Few properties come onto the market that can ever claim to be truly flawless. But a clifftop house with its own private beach comes pretty close scoring a perfect 10.
Even its selling agents can hardly contain their excitement over Henborth, a four-bedroom property near the iconic South Stack lighthouse on Anglesey’s Holy Island (Ynys Gybi). Having been renovated to a high contemporary standard, LL Estates, Rhuddlan, said it really is an “exceptional and magical” place with the “most incredible views imaginable”.
Set in seven acres of dramatic coastal landscape, Henborth has gated access and is stuffed full with modern tech, from 700MB fibre broadband to CCTV and audio-visual in every room. There’s underfloor heating and, with an eye on energy efficiency, ground source heat pumps.
But it’s the outside that’s the big selling point. Where possible this is brought inside thanks to banks of large windows and massive sliding doors. Beyond the large “infinity” lawn, kept watered in summer by pop-up sprinklers, is an outdoors terrace seating area perched right on the cliffs that gives incredible views of diving gannets feeding out in the bay.
Just 500 metres away, round the headland, is South Stack Lighthouse and, next to it, an RSPB reserve with vast populations of puffins, chough, Guillemots and Razorbills. Peregrine falcons and kestrels can also be spotted nearby.
It’s clearly a wonderful place to live, as the current owners attest. “From early morning mushroom-picking in the fields as the sun rises, to pulling lobster pots, rock pooling, swimming and BBQ’ing during the day…. to having a glass of something on the cliff-edge terrace as the sun sets over the bay. Words really cannot express….” they said.
“The kitchen, snug, dining and lounge area is one single open plan area where 80% of the external walls are glazed, resulting in stunning views of the seascapes and landscapes. The morning sunrises and evening sunsets are beyond words. As the sun disappears, star-gazing up into the crystal night skies takes over: as there is simply no light pollution here, the night vistas are insane!” Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Being west-facing, glorious sunsets are par for the course
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Henborth is nestled in a patchwork of farm fields and old stone boundary walls
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
The clifftop terrace is ideal for a sunset glass of wine
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
If there’s one downside, it’s the zig-zag steps that must be navigated down Henborth’s cliffs to its beach. But there are handrails to help and it’s worth every step. The current owners store a boat on the beach for sorties out along the coast, where North Stack’s seals might make an appearance beneath Holy Island’s dramatic cliffs.
Sometimes, no travelling is needed. “When swimming in the bay, I turned around to look back at the beach and a seal popped its head up about a metre away,” said one of the owners. “We looked at each other for a few seconds, then we both went off in our different directions.”
There’s plenty of wildlife on shore too: their daughter loves the myriad creatures found in the cove’s numerous rock pools. In the autumn, breeding seals might haul up on the beach with their beautiful white-coated pups.
Holy Island has an edge-of-the-world feeling
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Steps down to the beach
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Plenty of space on the beach to tie up a RIB
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Henborth is located just off South Stack Road near Rhoscolyn. Close by is Penrhos Feliw Common, commonly known as The Range, which boasts its own series of idyllic hidden coves.
Having been renovated, with a fresh coat of paint, the house has got a welcoming “white coastal cottage look”, said the selling agents. They added: “It’s fair to say that if you can imagine doing (the property as) a refurbishment, it’s been done!”
The work also future-proofed the house. As well as ultra-fast broadband, wifi nodes and room thermostats, the house has been set up to play the likes of Sonos, Sky and Spotify throughout the entire house. There’s an EV-charging facility and, for kitchen traditionalists, a small LPG cylinder bank powers an AGA oven and two living flame Aga units set into inglenook fireplaces.
The open plan dining and living area
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
The master bedroom has electric blinds
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Not a bad view to wake up to
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
The interior has been deliberately designed to make the most of Henborth’s amazing setting. Largely open plan downstairs, floor-to-ceiling windows connect the house with its beautiful scenery outside. Meanwhile, six-metre sliding doors open out onto a walled courtyard at the back and a large patio at the front.
Local natural stone has been in many of the internal walls and fireplaces. Entry to the property is via a large porch with oak bench seating. Bespoke oak and glazed double doors, open into the entrance hall, which has an an exposed stone wall that pays homage to the property’s past.
On one side is a cloakroom, on the other is a snug-style living room with an exposed stone wall with a recessed gas fire and Welsh slate hearth. Above this is a dated wooden mantle retained from the original house. As with the rest of the ground floor, the room has a stone tile floor and a large picture window to capture the spectacular views.
Some original features have been incorporated into the renovation
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Light from an open landing filters light down into the black granite-topped kitchen
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Henborth makes the most of its coastal location
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
The snug opens to a breakfast-style kitchen with a black granite-topped island and overhanging bar. Here you’ll find the Aga units and fridge freezer. Next to the kitchen is a utility-cum-“entertainment preparation room” – it’s where you can prepare food and drink for the outside entertaining areas
Stepping down from the kitchen, there’s a reception space, currently divided into a dining area and a large lounge. The selling agents said of this area: “You are immediately met by the sheer volume of light from an array of picture windows. One could stand at all day long and the watch stunning coastline of this part of Anglesey; the views from the lounge area are ever changing and incredible all year round. The room has a modern living flame gas fire which creates a cosier feel for those winter evenings.”
From the dining area there are bifold doors opening out to a slate patio. Beyond is an infinity-style raised grass terrace looking out over Abrahams Bosom Bay.
The office-music room
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Al fresco dining with a view
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Cosy up in the evening around a table firepit
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Back across the hall is a music-study room, which leads to a slate-paved courtyard. This has been furbished with natural stone planters, specimen trees and a clawdd stone wall. Also adjoining this room is a double garage and plant room.
The hallway’s oak and glazed staircase sweeps up to the first-floor gallery landing, a section of which looks down on the living area below. From the landing, there are three double bedrooms, a master bedroom and three bathrooms.
The agents describe the main family bathroom as “incredible in its design”. It’s divided by a wall to create a walk-through shower on one side, and a freestanding bathtub, floating sink and WC on the other.
Family bathroom is cleverly zoned
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Oak and glass staircase from the hallway
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Exotic planting in the enclosed courtyard
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
The master bedroom suite lies on the property’s west wing. This has a walk-through wardrobe room and en-suite shower room. But perhaps its biggest selling point are the stunning views.
The agents said: “There are windows to three sides with the views out to the west which, on a clear day, include big parts of the Anglesey coastline right across Caernarfon Bay towards the Rival mountains on the Llŷn Peninsula. Whilst the room does have a full set of electric blinds, one can imagine they are something you would be reluctant to use!”
The property and is garden can be lit up at night
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Not a bad place to call your own
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
In the evening and at night, the skies come alive
(Image: LL Estates, Rhuddlan)
Henborth, which is in Council Tax band F, is on the market for £2.4m. It’s a hefty price tag but the current owners say they feel “very spoilt” to be living there, and are certain others will feel the same.
They said: “We’re surrounded by the natural beauty of the sea, mountains, cliffs and rolling fields, all of which create a new canvas with each day/night and with each season. At the same time we know that everything we could possibly want, or need, is just minutes away.
“We’re surrounded by an array of small bustling coastal towns such as Trearddur Bay and Rhosneiger with their lovely restaurants and harbour/fishing/sailing communities, and by Holyhead town with its marina, large supermarkets, restaurants and commercial facilities. Road, rail and ferry links are excellent so it’s easy to get just about anywhere….three hours to London or Dublin city centres.”
For more information, ring Mark Gilbertson at Refined Properties Wales on 01766 800555; or LL Estates, Rhuddlan on 01745 770608. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter – sent every Friday
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