The Old School House

About this property

The fabulous, characterful Old School House sits quietly on the phenomenal Pontardawe Country Estate which enjoys a remarkable history, unique character and more than one hundred and twenty acres of beautiful rolling Welsh countryside. The Old School House enjoys much character, two bedrooms, beautiful living space and its own outdoor space. It is nestled between the folly and the walled garden with its own delightful lawn, alongside the picturesque River Clydach. In addition to its superb grounds, the Pontardawe Estate boasts a 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 as well as the manor house.

The Old School House is tucked away and offers beauty, serenity and tranquility to the lucky guests that happen to book it. With two beautiful bedrooms, the cottage sleeps four guests in luxurious comfort. The Old School House was a former outbuilding on the estate, some of which record a history back to the early 1400’s. The estate lies in the ancient hamlet of Cilybebyll with 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. The Old School House enjoys its own fascinating history. The building was used as the Church Sunday School in the early 20th century. Children received a glass of milk and a slice of cake after every session. Word spread and children came from other parishes to attend. The ground floor was originally a bakery and children from the estate were taught in an upstairs room. The building was also used as a sewing room at one point with the opera singer Madame Adelina Patti having many dresses made in the cottage. The cottage now makes for a tranquil, beautiful, idyllic retreat with its wonderfully rich history and the fabulous estate grounds. Guests wake up to bird song and the babbling stream, what utter bliss!

The Old School House boasts a warm and cosy living room with a fabulous wood burner for chilly evenings, comfy leather sofas and chairs and beautiful views from the windows. The cottage is pet friendly on request so you will often find guest’s furry friends curled up in front of the wood burner. The traditional country kitchen is the heart of this wonderful cottage. It offers a brilliant Rayburn cooker and woodburning stove which keeps the whole cottage warm and cosy. The solid oak kitchen offers every appliance that you could wish for and carries a very warm and welcoming ambience. The Old School House also boasts a very smart conservatory, a beautiful bright and airy spot to enjoy the warmth and natural light flooding through the windows, curled up with your holiday book. The cottage is heated by renewable energy.

Upstairs you will discover two beautifully finished bedrooms, one with a super kingsize bed which can be made up as twins and one with a double bed. The sumptuous beds are beautifully dressed and offer the sleep of kings. They share a gorgeous bathroom with a bath and overhead shower. There is an additional toilet on the ground floor. The cottage is very pretty, inside and out. You will not forget your holiday here, that is for sure!

You can have food delivered from the local supermarket in Pontardawe, so you do not even need to leave this idyllic corner of Wales. Guests enjoy access to the river and farm trail and enjoy woodland walks from the doorstep. It is hard to beat this secluded, peaceful location. If you do leave the estate, then the majestic Brecon Beacons and the stunning Gower Peninsula are on the doorstep.

The Old School House sits in the one hundred and twenty acre Pontardawe Country Estate in the tranquil hamlet of Cilybebyll, close to the village of Pontardawe. The estate is absolutely marvellous with woodlands, 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. Though you may find it hard to leave this wonderful spot, there is much to do and see. 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. Guests booking The Old School 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 The Old School House towards the summit of Mynydd Marchywel and back. En route, guests follow mountain streams, climb over stiles, explore the bluebell woodlands 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.

The Old School House is just twenty minutes drive from the beautiful Swansea Bay coastline and the Gower Peninsula with its gorgeous coves and glorious stretches of fine sand. The Victorian seaside village of Mumbles with its promenade, shops and restaurants is worth a visit and for those that love nature and the 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

Ground Floor
- Living room
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Conservatory
- Cloakroom
First Floor
- Bedroom with super-king bed (can be set up with twin beds on request)
- Bedroom with double bed
- Family bathroom
Exterior Grounds
- Private lawns
- 100 acres of Estate gardens to explore
Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- TV
- Washing machine & dryer
- Travel cot & highchair available on request (please bring your own cot linen)
- Parking