week in St Brides Castle, Pembrokeshire from 2,260 points

And in the height of summer:
A week in Rocha Brava, Portgual from 8,190 points
A week in the Lake District from 9,760 points
A week in Le Mont de St Siméon, France from 14,180 points

If you have a minimum qualifying investment you can also book Short Notice Points Free holidays, subject to availability. Bookings can be made up to 28 days in advance for UK holidays and up to 56 days in advance for overseas. Even if you do not have a qualifying investment, you can still book Short Notice Points Free holidays up to 21 days ahead in the UK and up to 42 days ahead overseas.

Inflation protection: Your Holiday Points allocation is re-valued every year in line with the cost of providing additional holiday accommodation for new investors. This means your holiday accommodation booking power is fixed and protected against inflation. So you can look forward to top quality holidays for life.

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How can I find out more?

The Holiday Property Bond could do as much for your quality of life as it has done for many thousands of families who have already invested. That's why we invite you to get in touch with us in any of these 3 ways and please don't forget our unique 'Money back promise' and 'interest free loan' options.

Request our brochure Speak to a representative Explore one of our UK sites

Please request our fully illustrated holiday property brochure

Please read "How HPB works" and then we will be delighted to send you our brochure, including our property portfolio, and your FREE copy of Insight Magazine. See the beautiful holiday homes and magnificent locations where you can spend your holidays as a Bondholder and learn how impressed Bondholders have been by our handling of the problems caused by coronavirus.

Please complete and submit the form or, alternatively, telephone our FREE brochure request line on 0800 230 0391

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HPB’s holiday booking service has been rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 14571 customer reviews on Feefo.

You can speak to one of our representatives

Your local HPB representative will be happy to call or video call you at a convenient time for an informal chat. Simply fill in your details and we'll do the rest.

Most of our representatives are Bondholders themselves and all have visited a number of Bond sites.

The representative will give you all the information you need and then leave you to make up your own mind. He or she will talk to you about your holiday requirements and what level of investment is needed to secure the kind of holidays you want.

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This request is for new enquiries only, if you are an existing Bondholder please contact us via myBond.

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See our stunning holiday properties for yourself

Having a Private Tour at an HPB holiday location is an enjoyable way to see the high standards of furnishings and facilities you could enjoy with HPB. One of our representatives will show you around the site and answer any questions you may have.

Alternatively, you are welcome to book a Personal Presentation at a hotel near you. You can chat to one of our representatives, ask your questions and view the complete portfolio of HPB locations.

BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR OR PERSONAL PRESENTATION

This advertisement is issued by HPB Management Limited ("HPBM") registered at HPB House, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8EH. HPBM is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is the main UK agent and the property manager for HPB, issued by HPB Assurance Limited ("HPBA") registered in the Isle of Man and authorised by the Financial Services Authority there. The Trustee of HPB is Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited registered at Jubilee Buildings, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SH. The Securities Manager is Stanhope Capital LLP of 35 Portman Square, London, W1H 6LR.

Holders of policies issued by HPBA will not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if the company becomes unable to meet its liabilities to them but Isle of Man compensation arrangements apply to new policies. No medical examination required. HPB is available exclusively through HPBM. HPBM promotes only HPB and is not independent of HPBA.

We are now unable to accept new applications from residents of EU countries and some other jurisdictions. HPB Assurance Limited reserves the right to decline an application at its sole discretion.

Holiday better with HPB

A. How can I holiday better?

Invest from £5,000 in the Holiday Property Bond for exclusive access to a portfolio of over 1,400 top quality villas, cottages and apartments in over 30 locations across the UK and Europe. For each £1 invested you will receive one Holiday Point each year which you can use to book the properties. And when staying in them you do not pay a commercial rent, just a no-profit user charge covering actual running, maintenance and refurbishment costs. This charge is level throughout the year so there are no high season premiums. For a studio the charge averages about £315 a week, for a two bedroom property around £480 a week. Larger properties are also available. This no-profit user charge is only payable when you want to go on holiday. Your only ongoing commitment is a quarterly fee of around £30 – that is around £130 a year.

B. Will there be more properties in the future?

As we attract more investors the more properties we will add to the portfolio – increasing your holiday choice still further.

C. How long can I holiday with HPB?

For life if you wish – the holiday benefits last as long as you hold the Bond. In due course you can pass it and the holiday benefits to your children and grandchildren, as many of our earlier investors have already done. If, however, at some point you and your family no longer wish to holiday with us you can surrender your Bond back to the company after two years or more (subject to deferral in exceptional circumstances). You will not get back the full amount you invested, although we would hope that you will have had some wonderful holidays. What you do get back will reflect initial charges (25%) taken before your money is invested in the HPB fund of holiday properties and securities. The fund itself also pays annual charges of around 2.5% and other overheads. The value of the fund’s properties and securities can also go up or down and so, like most investments, your capital is at risk.

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We're so confident you'll be delighted with HPB that we offer you a 'Money Back Promise'!

In regular surveys, Bondholders tell us how happy they are with HPB holidays. That's why we feel confident in giving you the extra reassurance of our unprecedented 'Money Back Promise':

If you take your first HPB holiday within three years of investing and are not, for any reason, entirely happy, you can apply to cash in your HPB investment within 14 days of your return. Whatever the encashment value, the parent company of the issuer of HPB will make up any difference so that you get back the full amount of your original payment, including charges.

This offer applies to a holiday at any HPB owned property which is taken by at least one of the Bondholders themselves.

Full details of the offer will be provided before you invest. Close x

How the Holiday Property Bond works

This is a brief summary of how HPB delivers its holiday benefits. To understand it fully, including how its over 1,400 properties cater for all types of holidaymaker and the extra Holiday Points-free holiday opportunities and other offers available, you should find out more so that we can explain just how HPB can provide wonderful holidays for life.

  • An initial payment of as little as £5,000 gives you units in the HPB fund which holds the entire portfolio of villas, cottages and apartments, as well as a securities portfolio, the returns from which go towards management costs. The HPB fund has an initial charge of 25% and pays annual charges of around 2.5% as well as overheads.
  • Every £1 of your initial payment gives you one Holiday Point every year. You can use these Holiday Points to book the HPB property of your choice. The number of Holiday Points required for a property depends on its location and size and the time of year you want to go.
  • HPB's holiday benefits continue every year as long as you or your heirs hold the investment.
  • When you book a holiday you pay a no-profit user charge to cover the actual costs of running and maintaining the properties rather than a commercial rental charge.
  • The only additional payment is a modest quarterly charge of around £30, that is around £130 a year, which can be increased by no more than RPIX.
  • As the Holiday Property Bond is a financial product, technically a life assurance bond, its marketing and promotion requires that we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You will be given everything you need to understand HPB and in particular the risks as well as the benefits, including restrictions on when you can cash in your HPB investment. As it is a financial product your capital is at risk and you should not expect to get back the full amount you have paid.
  • All new investors benefit from a unique "Money Back Promise". If you take a first HPB holiday at any HPB owned property within three years of investing and are not entirely happy for any reason, you can apply to cash in your HPB investment within fourteen days of your return. Whatever the cash in value the parent company of the issuer of HPB will make up any difference so that you get back the full amount of your original payment. At least one Bondholder must take the first holiday.
  • HPB has no borrowings and all its assets, being the holiday properties, securities and cash, are held by an independent, regulated trustee company.

How much should I invest?

How much you should invest depends on your circumstances – in particular your holiday requirements and preferences. HPB's Holiday Points system is designed to be highly flexible and one of our representatives can explain it fully. Each £1 of your initial payment adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond.

The minimum initial payment to become a Bondholder is just £5,000. This is considered suitable by a number of new investors who pay this amount to try out the Bond and then go on to "top up" to increase their holiday benefits. Others choose to make a higher payment initially with the average investment in 2021 being around £14,000.

To understand fully how HPB works and to decide on an appropriate level of investment, please book a Private Tour at an HPB holiday location or book a Personal Presentation at a hotel near you. Or call free on 0800 230 0391 to arrange for a representative to meet you at a place of your choosing.

As we have already said this is a brief summary. To understand HPB fully and all its potential advantages, please contact us.

Close x

User Charge

The no-profit user charge is all you pay when you book your holiday. It covers the actual costs of servicing the properties, including housekeeping, laundry and maintenance of the many free-to-use-onsite facilities. It is charged per property - NOT per person. And it does not vary with the season: instead, the user-charge remains constant all year round.

For example:

A week for two in the Scottish Highlands could cost around £433 user charge, including VAT*, even at the height of the season.

A week for a party of eight in a four bedroom villa at Physkos, Turkey, in August could cost around £485 in user charge*

*Prices for 2021 and for Turkey based on exchange rate of £1 = 10.5 Turkish Lira (may vary)

Close x

Restrictions

If you do not use our "Money Back Promise" offer explained in "How HPB works", you may cash in after two years at a value linked to that of the properties and securities but you should not expect to get back the full amount you paid because of charges and changes in the value of HPB’s properties and securities. In exceptional circumstances cashing in may be deferred for up to twelve months.

Close x

Your inflation-protected Holiday Points

HPB's holiday benefits are provided through a Holiday Points system. Each £1 you invest adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond. Each time you book a holiday, you exchange Holiday Points for the accommodation you want, with the number of Holiday Points required depending on the location, size of property and season.

Here are some examples of how it works in practice (2022 rates):

For two people, holidaying out of season:
A week in Stigliano, Tuscany from 1,530 points
A week in The Trossachs, Scotland from 2,430 points
A week in St Brides Castle, Pembrokeshire from 2,260 points

And in the height of summer:
A week in Rocha Brava, Portgual from 8,190 points
A week in the Lake District from 9,760 points
A week in Le Mont de St Siméon, France from 14,180 points

If you have a minimum qualifying investment you can also book Short Notice Points Free holidays, subject to availability. Bookings can be made up to 28 days in advance for UK holidays and up to 56 days in advance for overseas. Even if you do not have a qualifying investment, you can still book Short Notice Points Free holidays up to 21 days ahead in the UK and up to 42 days ahead overseas.

Inflation protection: Your Holiday Points allocation is re-valued every year in line with the cost of providing additional holiday accommodation for new investors. This means your holiday accommodation booking power is fixed and protected against inflation. So you can look forward to top quality holidays for life.

Close x