They say, “Every Englishman’s home is his castle”. Well, what about the rest of us! If you’re so inclined then a night in The Welsh Gatehouse in the picturesque village of Mathern near Chepstow is for you.

Dating back to 1270 it boasts 700 years of documented history and is a Grade II listed building. The pictures on the website really don’t do this award-winning property justice. As you sweep up the driveway, you can only then appreciate how tall the building is. This really is a fairytale Castle!

Our host Juliet greeted us warmly at the gate and gave us the grand tour before leaving us to explore for ourselves. This really is a fantastic discovery. You have to climb a spiral staircase to your living quarters, through a door that leads into a spacious lounge/kitchen area. Equipped with all mod cons, yet still keeping period features like the stone mullion windows and exposed beams, the property oozes decadence.

A welcome basket was laid out on the table with some lovely treats for the evening ahead (much appreciated). And the wood burning stove was a sheer delight on a chilly winter’s evening - and so romantic. A comfy leather sofa allowed us to relax in comfort and watch a movie (DVDs are provided but we had brought our own).

As the night drew in, Moynes Court behind The Gatehouse started to light up and added a magical feel to being the King of your own Castle.

Heading up to bed is an experience in itself, access is by a companionway ladder and you need to duck under a beam to get into the bedroom area. Once this is accomplished however, it’s as cosy as cosy gets. The mezzanine for the bedroom is suspended above the kitchen area, so you get a great view of the lounge and the flickering from the fire soon lulled us to sleep. As the saying goes “you can hear a pin drop”, well we didn’t....all night. It was so peaceful the first noise we heard were our neighbours, the birds’, dawn chorus.

If you can manage to tear yourself away for at least a couple of hours there is much to see, eat and do in the local area. There are poetry evenings in Chepstow, if you feel inspired. Or why not take in the local history? Tintern Abbey is a short drive away and the Roman ruins at Caerleon are also just a few minutes by car.

If dining is your passion, then there are restaurants in abundance. The Crown at Whitebrook and the Crown at Celtic Manor are Michelin starred and 3AA Rosettes respectively. There’s The Foxhunter at Nantyderry run by Matt Tebbutt, and slightly further afield you can try Restaurant 1861 and The Hardwick by Stephen Terry. Or even Wales’ newest Michelin star winner - The Walnut Tree. Couple all of this with some great scenic walks (ideal for working off all those calories!) then what more reason do you need to visit?

A note of caution though, this property isn’t for the elderly or infirm and it is specifically for a couple. If a stay in a romantic, magical castle is for you, then do try The Welsh Gatehouse in Monmouth. A warm welcome is guaranteed and the spectacular views from the top of the tower are worth the trip alone.

For more information and details of how to book, visit the website: www.welshgatehouse.com

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