Wye Valley Holiday Cottages - Ruthlin holiday accommodation near Skenfrith, sleeps 8

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.

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.