PENTRE MAWR

Hospitable country house in welshest Wales

ANYONE WHO HAS STAYED at the very hospitable Sychnant Pass House in Conwy will be glad to know that owners Bre and Graham Carrington Sykes now have another secret up their sleeve – Pentre Mawr, just a 30 minute drive away in the Vale of Clwyd. Sweep into the drive, and you’ll see horses grazing in the meadow, and (probably) dogs playing in the garden.

This handsome whitewashed house echoes Sychnant Pass – though it’s slightly smaller – in many ways. Home to Graham’s family for the last 400 years, it’s set in nearly 200 acres of meadows, woodland and river – a place of tranquility with an at-home, unpretentious feel. 

The property has been recently refurbished to mix contemporary comforts with a lovely period feel. Graham’s family portraits line the buttercup-yellow walls of the sitting room, with its comfy sofas while the book-lined study offers another place to curl up and relax. Just help yourself to drinks from the honesty bar.

Hidden walled garden

Breakfast is served in the morning room or on the Georgian terrace on balmy mornings, and  you can join fellow guests for dinner in the more formal dining room at night. Outside, you’ll find a heated swimming pool, an old chapel and a hidden walled garden with clambering roses – a real suntrap in summer. 

Delightful bedrooms with sweeping garden views – all named after the characters in TS Eliot’s Book of Practical Cats – have four-poster beds, slipper baths and sofas in the bathrooms. 

Bandicoot has an imposing mahogany four-poster, while Mungojerrie has more of a fun feel with chequered carpets and ornate carved mahogany bed piled with cushions. Old Possum will appeal to possums young and old, with its huge carved wooden bed and silken covers. Lady Griddlebone has a white four poster, while Tumble Brutus has a lavish bathroom with free-standing clawfoot bath at centre.

Walks start from the door and there’s fishing nearby. The house also lends itself to private house parties, so bring your friends along to crack open some fizz.


Pentre Mawr was reviewed by Room for Romance

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Country house style cooking is the thing here and owner Bre Carrington-Sykes sees that fresh local produce is used, according to season.

Dining out
Nearby Llandyrnog has three pubs where you can enjoy hearty gastro-fare.

See & Do
Visit historic Denbigh castle, or go for a hike along even more historic Offa’s Dyke. If the outdoor life is not your thing, then chic Chester is just a short drive away.

Shop
There are bargains to be had at the Tweedmill Outlet Centre, and nearby Chester is a favourite with footballers' wives – so expect wall-to-wall boutiques.

After dark
Toast your toes by the open fire with a glass of fine wine, or head out to one of the local pubs.

Dates
August
Tune into Welsh poetry, music and song at the National Eisteddfod of Wales – a week long celebration of all things Welsh.

September
Top-notch Welsh and international acts take to the stage at the North Wales festival of music in Saint Asaph’s Cathedral, near Denbigh.

GETTING THERE

Location
Llandyrnog, Denbighshire LL16 4LA

Parking
There is free guest parking

Trains
Rhyl station – ten miles

Taxis
GBP 15 from the station, or GBP 45 from either of the airports

Airport
Liverpool or Manchester International –  an hour away.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
From GBP 90

Open/closed
Open all year except for one week at Christmas.

Check-in
2:30pm

Check-out
11am

Minimum night stay?
Two nights at weekends

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 10am

Room service
No

Children
Children over 12 are welcome

Pets
Most dogs are welcome free of charge, but a small supplement is payable for large dogs

Air conditioning
No

Languages
English

Wedding license?
No

Eco conscience
The owners participate in many green schemes such as recycling and pollution reduction.

Your contacts
Graham and Bre Carrington Sykes – owners