Troedrhiwgelynen is a beautiful stone farmhouse in the Gwenffrwd valley. It is set at the foot of the 5000 acre Mynydd Mallaen at the southern end of the wild and untamed Cambrian mountains of mid Wales and near the Brecon Beacons.
The farmhouse, once home to generations of Cawdor estate farmers was since 1967 home to the RSPB warden of the Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve, reportedly the favourite reserve of RSPB wardens themselves.
The reserve is in a spectacular area of countryside – a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation - "the cream" of Euorpean protected sites.
Enjoy a walk through enchanting alder and oak woodland, past fast-flowing, spectacular rivers.
You should have no problem spotting a red kite, and in the summer there'll also be pied flycatchers, redstarts, common sandpipers, dippers and grey wagtails.
The house was completely renovated and the adjoining cowshed converted to a luxurious standard using traditional materials in 2010-11. The quality of the conversion has been recognised with it winning the best conversion award in Carmathenshire in 2011.
Commensurate with the natural environment, great care has been taken to adopt a sustainable approach to the conversion. The house is heated by a ground source heat pump with underfloor heating throughout. The ground floor has slate flagstones or quarry tiles and the first floor has beautiful oak floor boards. The house is lime plastered throughout and was lime rendered outside.
Retreat after a day of mountain walking, bird watching, mountain biking, horse riding or sight seeing to a log fire in a spectacular enormous inglenook fireplace, complete with bread oven.
Relax in a Jacuzzi bath or indulge in a fabulous meal with a well equipped and spacious kitchen with range cooker.
Further details
Welcome pack including local produce provided on arrival.
Further details indoors
Upstairs is one double bedroom and two twin bedded bedrooms - all with exposed original beams and mountain views.
The upstairs bathroom has a rolltop double ended cast iron bath with wall mounted taps and hand held shower head and wonderful views across the valley. There is a separate upstairs WC.
The master bedroom is in the cowshed conversion on the ground floor and is adjacent to the spacious beamed bathroom with jacuzzi and walk in shower. Ideal for grandparents or friends staying with a family.
The lounge is very inviting with its beamed ceiling and cosy sitting area around a wood burning stove set in a vast inglenook fireplace with bread oven.
Washing machine and tumble drier are in separate utility room with space to hang rain gear and a boot rack for boots to dry.
The stunning kitchen/diner area is of the highest quality with granite surfaces, a large island with breakfast seats and is well equipped with an American fridge/freezer with ice dispenser, range cooker with double oven under, dishwasher and a Belfast sink.
Internet TV is available as well as free wi-fi.
A payphone is provided as there is no mobile access for several miles around the farmhouse.
Further details outdoors
An orchard has been re-established in the garden and the kitchen garden is evolving to provide pick your own produce.
Enjoy having an evening drink on the upper terraces of the garden enjoying spectacular views of this magical place. There is a large reclaimed teak table and benches for picnics.
There is a picturesque pond opposite the house and a small pond beside the approach to the house.
One of the traditional stone barns is a games room with table tennis and table football and there is a large trampoline in the rickyard.
Lockable bike storage is available in an outbuilding.
