Lower Chapel, Brecon, Powys

Description

Set in around 22 acres of pasture, mixed woodland, and beautifully landscaped gardens, this impressive Georgian smallholding offers a rare lifestyle opportunity in a truly idyllic setting. Located on the edge of a charming village just 6 miles from Brecon, the property combines period elegance, space, and versatility. The main house offers just under 3,000 sq ft of well-presented accommodation, with six bedrooms, three reception rooms, and a light-filled garden room overlooking the grounds. In addition to the main residence, a cosy one-bedroom annex provides ideal space for guests or extended family, while a separate three-bedroom cottage offers excellent potential for holiday letting or multi-generational living.

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The land itself is a real highlight, featuring a mix of grazing paddocks, mature mixed-species woodland, and tranquil garden areas—including a private woodland walk and natural stream, making it a perfect setting for nature lovers, smallholders, or those seeking peace and seclusion in the heart of the Welsh countryside. The stone and modern outbuildings add a further dimension, ideal for storage of vintage cars, housing livestock ar simply as an area for children to play. A rare chance to secure a truly special rural property with lifestyle, income, and long-term potential.

Sellers Insight

We first saw Cilhowey on a grey October day in 1986 and immediately knew it offered what we longed for—space, nature, and the chance to raise our children in the countryside. Surrounded by 22 acres of fields and woodland, it became our haven for animals, adventures, and countless family memories—from pony rides and treehouses to garden parties and even a wedding. Over the years, we’ve lovingly modernised the main house while preserving its 200-year-old character. We transformed outbuildings into a charming one-bedroom annex and a self-contained holiday cottage, both perfect for visiting family or income potential. With four reception rooms, there’s space to gather or find a quiet corner beside the woodburner. The courtyard is a sunny, sheltered spot, and the land has been a joyful mix of grazing, gardening, games, and peaceful walks to the stream. After nearly four decades, it’s time to pass Cilhowey to someone new who will love it as much as we have

Location

The property is located on the edge of Lower Chapel village alongside a quiet no through road country lane leading to a small number of properties/ farms. Lower Chapel is a pretty little village on the B4520 approximately 5 miles north of Brecon. Although situated just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park, the area is renowned for its beauty with wonderful walks and riding opprtunities. The county town of Brecon has excellent facilities for its population size including supermarkets, public and private schools, canal side theatre, small hospital, cinema, leisure centre, etc. Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Hereford and the Severn Bridge are all roughly an hour’s drive away.

Walk Inside

This impressive period home is approached via a striking pillared porch, leading to a solid wooden entrance door that opens into a welcoming reception hall. A true introduction to the grandeur of the property, the hall features high ceilings, ornate cornicing, and a staircase rising to the first floor. Immediately to the right lies the elegant library—a refined space with a bay window overlooking the front gardens, fitted bookshelves, and a feature fireplace housing a wood-burning stove. Directly opposite, the drawing room exudes charm and character, with a high coved ceiling, intricate cornicing, wood panelling, a further bay window to the front, and a traditional fireplace with wood-burning stove. Alongside, the garden room enjoys glazing on three sides, flooding the space with natural light and offering uninterrupted views over the grounds. With patio doors opening onto the garden and a wood-burning stove for cooler months, it is a year-round haven.

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A secondary entrance hall to the rear of the property serves as a practical day-to-day access point. The dining room, features a tiled floor, side aspect window, ample space for dining, and a traditional AGA set within a charming surround—truly the heart of any country home. Adjacent, the kitchen is well-appointed with a range of fitted units, inset sink, integrated appliances including oven, hob, dishwasher and fridge, and space for a breakfast table with a door leading into a sheltered courtyard, ideal for morning coffee. A secondary staircase rises from here to the first floor. A door leads out to a secluded patio, providing access to the dairy—a useful utility and storage space with flagstone flooring, plumbing for washing machine and space for white goods, and an adjoining wet room with shower, sink and WC.

First Floor

Upstairs, the spacious first-floor landing provides access to four principal bedrooms. The two front-facing bedrooms enjoy built-in cupboards and delightful views across the gardens to the countryside beyond. Toward the rear, two additional bedrooms are accessed from a split-level landing. All served by a well-appointed family bathroom featuring a bath, separate shower, vanity basin, bidet and WC, as well as a separate shower room with WC and basin.

Annex

Positioned adjacent to the main house, a charming one-bedroom annex offers versatile accommodation - ideal space for guests or extended family. The ground floor features an open-plan kitchen/living area with traditional flagstone flooring, a fireplace with inset wood-burning stove, a range of kitchen units with pantry cupboard and integrated oven and hob. Alongside the utility room provides a secondary access to the patio, with sink unit, plumbing for a washing machine, and access to a shower room. An open-tread staircase leads to a characterful first-floor bedroom set into the eaves, complete with exposed beams and storage cupboard.

The Cottage

Discreetly located to the rear of the original stone barn, this beautifully converted space provides further independent living. The entrance hall, with tiled flooring, opens into a spacious open-plan kitchen/living area featuring a vaulted beamed ceiling, wood-burning stove, fitted units with integrated oven, hob and sink, and access to the rear garden. Two mezzanine bedrooms are accessed via staircases on either side of the living area. The ground floor also benefits from a double bedroom and a well-appointed bathroom with bath and shower over, basin and WC.

The Land and buildings

Extending to just over 22 acres, this superb smallholding offers an ideal balance of grazing, woodland, and amenity land. Around 6 acres of gently sloping grass paddocks are perfectly suited to ponies or livestock, while over 10 acres of mixed-species woodland—planted by the current owners over the last 20 years plus an area of mature woodland enhance the biodiversity and beauty of the setting.

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A particular highlight is the enchanting wooded valley that borders the house and gardens. With meandering woodland walks leading to a natural stream, it provides a magical space for children to explore and nature lovers to unwind. The property also boasts a versatile range of outbuildings, including a charming L-shaped stone barn with three stables and a tack room, plus additional areas ideal for storage or potential conversion (subject to planning). To the rear, three modern agricultural buildings offer excellent utility for livestock housing, equipment storage, or smallholding use.