Mountain Coach House

About this property

Aside from the manor house, Mountain Coach House is the largest accommodation on the astonishing Pontardawe Country Estate. With four bedrooms in total, this fantastic nineteenth century Georgian coach house sleeps up to eight guests. It is comprised of two neighbouring holiday cottages, interconnected to create one large, four bedroomed holiday home. Mountain Coach House sits alongside a picturesque mountain stream alive with wild trout, dippers and grey wagtails and edged with bluebells, daffodils, rhododendrons and hazel trees growing wild. The river runs through the estate on its way to Swansea Bay. The views from the back doors of the coach house are of the stream, a pretty bridge, weeping ash, flowering rhododendron and traditional farmyard buildings. Being two adjoining cottages, Mountain Coach House enjoys two of almost everything, except for the welcome, indulgent hot tub in the garden. This superb, characterful property is ideal for groups of friends or a large family wanting to enjoy a unique holiday experience. Once you have stayed on the Pontardawe Country Estate, you will understand why families return over and over again!

As well as pretty gardens and the hot tub, Mountain Coach House enjoys a four poster bed in one of the bedrooms, a wood burning stove and lots of wonderful images of how the property was in time gone by. The fabulous one hundred and twenty acre Pontardawe Country Estate sits in the ancient hamlet of Cilybebyll, surrounded by beautiful rolling Welsh countryside. The historic estate boasts links to the descendants of Welsh Kings, Arthurian legend, tales of the Mabinogion, the Norman invasion, the Earls of Pembrokeshire, Winston Churchill’s secret army, eighteenth century prisons, Charles II, the tea plantations of Ceylon, coal mining, the Industrial Revolution and much more. A World War II hideout, used by Churchill’s Secret Army was found in the estate’s private bluebell woodland and gained recognition as a Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance. In addition to its superb grounds, the Pontardawe Estate boasts the gorgeous manor house, Pontardawe Country House, as well as a number of other holiday cottages that Oliver’s Travels also feature. Guests can book each of these individually or for a special celebration, you may want to consider booking a selection of the cottages with or without the manor house. Guests staying at the cottages are free to roam the estate, enjoying the beautiful natural scenery and its amazing wildlife. The estate is brimming with woodland walks, farm trails, green fields, bluebell woods, rivers and stunning picnic spots. When you have had enough you can head to the splendid Brecon Beacons, the Gower Peninsula, museums and numerous delightful towns and villages. A shop, post office and pub can be found in the charming village of Rhos one mile away and the 24 hour supermarket is in Pontardawe, two miles away.

Mountain Coach House lies at the end of a long tree lined drive and forms part of the estate courtyard. It is dog friendly so you can take your well-behaved furry friend along to enjoy this special place. Mountain Coach House is bright and airy yet cosy and very comforting. It offers a very warm and inviting ambience. The bedrooms all enjoy fabulous views, either of the French Chateau-like manor house or the giant beech trees that give way to sheep grazing in the parkland or the soothing river, abundant with wildlife. Downstairs there are two warm and cosy living rooms, two country kitchens and two toilets. As well as modern amenities the coach house offers many enchanting nods to the past. The white archway and circle that adorn the property are telling signs to its past life. You can feel the history in this lovely property. The living rooms are very cosy with comfy sofas, chairs, televisions with plenty of channels, glowing stoves and delightful colour palettes. They are wonderful rooms to nestle down in, enjoy your holiday books, enjoy family games or to peruse the excellent guest information booklets to decide how to spend your holiday week. If children are tired after a busy hiking or beach day, they can watch a movie in one room while the adults chill in the other. Upstairs, guests enjoy two master bedrooms, two twin bedrooms and two bathrooms, all enjoying wonderful character and splendid views.

The gardens are delightful, especially with the hot tub sitting centre stage on a Gwrhyd sandstone patio, a beautiful local stone valued for its fossilized ripple patterns that formed in a tropical lagoon many millions of years ago. There is plenty of room for alfresco dining. Guests enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful location, only interrupted by birdsong and the soothing sounds of the babbling brook.

Mountain Coach House offers a unique holiday experience that families and friends can enjoy together while exploring this magical region and the estate’s fabulous acres.

Mountain Coach House enjoys a fabulous position on the one hundred and twenty acre Pontardawe Country Estate in the tranquil hamlet of Cilybebyll, close to the village of Pontardawe. The estate is full of forests, rivers, bluebell woods, sprawling fields, bird nesting boxes, beautiful picnic spots, a stately manor house and other holiday cottages. It is the perfect rural retreat between the Gower Peninsula and the Brecon Beacons National Park. The estate courtyard where many of the cottages are located is bounded by the upper reaches of the picturesque River Clydach and on the other side by green parkland pastures grazed by sheep and cows. The high hills of blue pennant sandstone provide the backdrop to an idyllic and tranquil scene. Mountain Coach House enjoys a fabulous spot where you can dine alfresco watching the lambs and enjoy fabulous sunsets over the parkland. Guests booking Mountain Coach House are free to roam the estate including its award winning bluebell woodland. The estate’s farm walk is a circular walk for guests which meanders from the doorstep of Parkland Cottage towards the summit of Mynydd Marchywel and back. En route, guests follow mountain streams, climb over stiles, explore the bluebell woods and traverse lazy green fields. On a clear day, the panoramic vistas include the Swansea Valley, Swansea Bay, the Bristol Channel and the Brecon Beacons National Park. The cottage is an excellent base for those that want to explore the landscapes by bike. The Afan Forest and Bike Park Wales are easily accessible. There is a golf course close by for golf fans and the supermarket in Pontardawe is open 24 hours for those late night emergencies. There is also a village pub within walking distance.

The beautiful Swansea Bay coastline and the Gower Peninsula with its idyllic secret coves in and glorious stretches of fine sand is just twenty minutes drive away. You should not miss a trip to the iconic, award winning Rhossili Bay with its dramatic, panoramic views and excellent hiking paths. Rhossili has been described as ‘The supermodel of British beaches’ by The Independent and has won numerous accolades from UK Travel Writers including the best spot for a picnic. The Times listed the beach as ‘The UK’s No.1 dog friendly beach’ so if you do have your furry friend with you, you should definitely go. At low tide the beach is enormous and it is possible to walk across to Llangennith or even to the Worms Head. It is steep to walk down to the beach so it is not suitable for pushchairs or visitors with mobility issues.

The Victorian seaside village of Mumbles with its promenade, shops and restaurants is worth a visit and for those that want to stay outdoors, the National Showcaves of Wales and the Vale of Neath’s spectacular waterfalls are nearby. Guests enjoy visits to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the Glamorganshire Heritage Coast, both less than half an hour away.

Mumbles was one of Dylan Thomas’ many stamping grounds and is the home of some world class ice cream. Mumbles is steeped in history with its lighthouse being built in 1794. It also boasts a Victorian pier and Oystermouth Castle which sits on the hilltop overlooking the sea. There are lovely boutique shops and galleries including the gorgeous Lovespoon Gallery and the Gower Gallery. No visit to Mumbles would be complete without sampling some ‘fresh off the boat’ seafood, its handmade chocolates and its fantastic ice creams.

Accommodation

Mountain Coach House comprises of both Stream and Stable Cottages, and is therefore ideal for two families holidaying together, who wish to retain an element of privacy. The cottages are joined by an interconnecting door.
Cottage 1
Ground Floor
- Living room
- Fully-equipped kitchen with dining facilities
- Cloakroom

First Floor
- Bedroom with four-poster, king-size bed
- Bedroom with twin beds
- Family bathroom
Cottage 2
Ground Floor
- Living room
- Fully-equipped kitchen with dining facilities
- Cloakroom

First Floor
- Bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with twin beds
- Family bathroom
Exterior Grounds
- Private enclosed garden
- Riverside hot tub
- Barbecue
- 100 acres of Estate gardens to explore
Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- TV
- Travel cot & highchair available on request (please bring your own cot linen)
- Parking