“A traditional cottage with a rich history dating back centuries and unspoilt views of the scenic Cynllaith Valley”
“A traditional cottage with a rich history dating back centuries and unspoilt views of the scenic Cynllaith Valley”
Exceptionally well preserved, thanks in part to its Grade II-listed status and in part to the current owners’ unbridled care and attention, this enchanting 17th-century cottage sits on the edge of Llansilin, a rural Welsh village surrounded by pristine rolling hills. Ensconced by lush valleys and quiet woodland, the home benefits from an unrivalled connection to the landscape, carried through into the interior spaces defined by a natural material palette in touch with the local vernacular, warm, comforting tones, and sweeping views from all directions. Outside, a delightful matching stone annexe provides a secluded retreat for guests.
Setting the Scene
Llansilin is a historic borderland village in northern Wales, near the market town of Oswestry, with over a thousand years of heritage rooted in Celtic Christianity, Welsh poetry, and medieval rebellion. The name comes from ‘Llan’ (church enclosure) and St Silin (or Sulien), a 6th-century Breton missionary.
The village is famous as the home of the royalist poet Huw Morys (1622-1709), who is buried at St Silin's Church, as well as for having served as a primary filming location for the 1995 film ‘The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain’ starring Hugh Grant, with hilltop scenes shot on the nearby Gyrn.
The Grand Tour
Set in the heart of the Cynllaith Valley at the foothills of the Berwyn Mountains, the setting is incredibly peaceful. The façade speaks to the local vernacular, with uncoursed stonework, a slate roof and tile ridge. The original cottage was sensitively extended at the rear, where the chimney meets a catslide roof.
The entrance sits behind a private driveway, where soaring trees form an ever-present backdrop, and opens to a hallway to store coats and shoes. A utility room lies handily adjacent, well equipped for rinsing muddy boots after a countryside walk.
An open-plan kitchen and dining room stretches the length of the rear elevation with an immensely welcoming quality, thanks to the reddish-amber undertone of the woodwork. Attention is immediately drawn to lush, green views of the garden, a sharp colour contrast then repeated in some of the kitchen cabinetry. Exposed pine beams lie overhead, complemented by dark-stained oak on the kitchen countertops and underfoot.
Steps descend to a characterful space that could serve as a study, with chamfered beams overhead, separate access to the garden, and a connection to the sitting room. Here, a natural stone chimney breast forms an impressive focal point, used for public baking by a previous occupant from the 1860s, said to be ‘one of the last to bake the special dishes and puddings and to observe the full ritual’ of the Mabsant celebrations of St Silin’s church ‘and its all-night joyousness and dancing with her numerous guests’.
Upstairs are two beautifully appointed, peaceful bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. The main bedroom is particularly spacious, with exposed trusses that heighten the sense of volume and an en suite bathroom with a bathtub. Windows frame beautiful countryside views on all sides.
Outside, a two storey separate annexe, matching the stone cottage, has its own kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom. The space is wonderfully secluded, perfect for guests, and shares the views of the rolling landscape.
The Great Outdoors
The terraced gardens have been lovingly maintained, cleverly celebrating the natural elements of stone, rock, and water. Hand-built stone walls and steps structure the space, leading down through lawns bordered by mature tree species and lush herbaceous planting. In the front garden, a firepit paired with a stone bench provides a lovely spot to sit out during warmer months, while a terrace adjoining the annexe provides further space for outdoor dining.
A tree-lined stream and gentle waterfall flow through the grounds - a peaceful view that can be enjoyed directly from the kitchen window - before giving way to an area of private woodland. Beyond the garden bounds, the finest local walking routes lead out across the surrounding hills, and a workshop provides practical additional storage.
Out and About
Llansilin is set in the quiet folds of the whimsical Powys countryside near the Welsh/Shropshire border. At the village centre stands The Wynnstay Arms, a classic 16th-century coaching inn with log fires, local ales, and hearty pub meals. Looming nearby, the Gyrn acts as a dramatic backdrop and a powerful natural presence in the landscape. Exceptional walking routes weave around its slopes, where peregrine falcons can often be spotted circling above.
Nearby lies the 700-year-old Chirk Castle, while hikers can head to the ancient Offa’s Dyke Path or Pistyll Rhaeadr, one of Wales’s tallest waterfalls. For regional produce, vintage finds, and independent bakeries, the nearby market town of Oswestry makes for an easy local outing.
Transport connections are within easy reach. The nearby A5 and A483 provide direct road links to Shrewsbury, Chester, and Snowdonia, while mainline train services run from nearby Gobowen Station, connecting directly to Birmingham, Chester, and London Euston via Crewe.
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