A Georgian lodge tucked away on a 900-acre National Trust estate in one of the most beautiful settings in Pembrokeshire

Colby Lodge is the sort of place that inspires love at first sight. 'We've had people knocking on the door asking if we'd be happy to sell,' says Carolyn Price, who has lived here with her husband, Tony, and their children for the last decade. But with the children now having moved on and had families of their own, the couple have decided to downsize to be nearer to grandchildren. As such, this charmed spot has come up for sale at offers over £1 million.

The house's graceful elegance is in part owed to one of Britain's greatest-ever architects. John Nash's designs were used to craft some of the features of the house, a place that was originally built by coal magnate John Colby in the early 1800s. Nash’s clerk of works was even employed to supervise the work.

Inside, there are five bedrooms and four reception rooms over three floors, with sumptuous furnishings and fittings throughout ('It's like a gentleman's club', says Tony). The Nash influences can be particularly seen in the huge windows, high ceilings and plasterwork. The furnishings, meanwhile — from four-poster beds to the globe in the study — have been a labour of love for the Prices.

Image 1 of 4

The grandeur evident here extends into the great outdoors where there are four — yes, four — gardens. Within these, the likes of rhododendron, azalea, camellia, ancient oak, metasequoia and rare linden/lime trees grow. As if this wasn’t enough in terms of natural treasures, a short stroll leads to the beach at Amroth.

For green-fingered buyers, there is also an elegant greenhouse to propagate seeds and nurture the next generation of plants.

With the gardening done, the new buyers can not only savour their handiwork, but also the nearby trees, for Colby Lodge is shaded, sheltered and almost surrounded by the 900-acre Colby Woodland Garden estate, which is owned and managed by the National Trust.

The Trust actually owns Colby Lodge, too, and thus it's being sold on a leasehold basis. It was donated by Pamela and Peter Chance in 1979, in in 1985 the Trust sold a 49-year leasehold on the house and gardens you see here in 1985. The lease was later extended and currently has 62 years remaining. You shouldn't be worried about the ground rent, incidentally, at just £10 a year — particularly as the Trust have been, as Tony puts it, 'very helpful landlords' when it comes to helping out around the place.

Image 1 of 3

One thing the new owners will want to do is be prepared to extend the lease again, says Tony, who has been quoted around £250,000 for a new lease. Leasehold rules have changed much since the Eighties, and further change is making its way through Parliament at the moment which will make things all the better for leaseholders, but it goes without saying that the buyer will want to get the details via the agent and get professional advice.

All this will surely be worth it, though, for this is a very special place. 'It'll break my heart to leave,' says Carolyn. 'This will always be the high point of our property journey in life.'

Colby Lodge is for sale via Country Living Group — see more details.