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Wales Online
Lifestyle
Joanne Ridout

The remote farmhouse for sale with a rare award and two extra cottages

Every day true silence away from human noise, and true isolation away from easy human contact, requires a special home in a remote spot.

To be utterly idyllic, the only sounds at that remote spot should be the soundtrack of nature, and the only light at night should be from a glowing moon and its blanket of surrounding stars.

If silence and not being able to see your hand in front of your face outside at night scares you then maybe Cae Canol Mawr is not for you, but if you're yearning for peace away from the hectic lifestyle of a city or town, then it could be just what your house hunting heart is yearning for.

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Found on the lower slopes of the Manod Mawr mountain (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Historic house is a star - literally (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

At the end of a lane that goes nowhere there is a historic former farmhouse called Cae Canol Mawr. Nestled into the lower slope of Manod Mawr, the mountain rises from the landscape behind the house while inspiring and truly breath-taking panoramic views of the rugged rural landscape that includes the river Teigl dominate the front.

The house is so important to the history of the area that in 1951 it was awarded a Grade II* listing from Cadw. A property being awarded a grade listing from Cadw means it is important but to get that extra little star next to the listing number is extra special.

Cadw states a star listing is only awarded to around 7% of the total number of listed buildings in Wales and are only given to 'particularly important buildings of more than special interest which justify every effort being made to preserve them'.

So the location in the middle of Snowdonia is outstanding, but so is the heritage of the house that stands immersed by the beauty of the Welsh landscape that cocoons it.

Truly mesmerising views from the property (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Peace broken only by the sound of nature (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

The Cadw listing says the house is a small Snowdonia hall house, probably dating back to the early to mid 16th century.

It achieved the higher listing status for being 'an exceptionally well-preserved and comparatively rare example of a small hall-house which retains its original 16th century layout substantially intact and exhibits the combination of timber and stone in construction, with good carpentry in its fine vernacular roof'.

Comes with about an acre of land but miles and miles of views (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Found at the end of a country track that ends at the property (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

The listing goes on to say that Cae Canol Mawr is an important example of an early Snowdonia house type, predating the more common fully storeyed regional house which became widespread from the later 16th century.

So the main stone house can rightfully be called a gem, but there is even more it can offer than maybe a visitor might expect to add to the location and the history.

If they can tear themselves away from the mesmerising view, a visitor might see that the smaller side wing of the main house is actually another dwelling.

The side wing is actually a one-bed cottage (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
It's cute and has plenty of character (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
The bedroom is on a first floor mezzanine (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

This is a cute cottage that offers an open-plan kitchen diner and lounge plus a shower room on the ground floor and a bedroom within the loft space on the first floor. So there's potential for the property to help earn an income or to welcome family or friends as guests for a stay at this special and secluded spot in Snowdonia.

But once any visitor arrives and walks the landscape, recharging their energy and feeding their soul with fresh air and mesmerising mountain views, you might never get rid of them out of that one-bed cottage.

Along the track on the property is a bonus building (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Called Cae Canol Bach, it's a cottage packed with character too (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Another mezzanine bedroom (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

And the bonus buildings don't stop at the attached cottage, that could also be a fantastic home for an older or younger generation of the family, because a little further down the slope there's another one bed cottage.

This pretty, extra property is called Cae Canol Bach and again has a layout of open-plan living and bathing on the ground floor, and sleeping in the only bedroom on the first floor.

Both cottages could be holiday lets to the main house or you could pack up the whole family and settle down on the slopes of a Snowdonia mountain together using this trio of terrific buildings as your multiple homes.

And both cottages display some classic interior design that should please anyone who was hoping for character inside - exposed beams, log burner, white-washed stone walls and stripped wooden floors combine as a great backdrop for a new owner to add their own personal cottage style.

Both cottages have a funky mezzanine first floor level as their only bedroom that crowns them with extra charm. Wooden stairs get you to this upper level where the bedroom nestles under the roof beams as well as offering a viewing platform to look down into the living area below.

Into the main house and the historic cross-passage ar the centre (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Kitchen in the main house (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

And this is a layout repeated in the main house. Enter via the central cross passage hall that is packed with character enhancing wall and ceiling beams, that leads into a kitchen at the end.

But this hall also gives access into the main star of this home - the living room where the house packs the most visual punch with a stunning, double-height space that soars into the roof space at one end and is occupied by a spacious mezzanine bedroom area at the other end.

Second, ground floor bedroom in the main house (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Shower room on the ground floor (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

The living area has an inglenook fireplace so big it has a cosy and inviting seating area built into its stone structure on either side of the log burner, and most people will probably be able to stand up inside the space too.

The impressive fireplace is crowned by a thick, robust wooden mantel before the wall climbs into the open roof space where the patchwork of exposed beams and rafters ensure an internal view almost as mesmerising as the external one across the fields.

The star of the show (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Very impressive inglenook fireplace (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

Up the stairs and into the mezzanine area on the first floor, and this room can also impress with its network of exposed beams that can be admired directly from the pillow below.

What might be more of a surprise is the discovery of a fireplace housing a log burner up on this level too, that ensures a cosy and more intimate atmosphere is created within this slumber zone, just don't forget to put the fire out before you drift off to sleep.

That roof structure, those beams... wow (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)
Mezzanine bedroom has its own fireplace (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

The main house can also offer a second bedroom on the other side of the central hall on the ground floor, where the bathroom can be found too, accessed off the kitchen.

It's a house that welcomes you with its character and charm, seclusion and sweeping views, and history and warmth.

It offers an incredible space to gather and socialise in front of that amazing fireplace that's seen so many chapters of past owners' lives play out in front of it over many centuries. Will you be the next chapter in the history of Cae Canol Mawr farmhouse?

Sun sets on the stunning landscape that could be your most amazing neighbour (Jackson-Stops, Chester / rightmove)

The property and its two cottages and about an acre of land are on the market for offers in excess of £600,000 with estate agent Jackson-Stops, call their Chester branch on 01244 328361 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter , sent to your inbox twice a week.

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