Welsh Gatehouse
Chepstow,
Monmouthshire
Self-catering
+44 (0)1291 638806
Visit owner's website
£130 - £240
per night
£910 - £1050
per week
A stunning listed gatehouse with stone spiral staircase leading to romantic space, oak floors and far-reaching views across the Wye Valley
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
Your dates are available!
1 Guest 04 May 24 - 04 May 24
Direct with the owner
Visit the owner’s chosen website for availability, online booking or contact details.
Enquire through Sawday's
Fill out the enquiry form and we'll pass your questions onto the owner.
What part does Sawday’s play?
£130 - £240 per night
£910 - £1050 per week
The Experience
Your chance to stay in a Grade II* listed gatehouse built by Sir Bogo de Knovil, hunting buddy of Edward I. Find a steep spiral stone staircase with a grab rail and rope, and a lofty, galleried living space on the first floor… then up to a dressing room and up again to the roof of the tower, from which views stretch to the Wye Valley and unroll to the Severn. Below: the lovely Tudor gentry house, which stands at the far end of a walled lawned garden that’s yours to share.
The 700-year-old structure is attractive with stone encased windows. Lovely in winter to be snuggled on the sofa by the wood-burner, warm and cosy behind thick curtains and walls. The bed lies ethereally up in the eaves; the living area (fresh modern kitchen, sparkling wet room, and sitting space) is below.
Be welcomed by Welsh cake, wine and chocolates among other nice things. You can set off on field walks from the door and there’s a decent pub in the village.
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We think you'll love
- Being steeped in history – the walls are three feet thick – and sitting out in the walled garden on sunny days
- Walking nearby in The Wentwood – the largest ancient woodland in Wales and the Wye Valley with breathtaking views
- Exploring local splendours such as Tintern Abbey or canoeing down the Wye
You should know
- The stone spiral staircase is 29 steps up – not ideal for those less mobile
- No dogs or children, sorry
- The bed is on the mezzanine up a companionway ladder – bring two small bags rather than anything hefty
Essentials
- EV charger
- Self check-in
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Barbecue
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Electricity included
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Pricing
- Nightly price
- from £130
- Weekly price
- from £910
- Surcharges
- Short breaks available from £199 (low season) & from £240 (high season) for one-night stays. Reduced rates for longer stays.
- 1 House for 2
- From £1301 bedroom
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Information
Special offer: Book a 2 night stay for the price of 1, between 10.05.2024 and 12.05.2024
Booking information
- Check in
- From 2pm
- Check out
- 10am
- Other details
- Minimum stay: 2 nights. 2 nights in high season.
- Closed
- Rarely.
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Reviews
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We have just returned from a wonderful stay at The Welsh Gatehouse. The property looked magical on the website but it’s even more impressive in real life. It felt like we had our own castle! The communication from the host was excellent and the welcome pack of treats was appreciated (Welsh cakes were particularly yummy). It was clean and very comfortable, great quality linens and towels. It was a good base for exploring the local area and sightseeing along the Wye Valley. I can’t wait to return and explore some of the Welsh coastal path as I hadn’t realised it was so close.
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The Welsh Gatehouse the most extraordinary and unique property. And as a result we are now engaged! Yes, he proposed, on his knee, on the top of the tower. The atmosphere is warm, cosy and romantic. I have never stayed in a building with such thick walls. And yet it had all the mod cons. Quiet and peaceful, comfortable bed, efficient wood burning stove, and the high ceilings give a feeling of spaciousness. The owners had writen out an extensive history of the building. All in all - simply marvellous.
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This is truly a unique building. It's close to Chepstow, but not too close (less than 10 minutes to supermarket and restaurants). The pub is less than 10 minutes walk, and we had fab pub grub there (Millers Arms in Mathern). We loved making the fire. It's quiet, and comfortable. You walk through the little door and feel like you are a million miles away from home. We will be back. It took less than 2 hours from Chiswick (junction 1 of M4 motorway). You feel like a million miles away from everywhere. We had a great time, and even got to sit in the gorgeous walled garden. Loved it.
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We were close to Bristol and yet it felt like another world. The perfect place to hole up, enjoy the fire,whilst taking in the stunning views ( both from the main room and up the stairs from your own tower! We had G and T up there and watched the sun settting. Amazing.) We loved every minute. This was our second trip as we were so impressed the first time last summer. Really cosy and the owners have thought of everything - the welcome pack was really appreciated too! Didn’t want to leave and will be back as soon as possible.
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Indulge yourself in this unique piece of history. Access was through an ancient wooden door and up a spiral staircase. It was magical. The true wonder was the accommodation itself. We wish we'd started for more than one night. Sitting in front of the roaring log burner in a 13th century tower is really special, as is the view from the roof top. Highly recommended! Totally fantastic. We'll be back.
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The Gatehouse is exquisite. Loved it. Amazing property. It was runner up in the Sawdays Favourite British Self Catering Place - I can see why. Comfortable and modern whilst steeped in history. I didn't know that a place like this existed for just 2 people - it's like staying in a castle - the walls are sooooo thick. Astonishing. Just amazing to think of the other people who have stayed here since 1270!! The bed was very comfortable, it was really warm and cosy in December, in front of the log burning stove, and it was quiet and peaceful - yet less than 2 hours drive from West London.
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The Welsh gatehouse is worth every step of its spiral staircase! In addition to the age and history of the building, it's a charming accommodation. I loved this place!
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The gatehouse is a magical place to stay. The medieval tower is enchanting and has been converted beautifully so that it as lovely inside as outside. Juliet's thoughtful touches were a lovely surprise and made us feel very welcome! We enjoyed reading William's history of the house and environs which really made the area come alive - there are plenty of great walks around and the gatehouse is stocked with maps and information to help you find your way around. Can't wait to stay here again!
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The whole experience was breathtaking. It really is like staying in an ancient castle, yet with all the mod cons. The walls are 3 foot thick, I have never stayed anywhere like it. It is extraordinarily peaceful and quiet. We were as warm as toast and enjoyed the wood burning stove. Juliet had thought of everything, so there was tea, coffee, milk for us, a lovely welcome basket with welsh cakes, bread, butter, jam and a bottle of wine to start us off. There were even dressing gowns for us to snuggle up in during the evenings. Brilliant. Highly recommended.
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What a wonderful stay we had at The Gatehouse. It thoroughly deserved to be in your list of special places to stay...it truly was special. The walls were 3 foot thick in places, it oozed history...and everything we could have wanted was there. Superbly comfortable, genuinely historic and yet modern inside. Perfect. We cannot recommend this place highly enough. The owners have really given their attention to every little detail, and we were delighted. A wonderful welcome basket greeted us. It was very quiet and peaceful. The log fire roared away...and ...well, it was just magical. Thank you.
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The best place we have ever stayed. Fantastic. Beautiful. Quiet, even though it is near the motorway, it was incredibly quiet. The bed was really comfortable. The place was amazingly historic. Lovely welcome basket. FABULOUS. Thoroughly recommend it.
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Location
The neighbourhood
There are wonderful walks all around you. You can walk to The Millers Arms for good pub grub, or to the Mathern Mill Fishery. There are 10 good restaurants nearby and the Michelin-starred The Whitebrook is half an hour. Visit castles like Chepstow or Caldicot with wonderful gardens and a wooded park. Offa's Dyke path can be joined in 12 minutes and you're close to The Forest of Dean.
Local points of interest from Juliet Grayson & William Ayot
- Book Directly: Check availability and book, click through to our OWN websiteFood: Local pub serving pub grub is within easy walking distance (The Millers Arms). The Crown at Whitebrook (30 mins drive) or The Walnut Tree at Abergavenny
- Walk: from our door across fields; or in Wentwood -the largest ancient woodland in Wales 5 mins away http://bit.ly/1w3jLtB ; 5 minutes to Offa's Dyke http://bit.ly/1ENjLzJ ; 10 mins to Devils Pulpit http://bit.ly/1ENjFIu Wye Valley, Forest of Dean
- Chepstow Racecourse is 10 minutes drive http://bit.ly/1swcFey with the Welsh Grand National
- Visit: Tintern Abbey 12 miles away: one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales (13th Century). St Fagans National History Museum – FOC an excellent day out, Cardiff - the City, The Bay, the Millenium Stadium (40 mins), or Gloucester Cathedral (1 hr away)
- Fishing: 4 minutes to Mathern Mill Fishery http://bit.ly/1M8fyqN Fishing in the USK valley http://bit.ly/1wJfuw8
- Golf right next door at St Pierre Golf club http://bit.ly/1BKrFZY, Celtic Manor 15 mins . National Diving and Activity Centre http://bit.ly/1Kq7nKI, Canoe down River Wye: 30 mins from Monmouth Canoe Centre, 25 mins Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centre Forest Dean
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Introducing
Juliet Grayson & William Ayot
Juliet is a sex therapist and William is a poet and leadership coach. They saw the property in The Times and bought it in 2003 then completely renovated and refurbished it – there wasn't even any water at the time. They won the Village Alive Trust award for building conservation in 2009 for their brilliant renovation.
An absolute gem of a place. I felt like Rapunzel in my own medieval tower - but with every modern comfort! Juliet and William are perfect hosts, and there is masses to explore in the area. Very romantic and highly recommended.