Ruthlin, a 4- bedroomed former corn barn, is set in a wonderfully private position near the pretty border village of Skenfrith. Close to the Monnow river, its land includes a large garden, a hay meadow and a good long stretch of river bank. Dogs, children and adults alike love cooling off in the river on hot summer days, while there is a large flat lawn in the garden for ball games. The flagstone terrace, flanked by deep flower borders, is great for outdoor eating, barbecues and sunbathing. It is a supremely comfortable and beautifully converted holiday house for 1 to 4 couples (or 1 to 2 couples plus children) and 2 dogs. We offer a 22% discount for use of half of the number of bedrooms outside peak periods. CLICK HERE FOR AVAILABILITY AND TO BOOK ONLINE. Use discount code PARTUSERUTHLIN while booking to obtain the half house discount. Alternatively, click here to email us with your booking requirements.

The main living area in Ruthlin is a wonderful big room. Ancient oak beams and a high pitched ceiling give a sense of space, with light flooding in through the old openings for the carts. This room comprises the kitchen, the dining- area and the sitting-area, and a wood burning stove provides a focal point and plenty of warmth in the winter. The walls are so well-insulated that the space is quick to heat and easy to keep warm - a real luxury in an old building. The owners are very eco-friendly and were determined to provide insulation that far exceeds legal requirements. It is a perfect open-plan family room, as children have plenty of space to play while being supervised from either kitchen or sitting-area.

The comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms are either end of the living room, so that each end has a double and a twin bedroom. The main master bedroom on the ground floor has French doors opening out onto its own terrace with a pretty view over meadows and hills. It has a king-size brass bed. Above is a twin-bedded room with a cot. The other end of the building has a galleried room with a super-king-size bed. The twin-bedded room across the landing has glass doors (with shutters) opening onto a little external staircase.

Ruthlin's total sleeping capacity is for up to 4 couples (or 2 couples and 4 children or permutations thereof), plus 2 infants in cots and 2 dogs. The house with half its sleeping capacity can be rented outside school holidays for a reduced rate - perfect for 1 to 2 couples (or a couple and two children), plus an infant and a dog.

A few miles from the handsome county town of Monmouth, Ruthlin is in Welsh Monmouthshire with English Herefordshire just across the river. The short drive to Ruthlin (from a quiet lane) drops down through bird-rich copse, which hides the house completely from the lane. The house has a peaceful aspect onto lawn and meadows. The land stretches as far as the river - only a short distance away - where there are plenty of good places for swimming or paddling. In fact, you can swim from Wales to England - and back again! There are two stone terraces: one in a prettily-planted enclosed garden by the gable-end French doors of the main master bedroom - perfect for a quiet, private breakfast; the other, by the main glass barn doors, which give onto the lawn. Neighbouring orchards supply the apples for the delicious local Ty Gwyn cider, which can be bought from the local farm.

The nitty gritty:

• Wood burner (logs supplied)
• Bedlinen and towels
• Building is extremely well-insulated
• TV with DVD-player
• CD-player/radio
• Dual-fuel range cooker
• Washing machine and tumble dryer
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Top-of-the-range fridge/freezer
• Well-equipped kitchen
• Garden furniture and barbecue
• up to 2 well-behaved dogs welcome (but not in bedrooms or on furniture)
• No fishing at Ruthlin, but there is good fishing locally
• The lovely Monnow river is a short distance away, so river-swimming and riverside walks a real bonus (please supervise small children)
• Pub with restaurant nearby (in walking distance)
• Community shop at Skenfrith open at certain times during summer months
• Monmouth, with its good range of shops, a short drive away
• Cot and high chair supplied on request
• lots of games and toys for children

There are plenty of things to see and do in the area – castles, churches, country towns, markets, excellent restaurants (the renowned Bell at Skenfrith is a short drive or a walk away, either for a drink or a meal), or outdoor pursuits, such as walking, golf or riding. The Three Castles Walk takes in nearby Skenfrith Castle on its 18-mile circuit of beautiful, unspoilt undulating countryside. The Forest of Dean is a 15-minute drive away and offers so many wonderful things to do: there are dedicated cycle routes, climbing centres, play barns, old mines, nature walks and caves - to list but a few. Monmouth is 10 minutes away; Ross-on-Wye and Abergavenny 20. Or just stay at Ruthlin, enjoying the peace and quiet. During winter, it is extremely snug inside, so sitting in front of the wood burning stove is pure luxury after a hot bath or a good meal. There are cupboards full of games and DVDs, and the kitchen is very well-equipped for those who enjoy cooking.

Pricing & Availability

Changeovers are normally Mondays and Fridays (enquire about other days). Weekends are set-priced from Friday 4pm to either Sunday evening or Monday 10.30am; so you can stay 1, 2 or 3 nights for the weekend price. If there are only 2 nights available, this shorter weekend will be priced down accordingly. Move the cursor over a date and prices will appear, and click for a quote. You can book online, or contact us by email and we can do it for you: caroline@blackmountains.biz or telephone 01873 890190.

From the Visitors Book at Ruthlin

'From the local cider to the free range eggs, to the hand wrapped soap and the gorgeous bathrobes, our stay has been most enjoyable and amazingly child friendly. We are looking forward to spending many more holidays and fun times at your BEAUTIFUL cottage. Thankyou.' Sam & Kuli, Yaggy, Brooke & Lily, Sydney & Perth, Australia.

'Beautiful place, blossom on the apple trees was just stunning...' Rachael & Tony, Surrey.

'Hotel luxury without the noise, and with wonderful views. Everything was provided and great thought had been put into considering the needs of the client. Thank you for an enjoyable stay - and the weather was glorious too! Will definitely be coming agian for a longer stay.' Lorraine, Essex.

'A fantastic long weekend with the kids (1, 2 and 8 years). Never have I stayed anywhere more child-friendly - we are considering returning for potty-training! I can highly recommend the cycle hire from Monmouth to Symonds Yat (the kids loved it) with swans and horses along the way and a pint at the end. We will be back! PS: we were greeted by 3 deer on the lawn the first morning.' Rich and Eve, Cardiff.

'Thank you so much! It has been a pleasure and a delight to stay here in one of our favourite parts of the world. Everything we could wish for. We shall return - that's a promise.' Lynda and Alfie, Lancashire.

'We've had a wonderful time. Ruthlin is delightful and so peaceful. So child-friendly and so dog-friendly. We have all felt very relaxed. Thank you for all the little touches that mean a lot - hand-wrapped soap, robes, eggs, cider. Very thoughtful.' Tracy and family, Stone, Staffordshire.

'What a magical place!! Booked last minute and we were so lucky to find Ruthlin. Can't wait to come back again for longer. No X-Box! No Sky! No Wii! ruby the dog loved the river and said it was her best holiday ever!' Jason, Julie, Oliver, Dominic and Ruby, Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

'A stunning property in an equally stunning location, Ruthlin was a wonderful 'home' for us all during our long weekend. The amenities were excellent, particularly for families, and we were blessed with gorgeous weather and clear skies at night that made star-gazing a perfect way to complete a relaxing day. The weather made us think of how incredible it must be to spend a summer afternoon here. Nonetheless it was still mild enough to linger by the water, skimming stones and searching for wildlife. Hopefully, one day we will be able to return to this beautiful place.' Sarah, Martin, Meredith, Ollie, Rachel, David, Judith, New Zealand.

'What a fantastic house, decor and surroundings - all top notch. We loved the fantastic local pubs, including The Bell and The Hardwick. The baby-sitter was great, too. Thanks for your help for a super holiday.' The Bachmans and friends, Harpenden, Herts.

'A lovely place to have a family celebration: we saw one otter, several deer and a stray cat we called Dave, and the bara brith was delicious - best ever! Views from the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid worth the effort and sweat. Thanks very much!' The Wilson Family, Llandrindod Wells.