About this property
Four-bedroomed bungalow at Wiseman's Bridge. The house and large garden brim with character, while the views over Carmarthen Bay are sensational. The only building between it and the beach is an excellent pub, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs right behind it. Well-equipped, with an EV charger included in the rental.
Windy Ridge has been in the family since 1937, when our grandfather bought it from a Commander Lewis. He had commissioned an architect to build it the year before - but apparently his wife did not like it so he put it on the market. Its age is important to us, because we have done our best to keep the original Thirties feel, with plenty of wood panelling, red tiled floors and Crittall windows, though these are now double-glazed. It has an unusual and beautiful Belgian tiled roof; when the tiles started to wear a few years ago, we found a specialist in Antwerp who made new ones for us. Some features are original - including a slate-sided bath and Belfast sink - but much has been updated. We have installed hard wood worktops and modern equipment in the kitchen. The furniture is high quality: a mix of antique, specially built and modern. Our most substantial change has been to add a hand-built 'garden room' - its main room can be used as a play area, a studio, an extra sitting room ... anything really. It has its own shower room and toilet, with doors leading on to a sunny patio and the same glorious views as the main house. The large garden slopes down from the house. It is ideal for dogs as long as they are not too adventurous - a determined animal could escape into the wood next door (the gates at the bottom of the drive can be closed). The access road and drive are fairly steep, so although the house is on the level, it could be tricky for people with mobility issues.
This is an all-year-round house. We have an open fire and central heating, with double glazing throughout. It's a cosy place to be on a chilly day or when a storm is raging.
The house sits on the cliff above the hamlet of Wiseman's Bridge. A short steep walk leads to the popular Wiseman's Bridge Inn, which the Guardian called the best outdoor pub in Wales; it is well-run and family-friendly. The beach has no dog restrictions, and when the tides are right it is possible to walk along it to Amroth one way, and to Saundersfoot and beyond the other. The Coast Path gives non-stop access to Tenby and the west one way, and to beautiful parts of Carmarthenshire the other.
Amroth is a small seaside village with three pubs and the delightful Colby Woodland Garden, run by the National Trust. Saundersfoot is a 20 - 30 minute walk along the beach or through tunnels built for a miners' railway: it has a working harbour, plenty of places to eat and drink, and the St Brides Spa hotel for a little luxury. Lan-y-Mor restaurant (formerly Coast), between Wiseman's Bridge and Saundersfoot, is friendly and classy. The walk inland from Wiseman's Bridge is very pleasant; it follows the old railway line to the remains of a 19th century iron works.
It's an easy drive to very different areas. To the west is Tenby, a pretty regency town with a picturesque harbour and two lovely beaches. It is well set up for families. Beyond that is Pembroke and the Castlemartin peninsula. Pembroke has a magnificent castle (there are so many castle in the county), while the peninsula has some of the most spectacular scenery and beaches in the county. Great for bird watching, swimming or walking. To the north-west are the inlets of Milford Haven: a hidden and rather magical area. North is Narberth - transformed from the rather dowdy town our grandparents lived in to possibly the trendiest place in Wales: an extraordinary range of restaurants, shops and an antique market. Go beyond Narberth and you are in empty, beautiful, Welsh-speaking Pembrokeshire, rising to the mysterious Prescelly mountains.
,Accommodation details:
Main room: A room with bags of Thirties character from the wood panels at the back, a fireplace (we provide logs and coal), and French doors recently installed to echo the Crittall originals, but with better insulation. John Lewis sofa, three Lloyd Loom chairs, and a comfy cushion; an antique Welsh dresser with plenty of board games; smart television and DVD player.
Kitchen/dining room: Electric cooker with induction hob, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, walk-in pantry. The dining area has a hand built table with chairs and a bench for eight, and a thirteen foot wide undivided window looking across the bay.
Double bedroom: At the back of the house, with a washbasin, wardrobe and chest of drawers.
Twin bedroom 1: With a view over the garden and sea. Wardrobe and chest of drawers.
Twin bedroom 2: In the middle of house. Wardrobe and chest of drawers.
Twin bedroom 3: a large room at the back of the house. Wardrobe and chest of drawers.
A cot is provided.
Bathroom: Original bath with a modern shower. Separate toilet.
Porch with a toilet leading off it.
Garden room: A large room built of wood by specialists. Well insulated, with a wooden floor, and French doors opening on to a patio. Garden table with chairs and a parasol, and a view over the bay. Separate toilet and shower room.
Garden: a third of acre, with a terrace at the top and grass sloping down to the bottom.
Parking: Space for three cars, or more if the area behind the house is used. There is an EV socket close to the kitchen door. We do not charge for its use, as long as it is used for guests' cars only.