'Fairytale' mansion where real-life princess enjoyed unrivalled Eryri views

A SPECTACULAR country house on the banks of the Mawddach estuary is back on the market for a cut-price figure.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

With panoramic views of Eryri (Snowdonia) and 35 acres of “magical, fairytale-like” gardens and woodland, Glan Y Mawddach is billed as a “truly one-of-a-kind opportunity”.

The Regency villa near Barmouth, Gwynedd, has a complex of stone outbuildings and private access to the estuary’s golden sands. Princess Anne once dined here during an official trip to Barmouth in 1987, and the property is bisected by Panorama Walk, regarded as one of the most scenic paths in Wales.

This elegant Grade II-listed residence has six bedrooms and an orangery. Outside are a mushroom house, glasshouses and a private quay. The woodland is home to a dovecote known as Dove Castle, and an historic Victorian walled garden complete with its own turret.

Three years ago, Glan y Mawddach was put up for sale with a guide price of £2.75m. Today it’s listed as being available for offers over £1.1m.

The estate's gardens are regarded as its most enchanting feature. Grade II*-listed for their national importance, they comprise a series of distinct garden “rooms,” each with its own unique character. All are linked by paths that meander past rhododendrons, giant sequoias and fairy-tale follies.

Agents Fine & Country said the gardens are recognised as a “rare and outstanding” example of formal Edwardian gardens with distinct Italianate and Japanese influences. They were first planted by Mrs Keithley in the early 20th century.

The agents said: "Arguably the most awe-inspiring feature of the garden is the Italianate pond, accessed by a series of steps that lead to this breathtaking space. Surrounded by towering redwoods, stone archways and a tasteful summer house, this area is a true sanctuary.