Glaneirw Estate
Cardigan
Blink and you’d miss it. A well-hidden gem, the tranquil Glaneirw Estate is quietly located a short hop inland from Cardigan Bay in the less well trodden Cardiganshire Heritage Coastline.
The estate has a long and colourful history with the story starting back in the 1400’s, and after passing through several pairs of less than careful hands, in 2013 a fearless epic restoration project began that has seen the mansion, coach house, the outbuildings, the gorgeous walled garden, and the fifty or so acres were bought back to life. It now breathes freely again, the attention to heritage detail blending perfectly with contemporary luxury finishes. A wonderfully private place to escape to.
Together the three newly converted properties can accommodate up to twenty-four guests but are carefully separated so that privacy is assured for smaller groups. The Courtyard sleeps ten in five glamorous en-suite bedrooms, with The Coach House spacious enough for ten more with three bathrooms, and the open plan Apartment ideal for a cosy retreat for two guests with a sofa bed for the kids. All have a mix of modern furniture and antique pieces reflecting the long history, and all proudly show off the original oak doors, ancient slate tiling with new underfloor heating, patinated beams, ornate architraves and high ceilings.
The Coach House feels light and airy, with a huge dining kitchen but the expansive Master Suite takes it to another level with a vaulted ceiling and stunning bathroom complete with deep soaking tub. There’s even a table tennis table to work up and appetite whilst the champagne chills.
We adored the understatedly named Courtyard. The massive kitchen island is the focal point of a high-end kitchen, flowing through the duplex height dining space on to the cosy living area, all 23 metres of which open out through three sets of generous bifolds to the terrace and private garden space and are the heart of this beautiful and convivial property. The double-sided wood burner adds charming and cosy vibes. Just off the patio there is an outdoor but fully covered Games Room with table tennis, darts, seating and an additional fridge.
Glaneirw Mansion and The Coach House are surrounded by fifty acres of both pastureland and long-established woodland. Look out for the Pedigree Dexter Beef cattle and the rare breed Mangalitsa pigs which live off apples and pears produced in the estate orchard. Glaneirw also produces an array of both soft fruit and apples and pears, grown as established stock in the both the orchard and Georgian walled garden. An aspirational amateur chef can keep transform food miles into food yards when whipping up a storm at the Rangemaster by making good use of the delicious estate produce.
Cardigan Bay’s weathered coastline is home to plenty of honeypot coves, toes in the sand pubs and exhilarating walks, but try Cwmtydu, south of New Quay which is great for surfing and often a quieter spot for dolphin and seal watching. Picture postcard pretty Mwnt is better known and well worth the unavoidable steps and sloping walk.