Hollydean, The Narth

Why we love it

Hollydean is proof of what vision and patience can achieve. Not long ago it was a derelict house. Today it is a light-filled, beautifully finished family home, set among the trees in The Narth, a scattered woodland village on the high ground between Monmouth and Trellech.

The defining feature is the tall, south-facing glass gable at the end of the living space. It pulls daylight deep into the house even in the depths of winter and frames the garden and woods like a picture, so the seasons become part of daily life. The owners describe throwing open the bi-folds in summer, watching the trees turn in autumn, and lighting the fire to listen to the rain on the glass when the weather closes in.

Inside

The open-plan kitchen, sitting and dining room is the centre of everything. At almost 40 feet long, it gives the whole family room to cook, eat and relax together. The kitchen is fitted with quartz worktops and bespoke cabinetry, including a striking run of fluted oak storage, and bi-fold doors open onto the patio and garden. Granite floors with underfloor heating run throughout the ground floor.

The layout is unusually flexible. Three of the rooms on the ground floor can be used as bedrooms, one with its own en suite, which makes the house a great fit for multi-generational living or for anyone who wants the option of living on one level. Equally, they would make excellent playrooms, offices or guest rooms. A large utility room and a downstairs toilet sit by the side entrance, handy for muddy boots and dogs after a walk in the woods.

Upstairs, two generous double bedrooms each have their own en suite. One has a freestanding bath positioned so that you can lie back and watch deer and other wildlife moving through the trees, the owners' favourite spot in the house.

Thoughtful touches run throughout, including motion-activated stair lighting, ceiling speakers in the living space and outside lights that can be controlled from the principal bedroom. The house is also well insulated, helping to keep it warm and economical to run.

Outside

Electric gates open onto a stone-chipped drive that wraps around the side and back of the house, with parking for several cars and a garage at the rear. Most of the garden lies to the front, where level lawns soak up the southern sun and a large patio offers plenty of room for dining outdoors. The surrounding woodland gives a feeling of privacy and an ever-changing backdrop.

The setting

The Narth is known for its woodland walks, many of which start almost from the front gate, and the Wye Valley Walk is around ten minutes away on foot. Monmouth is about ten minutes by car for shops, cafés, schools and everyday needs, and the wider Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and the rest of Monmouthshire are all on the doorstep.