Live like a hobbit: One of Britain's quirkiest properties comes up for sale
If you have ever dreamed of living like Bilbo and Frodo, here is your opportunity: a picture-perfect hobbit hole is for sale in the Breacon Beacons National Park, together with a four-bedroom cottage and almost three acres of land.


In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit — and you can live there, too, now that a slice of Tolkienesque architecture has hit the market in Wales.
Carved on a hillside in Pengenffordd, in the Breacon Beacon National Park, the ‘hole’ is the perfect place to channel your inner Bilbo Baggins — assuming that you have £385,000 to spare.
Every little detail looks straight out from the Shires, from the round door to the oak-panelled walls, the lights and the wood-burning stove—plus you get long views across the Beacons and, at night, a starry sky.
Granted, it’s a small space — the living room doubles up as bedroom with a sofa bed — but the great news is that, if you ever feel cramped, further accommodation is available less than a minute’s walk away. That’s because the hole is part of a larger property that includes a four-bedroom cottage, a hot tub and almost three acres of land.
Completed in 2015 after two years of work, the hobbit hole was initially conceived as a four-month project to build a hillside garden room by Bristol-born owner Tin Wheeler. But he quickly realised he could turn it into something Tolkien would be proud of — and by his own admission, ‘went completely overboard’. He has since let the room very successfully through Airbnb.
But while the hobbit hole is the star attraction, the main cottage itself is not to be sniffed at. A converted granary that once served the nearby Castle Inn pub, it has many interesting features, including exposed stone walls, beams and oak floors.
The panoramic grounds, which include paddocks, gardens and a patio where the wood-fired hot tub stands, are the ideal springboard to explore the area, with several walks within a few hundred yards.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The house is for sale via Clee Tompkinson & Francis at £385,000 — see more details and pictures
A real-life 'Doll's House' from the 17th century which has gone from being boarded up and riddled with rot to become a picture of perfection
The good fortunes enjoyed by a 17th century ship owner prompted the creation of the magnificent Stedcombe House, a home
Credit: The Hovel (Pic: Michael Graham)
A real-life Hobbit house as mentioned in the Domesday Book, within commuting distance of London
This gorgeous thatched house in the Buckinghamshire village of Ludgershall could have come straight from the pages of Tolkien.
Carla must be the only Italian that finds the English weather more congenial than her native country’s sunshine. An antique herself, she became Country Life’s Arts & Antiques editor in 2023 having previously covered, as a freelance journalist, heritage, conservation, history and property stories, for which she won a couple of awards. Her musical taste has never evolved past Puccini and she spends most of her time immersed in any century before the 20th.
-
'If you think you need a television in your room, you are in the wrong place': Why sleeping under canvas makes for a complete safari experience
A tented safari will surprise even the most seasoned traveller, says Mark Hedges, and nowhere more so than in Botswana, where the rhythms of life seem supercharged.
By Mark Hedges Published
-
Inverewe: The making of 'The Oasis of the North' in a wind-battered corner of north-west Scotland
Innovative 21st-century composting and mulching techniques combined with a 19th-century shelterbelt ensure that the famous gardens of Inverewe in Wester Ross continue to thrive. Caroline Donald explains more; photographs by Andrea Jones.
By Caroline Donald Published
-
'One of the finest houses in Cheshire' blends Georgian architecture, modern exoticism and space to park your helicopter
Penny Churchill looks inside Stretton Hall, an exceptional house for sale
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Splendid isolation at four gorgeous properties for sale around the world
For those craving a home that offers a true escape from the world, some wonderful properties are on the market right now. Here's our pick of some of the finest — ideal for nature lovers, those in search of tranquility and Bond villains alike.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The market for super-prime houses in England's biggest millionaire's playground is booming — and this £10m example is one of the best
Whirley Hall is a 17th century building that's a perfect example of how 21st century updates can transform an old home almost beyond recognition.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
If I had to spend the rest of my life living underground, I would do it in this four-bedroom house for sale in the Peak District
The aptly named Underhill is a 'a work of inhabitable art' that was built in the 1970s. And there's a swimming pool in the middle of it.
By James Fisher Published
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of them
Brithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
By James Fisher Published
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallist
Penny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heart
For sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews houses
From birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
By James Fisher Published