Somewhere, nestled amongst the wooded hillsides and rolling country of an idyllic Welsh river valley, a stunning and unique period mansion is hiding.
It's a Gothic-style gem that offers a new owner a chance to truly escape it all and live the country dream, with a rural landscape as the perfect backdrop and the sound of a sparkling river the perfect soundtrack.
Called Lancych Mansion, the Grade II listed country residence is a grand abode, instantly impressing any visitor not only with the glorious location but with the distinctive Gothic facade boasting tall chimneys, multi-paned windows and fancy, decorative bargeboards; it's a great start to a property tour.
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And Lancych Mansion is officially a unique and amazing Welsh home, achieving a Grade II* listing from Cadw in 2004 for its 'exceptional architectural interest as one of the best examples in Wales of the picturesque cottage style'.
The seven bedroom gentry mansion is the result of a grand extension added to the original farmhouse in 1834. It was built for Dr Walter Jones and had been in the same ownership for over four hundred years until its sale in 2003.
One of the unique features for the design of this ultimate extension was its impressive and intricate roof structure with its numerous chimneys serving fireplaces in almost every room. The house claims to have 17 different roofs, but one thing is certain, the ornate roof bargeboards, chimneys, and facias are all very striking.
Within the last twenty years the property has undergone a comprehensive renovation project including the full replacement of the ornate roof structure thanks to the dedication and hard work of the current owners.
But the house hasn't always looked this wonderful, it has had a traumatic recent past. In 2004 a fire ripped through the house and gutted a significant slice of the property.
According to Cadw's listing details, the staircase was destroyed along with many rooms on the first floor, but the ground floor library, drawing room and dining room remain intact.
The restoration warrior owners have been on a journey of painstaking restoration and renovation, in line with the Grade II listing, and brought the mansion back to beautiful life. And what a remarkable job they have done, with period features and elegant interior design combining to create a truly gorgeous country home.
The Pembrokeshire home sits within the stunning landscape of the river Cych valley, and owns about a 15 acre slice of it too that includes river frontage.
This tranquil river valley has been recognised as a very special spot for centuries, appearing in the 12th century Mabinogion with reference to it as the ‘enchanted valley', according to the estate agent.
Strolling through the paths dappled with sunlight towards the river that winds its way along the northern boundary of the estate, or skipping through the water meadows that line the valley floor or enjoying a picnic by the water - the modern world worries melt away for you within this capsule of calm.
There are numerous terraces and patios to entertain friends and family in the formal gardens, either in full sun or under cooling shade, with maybe the most inviting a sunken patio that is surrounded by the robust stone walls of the property.
And there's plenty of room for friends and family to stay over once the party is over. There's the original two-bed farmhouse, that can claim to have been in existence before its fancy seven bed extension was even born. In total the property has nine bedrooms for guests to choose from.
The farmhouse offers, as well as the bedrooms, a large kitchen diner, a separate living room with mesmerising inglenook fireplace that is so big furniture can easily live within its space.
The renovation of the farmhouse into a delightful property that combines classic country style and natural materials such as exposed stone and wood, with calm colours and inviting comfort bodes well for the tour of the interiors of the main house.
Of course, the entrance of the Gothic 'extension' of the farmhouse is a fancy affair, with a stone porch with decorative bargeboards leading to a vast and robust wooden, double front door that can boast its own intricate carvings and glasswork.
The hall inside provides a moment to linger and admire the ceiling - curved in shape that is amplified to perfection by the choice of a reflective gold paint that optimises the shine, and therefore the impact, of a visitor's first impression.
To the left is the library with built-in wall bookshelves and bay window looking out over the gardens. This room would be an ideal space to work or read, and a cosy corner of the house it would be too, with a feature fireplace to keep the atmosphere warm and inviting. The room is currently being used as a home office.
The charming and somewhat surprising box bay window might be the perfect place to position your desk to achieve absolutely no work at all as you gaze out over the delightful garden and landscape.
Next door, the drawing room cements the interior design scheme of the home as elegant, peaceful and calm. It is filled with classic design statement furniture and accessories, natural light, and uplifting colours and textures, all ably assisted by two stunning bay windows that include shutters.
The family room is next and it is a vast space that functions as a social hub, offering lounging by the fire as well as dining by the substantial, triple column window that beautifully frames the outstanding rural vista outside.
There's a separate dining room too, at the front of the home that continues the tasteful decor from its chandelier lit dining space into the open-plan seating area to one side. This bonus nook is the perfect spot for a cosier and more hidden atmosphere for relaxed chatting or peaceful reading.
Into the kitchen and it's another generous room, located at the centre of the home and cocooned in handmade wooden units made by Makepeace, crafted out of solid sycamore. There's a reconditioned Aga as well as all the appliances a modern cook needs, surrounded by stunning blue pearl granite counters.
A surprise addition to the space is an unusual and engaging reflective surface that covers the whole of the far wall and helps to bounce light around from the window opposite, as well as a providing an obvious talking point.
Before you ascend the hand-built staircase, the ground floor of this sprawling mansion can also offer you storage rooms, two cellars, a shower room and a utility room. There's also a whole east wing to explore that contains three ensuite bedrooms as well as the internal access to the attached original farmhouse.
The first floor of the mansion is a collection of beautiful ensuite bedrooms, designed not just to be gorgeous but also to use wisely every centremetre of space, with bathrooms utilising all the quirky extra areas that this unique period property offers.
The master bedroom is a suite that greedily but happily occupies one whole end of the house, with a dual aspect bedroom including the sweetest of arch windows directly opposite the pillow that offers a wonderful view to wake up to.
The curved ceiling, panel work and moulding perfectly reflect the grandeur of this stunning bedroom, but it has so much more to offer than this elegant slumber space.
The space then flows into a spacious dressing room and fitted wardrobe area that can boast its own fireplace, before you then arrive at the ensuite. This room can impress you further with its own fireplace, a spa bath and a steam room hiding in the corner.
All the seven bedrooms in the main mansion are ensuites and all have their own period charm to captivate you before you drift off to sleep in the most peaceful of river valleys, hidden from the noise and hectic world that exists outside its comforting wooded hillsides.
Lancych Mansion is on the market for £1.75m with Country Living Group, call them on 01437 616101 to find out more. And if you never want to miss the best dream homes, renovations and interiors articles, join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter for a twice weekly update.
