A magical cottage for sale in the Brecon Beacons, complete with a 'baby castle' annexe
Twr Mihangel is a beautiful cottage in the Brecon Beaacons that's been spectacularly decorated within — and has a self-contained annexe that can only be described as a baby castle.

When my other half and I first started looking at buying our own place, viewings quickly turned into a sort of Good Cop, Bad Cop routine. My wife is blessed and talented in many ways, but having a poker face is not among them; the result was that if she came across, say, a set of bright orange curtains, she couldn’t help but pull a face akin to that of a six-year-old being offered a plate of vegetables.
This, in turn, made my toes curl, and I invariably tried to make up for her all-too-evident disgust by affecting a particular delight in, say, the picture in the downstairs loo, or a kitchen table. That, of course, made her toes curl; the end result was that it took us several years and literally dozens of viewings (we probably made it to triple figures) before agreeing on somewhere. Even that compromise was only forced by the impending arrival of a baby.
How long would it have taken us, without the little one’s arrival, to find somewhere we agreed on? I’ve always supposed that it might be a decade or so; and now I have proof, since 10 years on here is a house which I think would have delighted us both: Twr Mihangel, a five-bedroom house in a medieval village near Abergavenny. It’s up at £875,000 with Taylor & Co via OnTheMarket.
Part cottage, part miniature castle, this beautiful little place is full of character and history, and so delightfully presented and furnished that it’s hard not to fall for it straight away. The ceiling beams, fireplaces, leaded windows and original floors — some wooden, some stone — all have huge amounts of character, and yet there are modern touches like lovely bathrooms, fibre broadband and decent mobile phone reception. There’s even a very good primary school in the village.
It’s a big house, at around 3,000sq ft, with the central hallway and staircases effectively splitting the property in half. A kitchen/breakfast room (with range cooker, of course), scullery and dining room are in one half of the ground floor, while a large living room and second kitchen are in the other. The latter leads through to the medieval tower, an octagonal space used as a sitting room.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms (one en-suite, and one family bathroom) above the bulk of the house. The octagonal room, however, is a little bit special: it’s a brilliantly whimsical bedroom with a four-poster bed and its own bathroom; its accessed only from the kitchen stairs below, giving privacy — and meaning that it can be used as a self-contained holiday let. In fact that’s exactly what the present owners have been doing: this miniature castle was even picked out in a Sunday Times listicle as one of the best three romantic getaways in the country.
The gardens are just as charming as the main house, with a wisteria-clad pergola, various lawns and seating areas, a vegetable garden and patio area.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
There’s even a paddock, complete with stone stable block to keep Dobbin in, while for those who prefer different horsepower there are two garages and a driveway big enough to park 20 cars.
The village of Llanvihangel Crucorney itself is an interesting place too, sitting within the Brecon Beacons National Park and boasting an historic pub, the Skirrid Moutain Inn, which claims to be the most haunted in Wales. For more in the way of entertainment the lovely town of Abergavenny is just five miles down the A465, with its independent shops, good restaurants and railway station.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
10 beautiful character homes under £400,000
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
(Space) oddities: New David Bowie centre opens at V&A East Storehouse
The museum will house and display the largest collection of the artist's costumes, musical instruments, set models, props and more.
By Carla Passino Published
-
Interiors of excellence: all the events and inspiration you can't miss
Over the next month, events at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour and beyond will offer plenty of inspiration for design lovers
By James Fisher Published
-
Medieval Italian? 19th century French? 16th century German? You're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy a gorgeous continental castle
From hills of Italy to a Bavarian palace, Toby Keel takes a look at three of the finest castles for sale across Europe today.
By Toby Keel Published
-
How to buy a house at auction
Buying at auction can mean you secure your dream property for a bargain price, but preparation is the key
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
The homes of two 1980s TV icons are both up for sale at the same time
The houses where Bob Monkhouse and Sir Terry Wogan spent decades of their lives are currently on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Living on the edge? A lighthouse for sale on a clifftop on one of the most remote islands in Britain
Bressay Lighthouse was built by the father and uncle of the 'Treasure Island' author.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
Alan Titchmarsh is selling his Hampshire home (and the garden that comes with it): Exclusive pictures and interview
After many happy years in Hampshire, the writer, broadcaster and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh is selling up and looking to move. He spoke to Penny Churchill about his years at Manor Farm House.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A Lake District escape with views that will make you feel like the king of all you can see
Mellguards's many guest rooms and dual staircases make this property perfect for people who love to host, but tire of their guests quickly.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
One of Yorkshire's great houses, burnt to the ground three generations ago, is back on its feet and on the market for the sixth time in a millennium
Penny Churchill looks at Riseborough Hall, a great house, rich with fascinating history and beautifully apportioned, which burnt to the ground but rose again.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
Seven magnificent homes from Cumbria to Devon, as seen in Country Life
Our regular look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past few weeks takes in a breathtaking Lake District house and a superb home in Northamptonshire.
By Toby Keel Published