COUNTRY DELIGHT

MANY Cardiff residents have, at some point while living in the capital, visited the beautiful Victorian Roath Park. But it can become very busy. So imagine if you could own a lake that pays homage to Roath Park but is nestled within your own land and has your own ducks and swans to feed, whenever you decide to wander through your garden to visit them.

The Cot is a country house hidden away in 55 acres of countryside near Talygarn, between Pontyclun in the north and Hensol in the south.

The property can boast arguably one of the most idyllic rural slices of land in the area, combining paddocks, woodland, equestrian facilities and some hidden surprises too.

The lake is a peaceful spot to linger and even has a charming stone bridge supplied as the best vantage point to throw the duck food, as well as providing the prettiest of visual additions to the idyllic setting.

Just like Roath Park lake, the lake at The Cot has islands too.

This private stretch of water has two islands and if you look closely while relaxing on the bank, you might even see an otter or two.

The main path that meanders around the lake also gets you to an old pump house at the far end.

This surprise structure still has the original Victorian 7ft cast-iron waterwheel, which is in working order and was used to pump water up to the nearby Talygarn Manor country estate.

And if the eight-acre lake hasn’t won you over yet and ensured this property has captured your heart, then maybe the 34 acres of woodland will.

The land away from the main house stretches out through private and peaceful wooded walks and riding tracks, some of which gently twist through parts of Cot Wood.

The whitewashed, characterful country home has four bedrooms for the humans and five for the horses.

In fact, the horses have impressive facilities that include a purpose-built equestrian yard that has five stables, tack room and hay barn, and a 20m by 40m all-weather manege.

And if you’re worried about the cost of feeding and stabling the horses, the 4kw solar panels found on the stable house roof produce an income of around £1,700 a year according to the estate agent, so that certainly helps.

There are three paddocks that total around 12 acres and have post and rail fencing, plus mains drinking water connections, as well as field shelters.

Adjacent to the first paddock is a purpose-built agricultural building with potential for additional stabling if required.

So that’s the horses sorted, but what about the humans?

The house is approached through a private drive that runs through Talygarn Manor to a private lane that leads up to The Cot and two other dwellings.

The gardens closest to the house have been created by the current owners, who have lived at the property for about 35 years, and focus on keeping the surrounding countryside feel to the plot.

So there are gently sloping lawns with mature trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders, a large kitchengarden, an orchard, a substantial fruit cage, greenhouse and chicken enclosure.

So there’s plenty of space for alfresco dining, garden parties and games, as well as plenty of land for the estate to continue to grow its own produce and rear its own animals, and maybe even expand.

The pretty period house itself oozes character both inside and out.

Inside, the dream country home can boast numerous entertaining zones that ensure this period property is a perfect entertaining space as well as a sociable family home.

The main house has a welcoming front entrance with a pretty porch roof, flanked by bay windows with leaded glass, plus three first-floor windows emerging from the roof.

As it is a country dwelling, the current owners usually enter the house via the boot room at the rear of the home to remove muddy wellies and riding boots, but visitors can also be welcomed via the main entrance.

Throughout the home there are pleasing features that add to the rural home’s appeal, such as parquet flooring, ceiling beams and feature fireplaces boasting a log burner.

Either side of the entrance hall is a lounge, both light and inviting spaces to relax and both offering gorgeous garden views.

That’s the rest and play sorted, the work can be tackled in the separate study/home office at the back of the house, next to the utility room.

Arguably the best space for socialising is the substantial kitchendiner added to the property in 2019 as part of a two-storey extension.

This new ground-floor space not only runs from the front to the back of the building, it also carries on and cements a connection to the garden via a corner of glass doors, the main set opening out on to a balcony.

What a beautiful added bonus this outdoor space is, offering the perfect

place to enjoy good weather while enjoying the fabulous views.

Upstairs, the house can offer four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a range of built-in wardrobes and numerous opportunities to gaze out of the window at the mesmerising rural vistas on the other side of the glass.

Outside, there are numerous outbuildings too, additional to the structures associated with the equestrian element of this home, including a workshop with tractor store within an attractive stone building.

The Cot is a unique home with incredible land and an idyllic place to watch the seasons change, with all the changes in nature.

But whatever the weather can throw at the new owners, a trip to the lake to feed the ducks is just a stroll from the front door, rather than a car journey away in the capital city.

■ The Cot is for sale for £1.25m with estate agent Fine & Country. Give Dan Thomas at the Cardiff and Vale branch a call on 0788 443 5320 to find out more.