StoneHill Cottage

Stonehill is a magical old shepherd's cottage nestled into the side of the Preseli Mountains, between Fishguard and Cardigan in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales.

It is in a very peaceful setting, surrounded by fields and with beautiful views front and back. From the front of the house the view goes down the mountain, across the battlements of a Norman castle to the sparkling waters of Newport bay and its two craggy headlands. Behind the house the mountainside stretches up to Carn Ingli (Welsh = Mount of Angels) where wild horses roam.

And although at the cottage you have the feeling of being totally away from everything, the little town of Newport (Welsh = Trefdraeth) is only a ten minute walk away. The town is a haven of laid-back life and has everything you may need. The shops supply mostly local produce and they include a wholefood shop, hardware shop, local craft shop, baker and an excellent butcher and fishmonger with locally caught lobster and crab. It is a wonderfully friendly town with a great sense of community.

The thick-walled cottage was built in the 1830s and has two bedrooms (one with a double bed and the other can be either a large double or two twins). It has an open fireplace in the sitting room and a well-equipped kitchen, one bathroom and a second loo. The whole house has recently undergone a total refurbishment. There is no internet in the house (there are hook ups in the cafes in Newport) but there is a TV and DVD player. It is perfect for 1-4 people and provides a great refuge from the stresses of current life.

Newport lies on the mouth of the river Nevern and where the river opens up there is the most wonderful mile-long beach of flat sands, backed by dunes and perfect for swimming, windsurfing, sailing and canoeing. There is remarkable walking near and far from Stonehill either in the National Park behind the cottage or along the dramatic and breathtaking Pembrokeshire coastal footpath (there are maps in the house). Dogs are very welcome unless they're livestock chasers!

There is great support locally if anything is needed (information, fixing things etc). My parents bought Stonehill over 40 years ago and the sense of being wrapped within a community that really cares about the place endures today as it always did...I know that I am biased but it is very special.