Tan Llan & The Coach House

Set in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, among towering mountains and glorious valleys, it isn’t just the location that draws people to Tan Llan. The house is also treasure in itself: Grade II listed; set over three floors; sympathetically renovated to offer luxurious, spacious accommodation; built from hard grey stone – the unique product of local geology and local craftsmen – the architecture is bold and strong and relies more on proportions than ornament. Tan Llan has a quiet sense of belonging to the magnificent landscape that surrounds it. From the outside, it may look like a traditional country house, but the stylish interior tells a different story. The Main House offers an effortless blend of bright, contemporary accommodation, lavish furnishings and original 18th-century features including large sash windows and shutters, cast iron radiators and a bespoke slate fireplace (local of course).

There are eight bedrooms in total, six in the Main House, three with luxury en-suites, and two in the adjacent Coach House, both en-suite. Quality bedding and sumptuous mattresses provide pure comfort. Melin Tregwynt Welsh woollen blankets and throws adorn the beds; simple in spirit, satisfying in quality and timeless in design. The exceptional first-floor master bedroom slumbers in a separate wing, accessed by a private corridor. Its magnificent en-suite bathroom provides views across the grounds, to be enjoyed while taking a relaxing soak in the large freestanding roll-top bath.

A superbly equipped kitchen has a large island breakfast bar and a grand dining table, perfect for celebratory meals. The sitting room has a glorious open fire, which guests can gather beside at the close of the day. And the beautiful, light garden room opens out to the vast surrounding grounds.

Nestled beside the Main House is the Coach House. Originally a stable and later transformed into a coaching house, you’ll find wonderfully renovated accommodation ideal for members of your party seeking a peaceful hideaway. The wide, oak front door beckons guests into the open-plan living space, and large Welsh slate floor tiles run throughout the ground floor, of course. An almost impossible number of tongue-and-groove-clad walls and ceiling give this a Scandinavian cabin feel. But its Grade II listed status suggests that this is no pale imitation, but a proud Welsh tradition. Brushed, country-checked fabric and Welsh woollen blankets add to the warmth provided by the wood burner in the corner, as do the gnarled wooden beams and an exposed brick wall in the sitting area. There’s also a sociable, round dining table within the living space. The adjacent cosy snug provides a flat-screen TV and over-sized anglepoise-style lamp that add a slick, modern edge.

A handmade kitchen with breakfast-bar sits tastefully within wood-clad walls and ceiling. It’s equipped with all mod cons including a stainless-steel American-style fridge freezer.

Climb the neat wooden staircase, and there are two beautiful bedrooms within the eaves, both en-suite. It feels somewhat hayloft meets boutique hotel with its sloping walls and wonderfully wonky exposed beams.

There’s also an external games room housing a table tennis table, perfect for unpromising days; Wales is lush and green for a reason.

The grounds are what seems like a never-ending playground for the children, although if one were to be more precise, there are fifteen acres of spectacular landscaped grounds.

A spacious, Welsh-slate patio area, bathed in sunlight for most of the day, provides the ideal spot to relax with a glass of wine or local Cader Ale while watching the resident rabbits and red squirrels scamper through the woodland of established trees. As the summer sun drops its head and concedes to autumn, and only the tallest of evergreens stand sentinel holding their guard high, the bulky presence of Snowdon’s twin, Cader Idris, previously only a guarded stranger now bears down on the garden. Menacing yet magical.