We'll get the elephant out of the room early when talking about Glandyi Castle, because otherwise we're going to get swept away by the utterly idyllic lifestyle that a place like this — for sale via Strutt & Parker at £2.85m — offers the buyer on the lookout for a country home.
That elephant, as you may have guessed from the name, is location: if you're looking for a place that's a straightforward commute, then keep looking. The station at nearby Machynlleth will not so much whisk you to London as stir you there gently — it's a 4hr 30min journey. Driving will be no quicker, and even getting to the nearest cities, Birmingham or Cardiff, will take you most of three hours.
With that out of the way, it's time to enjoy what you do get with this magnificent, 19th-century Regency Gothic castle, standing high on a tree-covered hillside above a graceful curve of the Dovey Estuary.
It's a ten-bedroom, ten-bathroom, five-reception room home stretching to almost 9,000sq ft of space, all set within 31 acres of truly spectacular Welsh beauty.
The castle was built by a man named George Jeffreys on land bought by his grandfather, Edward, a Shrewsbury man who made a fortune in silver and lead mining in the 18th century.
It was a house built to impress, and 200 years on it still does — not least with the medieval-style atrium fitted with a stunning new glass roof.
There are also wood-panelled rooms, period details throughout and a master suite with high ceiling, fireplace and an extraordinary octagonal bathroom with a circular bath in the centre.
That bathroom isn't the only octagonal room: downstairs, the library mirrors the eight-sided shape, while there is also a pink marble fireplace, Gothic-style windows and a coved ceiling that would have made even John Nash smile.
Outside, the grounds are a mix of formal lawns, woodland, and paddocks; and if you're after a project, there's a Victorian walled garden, which has fallen into disrepair, crying out for a sympathetic hand to restore it to glory.
Beyond the main house there's also a series of outbuildings — barns, garaging, workshops and so on — as well as a separate, two-bedroom lodge which would be ideal for family, staff or as a holiday let.
And that location? Well, the gorgeous coastal towns of Aberdovey and Aberystwyth (with its university) are close by, with their charm, fine beaches and golf courses, as well as some superb pubs and restaurants nearby. And what with everybody working from home all the time right now, maybe putting up with that lengthy commute once a week wouldn't be such a difficulty after all...
Glandyfi Castle is for sale via Strutt & Parker at £2.85m — see more pictures and details.
-
London's Tate Modern celebrates its 25th birthday with the help of a giant arachnid and crustaceous telephoneArtwork by Louise Bourgeois and Salvador Dali, among others, will be on display for the gallery's Birthday Weekender event.
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secretsWhen it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
