COASTAL CHARMER

This distinctive thatched cottage near the coast has been renovated into a stunning Pembrokeshire dream home. Joanne Ridout finds out more...

ACOTTAGE by the coast, with the sea lapping the shore at the end of the remote lane and access to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and clifftop path on the doorstep, sounds idyllic to many people. And if you add into the property mix the fact that the house has been restored into a truly stunning home inside, it might be ideal for someone looking to just park the car outside and then just park themselves inside and make it their happy home.

This historic thatched cottage for sale dating back to probably the 16th century at its core, offers you the chance to own a truly unique property.

Many beautiful original features are thankfully still in place but the facilities are not in the past - the property has been extensively renovated, retaining the character of the original dwelling whilst incorporating all the requirements of modern living.

Plus, for anyone keen to have a coastal cottage that is not a typical standard stone building, however pretty, this stunner is a very distinctive and historic abode. In fact, such is its uniqueness, it has a Grade II* listing and a special place in Welsh property history.

Extraordinary and unusual features include one of last remaining working Flemish chimneys in Pembrokeshire, a rare architectural addition to a Welsh property and a sign of the home’s links to the Flemings, who began emigrating to parts of the county in the 12th century.

Called Rhosson Uchaf, the cottage achieved its impressive listing in 1951, updated in 1992, for being ‘the most important survivor of the eight roundchimneyed houses’ according to website British listed buildings.

But the breathtaking original features to admire within this home don’t start and end with the unusual chimney.

There are slate flagstone floors, exposed beams, internal stone wall niches, stone mantles over exposed chimneys, wood lintels and a partstone ceiling to the main living area to discover.

Although the house is oozing with classic cottage charm, there is abundant space inside for peaceful family living.

Inside, the house is bursting with delightful character features, including ceiling beams, slate hearth fireplaces and exposed roof A-beams and rafters.

Yes, the rooms are bursting with period charm that will envelope you with a historic ambience, but they are also generous in size and number, with good-sized windows too, making this a light and bright home.

The current owners have created a home full of classic country statement furniture pieces with cottagecore interior design touches, currently this year’s most popular decor trend, with white-washed walls providing the backdrop for accents of pretty, natureinspired colours.

Where the home has been modernised the choice of fixtures and fittings has been sympathetic to the character of the property, including slate flooring, panelled radiators and stripped pine internal doors.

The hall, with feature slate flagstone floor, white-washed stone walls and exposed beams, leads to either the dining room and kitchen to the right or two reception rooms, a sun room and a utility room to the left.

The dining room continues the floor, wall and beam theme, with the large dining table and chairs in front of a log burner ensuring any dinner guests are cosy and warm while they discuss the hot topics of the day over a meal.

This generous space has ample room for a traditional, and some might say expected, Welsh dresser adding to the classic cottage scene, with sections of exposed stone wall adding to the charm.

The sizeable space means the room can also accommodate a cosy armchair retreat at one end, or if a new owner has a large family, maybe even a bigger table.

Into the kitchen and the character continues via the flagstone floor and classic Shaker-style units that house a Belfast sink, above which is the cutest of cottage windows framing a view out across the garden towards the coast.

This room, although not boasting ceiling beams, is a welcoming space that is large enough to also welcome a kitchen table and chairs, a huge fridge, all the appliances a modern kitchen demands, plus another Welsh dresser that brings a pop of sunny yellow into the interior design scheme.

The living room area is the central core of the house, and it’s in this room the distinctive chimney plays host to a log burner nestled within an inglenook fireplace.

With comfy sofas positioned around the flames, this room has surely created the most inviting and charming area of the home to settle down for a sociable chat or find peace in front of the fire with a book.

Find your next perfect home here: This quirky house has so many extra little nooks and crannies to offer you throughout, and in this living room it’s an area in one of the corners.

Flanked by two robust sections of original wall, and lit by a sweet little window, this cosy corner is currently being used as an extra space for eating and socialising, but could make a home office tucked away from all the main spaces, or a more peaceful reading area once a large armchair has been installed.

The beams, particularly in this room, are so impressive it might be hard not to gaze longingly at them if you love original features, but tear yourself away and there’s a sunny garden room at the rear to find and enjoy.

Again, the dimensions of this room are good, with three sofas easily positioned under the cloud-swept sky or

starry night that both create living artwork above your head through the ceiling of glass.

Views of the garden are pretty good too when your neck gets tired of tilting upwards.

This house just keeps on adding space where you don’t expect it, so next to the living room is further reception space that is currently being used as a snug but could easily be a playroom, office, hobby room - all with the cottage character this property keeps presenting in every space.

The surprises keep coming as off the snug is yet another room - this time it’s a handy utility room, but this one is also home to a surprise sauna, housed in a wooden cabin-like structure in the corner of the room.

But this delightful cottage hasn’t finished with the surprises just yet, as the property can offer room for pigs here too, with their own little pigsty and walled garden attached to the house.

Whether you decide to install a pet pig into this quirky space is, of course, up to you.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all continuing the period charm with exposed beams and double-height, vaulted ceilings but all allocated to humans not pigs.

Two of the bedrooms can boast an ensuite too, with the master offering a classic, roll-top, free-standing bath with a glimpse of the coast through probably the smallest cottage window within the whole house; it’s a real sweetie.

Outside, the gated garden has feature stone walls and plenty of places for alfresco dining within them, sprawling lawns and parking for multiple vehicles.

As this is a house that keeps on giving, in the garden you will also find a range of outbuildings ripe for conversion within the approximate acre of land.

This incredible property is located in the peaceful and super small hamlet of Rhosson, literally a few minutes’ walk from the stunning Pembrokeshire coastal path at the end of the lane.

Here, at St Justinian’s is the historic lifeboat station, views of and fishing trips around Ramsey Island, as well as access to the local beauty of rocky cliffs, hidden coves and unspoilt beaches of this corner of the county.

A few miles on the coastal path to the north is the pretty cove of Porthselau, waiting to invite you to paddle in the clear water and, for bigger and better surfing, Whitesands Bay is the next substantial sandy shore to visit.

St Davids is the smallest city in the UK, dominated by the historic cathedral, but is also a great location for local shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants to tempt you away from the cottage for a day or evening out, as it is only about 1.6 miles from front door to fantastic food.

But maybe this coastal cottage, with all its space, charm and access to the beauty and peace of its surroundings, is a hard property to leave behind, even just for a day.

Rhosson Uchaf is on the market with a guide price of £875,000 with Savills, call their Cardiff branch on 029 2036 8900 to find out more.