I don't say this lightly - we've stayed in a lot of holiday cottages, because it's a great way to get away and take our elderly dog with us - but Pen Y Bont is something else entirely. Renovated to an extremely high standard with very good quality materials and furnishings, the house is attractive, well-appointed and very comfortable indeed. I've always hated the expression "the wow factor", but this house actually has it - and its kitchen/diner/sitting room (don't worry, there's also a fabulous snug with wood-burner) opens its doors on to a view to die for.
That would be enough in itself - indeed, one of my benchmarks for a holiday rental is: "Would I like to live in this house?" - but its situation is close to paradise. We had no idea when we booked it how beautiful the Ceiriog valley was, nor how idyllic the cottage's own location. Surrounded by hills populated by sheep, adorable lambs and pheasants, the cottage has a garden extending into woodland with its own babbling brook running through it. There is no passing traffic, other than the odd farm vehicle or the once a day visit by the postie and the upper road from which the cottage is accessed has little traffic at the worst of time - which you can't hear, anyway.
At night - silence. Perhaps an owl hooting and the occasional cry of a sheep to its lambs. If the sky is cloudless, you'll get a view of the heavens you seldom see elsewhere in the UK. The area is riddled with fabulous walking, some great places to eat and drink and excellent places to visit - like Llangollen, Chirk castle and the aqueducts at Pontcysyllte and Chirk.
The owners have thought of just about everything. There's tea and home-made Welshcakes (which are a very different beast from the commercially-produced ones) with Welsh butter awaiting you, wood for the fire - and there's even a study if you've been forced to bring work with you or just fancy coming over all Jane Austen and dashing off a few letters/emails boasting of your amazing fortune in discovering this place.