The latest episode of Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig took Channel 4 viewers to Wales. The episode opened with stunning scenes as Sandi kicked off her Welsh adventure on the Pembrokeshire coast with actor and writer Roisin Conaty.
Viewers will recognise Roisin from her work on 8 out of 10 Cats, her popular comedy GameFace and as Roxy from Ricky Gervais' hugely successful Netflix series, Afterlife. During the episode, the pair escaped to the architectural masterpiece Seren Mor, two stylish self-built retreats, and a 200-year-old tower on the border.
The instalment kicked off with a dreamy sunrise in Parrog, as Sandi told Roisin: "I really wanted to share this with you. This is, and I'm not exaggerating with you, one of my favourite places in the world. It's the Pembrokeshire coastline."
Read more: Ryan Reynolds turned up in the Bake Off tent and people are losing their minds
She added: "So there's a path, I've always wanted to do it, but it's 186 miles and I thought that was a little bit too far." Instead, the pair soaked up the views of the Nevern Estuary, which is protected by Dinas Head and leads out to Newport Bay, before catching a boat to their first extraordinary escape.
While travelling to the destination, Sandi explained: "The place we're going, it's like a new definition of gorgeous. The site where the house is has been described as the most beautiful setting for a house in the whole of the UK."
Sandi is talking about Seren Mor, Winner of the Gold Medal for Architecture in Wales, and built into the cliffs where it offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. To prove it, the pair climb steep steps to the house and its "breathtaking" views which show off Wales in all its glory.
Turning to Sandi, Roisin says: "I feel very relaxed and I feel like I've been put under a spell. A Welsh spell. Wales, I am you, I love it." Inside floor-to-ceiling glass windows only serve to show off the scenery further, as Sandi tells Roisin the Iroko wood in the open plan kitchen-dining area is sustainably farmed and created to look like the wings of an old plane.
The pair then head out to the bullet-proof balcony, which Roisin says is as impressive as it is scary, to soak up more of the estuary and beyond. The property, which is flipped upside down to make the most of the views, sleeps 10 with five bedrooms, all of which are decorated differently.
The master bedroom also offers an amazing view from the bedroom and bathroom, with Sandi admitting the whole house, which is available for bookings, had her feeling "giddy". Next up was a property in a totally different landscape but with equally beautiful views as the pair headed to the countryside.
During a cycle down a remote lane that was surrounded by lush greenery, Sandi explained: "Well, the reason why we're bicycling is because the owners of this place were on a bicycle and they saw the property we're going to and it was derelict and they bought it the next day."
The pair then arrived at the property which was nestled in the Powys hamlet of Burlingjobb, just 13 miles from the edge of the Brecon Beacons. Called Hergest Lee, which Sandi described as a "real-life labour of love," the holiday cabins consisted of two structures. A beautiful curved cabin and a lean-to barn, both of which are surrounded by rolling hills.
Speaking about the curved cabin, Sandi explained: "The cabin's unconventional lines were designed to mimic the contours of the surrounding hills, the perfect union of nature and architecture." Inside everything is homemade, cute and cosy, with beautiful craftsmanship throughout and a gorgeous bath in the main bedroom.
The second cabin was very different, the ying to the first cabin's yang as Sandi put it, with darker wood and marbled floors, complete with a beautiful floating staircase and a peekaboo bathroom. The pair were able to stare up at the clouds passing through the countryside thanks to a window above the bed.
Finally, Sandi and Roisin headed just 30 minutes south to a property near the market town of Hay-on-Wye. As they pulled up Sandi explained they were staying in a Grade II listed folly which proudly had the Welsh flag blowing atop.
Called Moor Tower, the 200-year-old building had been converted as a place to holiday. Sandi explained: "Moor Tower was built in 1820 and is part of a collection of buildings on the Moor Estate. Sadly, it's the only one still standing. But happily, it's been converted into an extraordinary escape."
The tower offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area, and although only four meters in width, the folly is pretty impressive inside with four separate levels that get wider as you go up. Most of the furniture has been handcrafted as measurements had to be precise.
Higher up in the tower is a surprisingly large kitchen and on top is a cosy living room. The best bit, however, is probably the folly's roof terrace, where the Black Mountains and the Wye Valley could be seen as the pair enjoyed some local cheese and crackers.
The programme aired the day it was revealed that parts of Wales have seen an increase in holiday home users over the past decade. The ONS published their analysis of the Census 2021 data, which revealed the hotspots where second addresses are used as holiday homes in England and Wales.
Over recent years the influx of second homes in rural parts of Wales has widely been discussed with the focus very much on its impact on the Welsh language and people being priced out of their local communities. You can read more on that here.
Series three of Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig is available to watch on Channel 4 now. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
