A Family Home

The Lake House forms part of Llwynfilly, a farmstead in mid Wales dating from the 16th century. The Lake House is in its own secluded area of the farm, but if you walk across the large field to the west you will find the cobbled courtyard in which the original Grade II listed farmhouse sits. 

Llwynfilly was bought in the 1970s by our grandparents, Lance and Molly. Grandad was a local vet and passionate about animals and the countryside (as well as beer and singing and calamitous camper van holidays). He thought this land was perfect for farming and set about his dream of having a smallholding, populating Llwynfilly’s fields with Limousan cattle and horses.  Today, it is our neighbouring farmer and friend John Price who looks after the farm, alternating cattle and crops in the fields.

Llwynfilly was later bought by our parents, who went on to build the Lake House in the 1990s. Dad was a builder and, like many other builders, always seemed to be working on other peoples’ houses, never quite finishing ours! But the bones of something special were there. The materials he used were mostly local and/or reclaimed: the roof is Welsh slate; the 1950s Aga swapped for a cow; the huge mantle above the fire local oak; the windows made by local craftsmen; the stone flagstones from a ruined barn; the wooden spiral staircase from a long closed local train station. So, whilst the house benefits from being light, spacious and well insulated, it has the charm and character of an older building. 

In 2009 we lost Dad to cancer and so became the third generation of our family to look after this little parcel of land. Together with the builders who originally worked on the house we finished what our parents had started. The house continues to be a labour of love: curtains crafted from Welsh blankets by our aunt Jan; a dining table of Bulmers oak cider barrels made by family friend Baz Barrel; antiques from Mum’s family; books of Grandad’s; sculpture by neighbour Penny and art which appealed to Dad’s wicked sense of humour. It is a home, not a holiday home, and we think that is why guests so often tell us that it is a warm, fun and special place to relax in.

Now that we spend most of our time living and working abroad, it is our hope that the Lake House becomes a special home for your family to enjoy, too!

Hattie & Alice Hughes