Enter the farmhouse via an entrance hall/boot room with ample space for coats and boots, doors from the entrance hall lead to the kitchen and the inner hall with its feature bread oven and wooden staircase to the first floor. The kitchen is comprehensively fitted in a rustic style with natural wood cupboards and worktops, ceramic sink and flagstone floor. An Aga is fitted into an alcove with lights over, the beamed ceiling, exposed stone wall and brace and ledge doors add character to the room. A window to the side offers spectacular views across the garden and fields, and a wooden door leads to the original stone spiral staircase, a secondary staircase to the first floor. Off the kitchen is a room with wonderful south facing views which is currently used as a home office. Also accessed from the kitchen is a snug with exposed stone wall, flagstone floor and beamed ceiling.
From the entrance porch/hall is a door to the interesting inner hall with the original bread oven, wooden staircase to the first floor and steps down to the garden room. The garden room is not only a comfortable space with its beamed ceiling and wooden floor but really does capture the stunning location with floor to ceiling windows affording panoramic views across open fields to the mountains beyond. A glazed door opens out to the garden with access to the fields beyond. Steps from the garden room lead to a study, again with much character and an ideal place to work whilst enjoying the views from a small window to the side. The ground floor accommodation offers flexibility and versatility in terms of practicality and the use of space to allow both a family home with space for solitude and relaxing too.
There are two staircases to the first floor, the original stone spiral staircase from the kitchen and the more modern wooden staircase rising from the inner hall. The character and charm continues to the first floor with many retained features including beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls and brace and ledge wooden doors. On the first floor are 3 bedrooms, one with an en-suite W.C. and a family bathroom. Steps lead to a fourth bedroom with a corner handbasin.
Immediately adjoining the house is a lawned garden, enclosed by a combination of fencing and stone walls which separates the garden from the fields and driveway. The garden has planted borders but is predominately natural lawn. The present owners have carried out extensive tree planting and landscaping over the past twenty years as well as ensuring the fencing and stone walls have been kept in good order. Immediately below the house is an area of old bluebell woodland which in springtime, is a sea of blue. To the left looking down from the house is a pond which is fed by the intermittent stream which is culverted under the yard. The present owners suggest that the pond needs accumulated sediment digging out and likely relining as unless there has been significant rain it is dry.
Above the house are three new copses, the majority of the trees planted are native broadleaf such as cherry, crab apple, wild pear, sweet chestnut, hawthorn, hazel, beech, wild service tree, rowan, lime and oak. For added interest and colour, there are some exotics such as Himalayan Birch, American Red Oak, and Norway Maple. The guiding principle in all the planting has been to provide an ideal environment for birds and pollinators while at the same time creating an attractive landscape with a variety of spring blossoms and autumn colours. Immediately above the house are two areas the present owners had as vegetable gardens. One section has now been returned to grass but with a seeding of wild flowers. This could either be allowed to develop as such or easily revived as a vegetable garden.
Upper Pentwyn Farm has direct access to the Hatterrall Hill and Offas Dyke Path. From here as well as the southern panorama the views extend into Gloucestershire, to the Malverns and beyond. The area is perfect for outdoor activities including horse riding walking and mountain biking. When the wind is in the east hang gliders fly from here. Birdlife includes buzzards, red kites and ravens and the cuckoo is just one of many migrant birds that return to Upper Pentwyn each year. Being elevated, there are days when the property is in the cloud but the other side of this coin is that there are extraordinary winter days when there is an inversion. Then under the bluest of skies the property is bathed in brilliant sunshine while the land below is lost in thick cloud and the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid Mountains stand above it as fantastic islands.
Access to the property is via country lanes/single track roads from Llanvihangel Crucorney. whilst a four wheel drive vehicle is preferable, the track can be navigated by car, although during the winter months this may be a little challenging. Tarmacked country lanes lead to the mountain track, which is circa 1 mile from the property and is easily navigable to the private track and farmyard belonging to Upper Pentwyn Farm.
Complementing the farmhouse are the enclosed farmyard and stone agricultural buildings. A large former threshing barn…that is to say it is side on to the prevailing winds, has double doors to the roof and a stone slabbed floor between the doors. Here the grain crop was stored and when the wind was blowing ‘threshed’ by beating it with a flail to shake the grain out from the ears. This barn was in a poor state back in 2000, one section of wall had to be completely rebuilt, needing pointing inside and out. Then in about 2014 the old iron roof was removed and an A frame roof installed under a Welsh slate. The newly created loft area was then boarded and skylights inserted to create a wonderful amenity area. The barn has potential to use as ancillary accommodation, a studio or simply a party/leisure barn.
Planning consent was granted by Brecon Beacons National Park on 3rd November 2022 under reference 21/19952/FUL to convert the first floor of the threshing barn, accessed via an external staircase, to ancillary accommodation to the farmhouse. Whilst the conversion has commenced, not all the works have been implemented, including the installation of a wide mullioned window in the loft’s southern end which will take full advantage of the views. The adjoining small barn was a beast house when the property was a working farm, hence the three doorways, the middle one of which was infilled many years ago, certainly before the listing in 1998. This barn also has a first floor which has been used for storage. The entire gable end was rebuilt in 2001/2. The barn has a doorway on its far side which gives access to an impressive walled enclosure which would be ideal for animals or as a garden.
The beast house has listed building permission to reroof with stone tiles and incorporating conservation skylight, giving scope for further development, subject to the necessary further consents.
The garden and grounds extend to circa 33 acres including circa 2.5 acres of woodland, five good pasture fields, and the formal garden immediately around the house. The pasture, which is all south facing, has been steadily improved over many years by the farmer who currently grazes it. The views from the land are just spectacular and would be ideal, subject to any necessary planning consents, for a Shepherd’s Hut or two.
The nearby village of Cwmyoy offers a public house, a beautiful church and village hall. The historic Llanthony Priory is approximately 2.5 miles away and all along the valley are the most outstanding views and landscapes. The well-known ‘book town’ of Hay on Wye is some 14 miles away and offers not only a wide range of book shops but a number of individual shops, public houses and restaurants. The picturesque Powys town of Crickhowell which lies on the banks of the River Usk is some 13 miles away. The larger, historic market town of Abergavenny is approximately 8 miles and offers a range of amenities including doctors, dentists, library, high street retailers and individual shops, banks, cinema and supermarkets together with a general hospital. The town is now well known for its many high quality restaurants and the Annual Food Festival.
The village of Llanvihangel Crucorney, approximately 2.5 miles, offers a local inn which is reputed to be the oldest pub in Wales, a garage, shop, a primary school and access to the A465 Hereford Road. The A465 links to the A40 and A449 at Abergavenny which in turn link to the M5/M4 and M50 Motorway networks. Main line railway stations can be found in Abergavenny and the City of Hereford.
The DMCC Act 2024, which came into force in April 2025, is designed to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and have all the information required to make an informed purchase, whether that be a property or any other consumer goods. Fine & Country are committed to providing material information relating to the properties we are marketing to assist prospective buyers when making a decision to proceed with the purchase of a property. Please note all information will need to be verified by the buyers' solicitor and is given in good faith from information both obtained from HMRC Land Registry and provided by our sellers.
Monmouthshire County Council.
H Please note that the Council Tax banding was correct as at date property listed. All buyers should make their own enquiries.
G To view the full EPC please visit the GOV website.
Freehold.
Mains electricity. Oil fired central heating and open fireplaces. Private water supply from spring on own land. Private drainage via septic tank. Broadband: Standard broadband available subject to providers terms and conditions. Please make your own enquiries via Openreach. Mobile: Filled in using the below website to check what is available EE, Three, 02 and Vodaphone limited indoors and likely outdoors. Please make your own enquiries via Ofcom.
A neighbouring farmer has paid for annual grazing for sheep for many years and should the new owner wish to continue this arrangement confirmation of this can be obtained. One could expect to get in the region of £2000 per annum and in addition the farmer annually tops or cuts the grass. The property is of course sold with vacant possession but it is possible a new grazing agreement could be put into place to begin on completion. Two public footpaths cross the land. Further details are available upon request.
WA922988. A copy of which is available from Fine & Country.
Strictly by appointment with Fine & Country.
Directions will be provided by the Agent prior to viewings.
All measurements, floorplans and land plans are for illustrative purposes only and are approximate. Measurements are quoted in imperial with metric equivalents and are for general guidance only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure to accuracy, these sales particulars must not be relied upon and all information is to be verified by the solicitor acting for the buyer(s). Please note Fine & Country have not tested any apparatus or services and, therefore, no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Photographs are shown for marketing purposes and it must not be assumed that any of the fixtures and fittings shown are included with the property, unless specifically mentioned within the sales particulars, some fixtures and fittings may be available by separate negotiation.
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights, including rights of way, easements and proposed wayleaves. Please check with the Highways Department at the local County Council for the exact location of public footpaths/bridleways.