The sale, for the first time in 75 years, of the 639-acre Bodior Estate near Rhoscolyn, on the wild south-west corner of Holy Island in the Isle of Anglesey AONB, is ‘a rare opportunity to acquire an outstanding coastal estate with a diverse income stream from residential, farming and commercial lets’, says Louise Harrison of selling agents Savills, who quotes a guide price of £7.75 million for the whole.
Alternatively, the estate is being offered in three lots, with £3.575m the guide price for Grade II-listed Bodior House, its beaches, beach hut, farmhouse, farm buildings and garden cottages set in 315 acres of wonderfully diverse terrain, such as sand dunes, beaches, woodland and pasture. £2.5m is the price quoted for 319-acre Bryn Bela Farm with its farmhouse, cottages and farm buildings, with a portfolio of let houses and holiday cottages for sale at £1.675m.
The Bodior estate dates from the 16th century, when it was created by descendants of a Welsh clan leader, Llywelyn Aurdorchog of Ial in Denbighshire.
In the early 19th century, it passed to John Hampton of Henllys, who substantially rebuilt the original early-16th-century house. On his death in 1843, the estate passed to his son, John Lewis Hampton-Lewis, who had the house further remodelled in 1848.
The estate remained with the Hampton-Lewis family until 1946, after which it was bought by Bertram Bulmer. With conservation and sustainability very much in mind, the Bulmer family, the current vendors, have added further land and property over the years.
For more than 30 years, the farmland, a diverse mix of pasture, gorse, marsh, dunes and rough grazing well-suited to native species, has been run in hand, the pasture grazed by the estate’s own suckler herd of pedigree beef shorthorns and a flock of 300 ewes.
Bodior House, the name of which means ‘dwelling’ in Welsh, is a handsome, stone-built country house with accommodation on three floors, including three main reception rooms, 13 bedrooms, three bathrooms and an integral, two-bedroom, first-floor flat.
Major roofing work was carried out some 10 years ago and, in 2015, dormer windows were replaced, insulation was fitted and a new biomass boiler was installed. However, much of the house has remained untouched for many years, and it remains for a new owner to bring Bodior into the 21st century.
The estate has also been home to a challenging, mainly wild-bird shoot, with the rocky shoreline, native woodland, inland ponds, gorse, heather and wet pasture providing a splendid habitat for a truly varied quarry.
Birdlife on the estate includes nesting herons, egrets, cormorants and ducks, with a variety of raptors such as peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, hen harriers, merlin and several species of owl.
The Bodoir Estate is currently on the market via Savills with a guide price of £7.75 million for the whole — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Rhoscolyn: What you need to know
Location: On the southwest corner of Holy Island in Anglesey, 5 miles south of Holyhead and less than 10 miles from Anglesey. Anglesey Airport is about a 15 minute drive away.
Atmosphere: The dramatic rugged coastline, spectacular beaches and amazing wildlife are what attract people to Rhoscolyn, making it one of the most popular holiday destinations in the north west. A full range of amenities can be found at Llangefni on Anglesey — about 14 miles away.
Things to do: Walk along the Anglesey Coast Path or explore the many coves and stretches of beaches that form the coastline. Fishing is excellent, with sea bass, mullet, sea trout and flounder regularly caught. Sailing, diving and kayaking are popular watersports here, and there are several good pubs to fall into after a full day on the water.
Schools: Ysgol Gynradd Santes Gwenfaen, Ysgol Gymuned Fali and Ysgol y Tywyn are all located within a few mile radius.
See more property for sale in the area.
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
-
A five minute guide to the Loch Ness monsterThe legend of the Loch Ness monster has endured for more than a thousand years, inspiring countless works of art along the way.
-
‘Its loss became a cautionary tale, and a rallying cry for architectural conservation’: The rise and fall and renewed interest in Ireland’s remarkable country housesLesley Bond traces a brief history of Ireland’s country houses and questions whether you can ever separate the house from the history it represents.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
