People | 6 |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 1 |
Property type | cottage |
Minimum Stay | 3 - 7 nights |
***Contact the owner, David, for special offer, out-of-season, short breaks! ***
1 minute from the Coast Path and 5 minutes walk from the beach, pubs and restaurants of Little Haven, Valley View sleeps 6 and provides a comfortable and stylish 'home from home' for families, groups or couples at any time of year for adventure or relaxation.
From the distinctive hedge cut in the shape of waves and the off road parking area for 3 cars, steps lead down to this delightful, detached cottage. Comfortably furnished throughout in a contemporary style, the attractive and interesting decorations include African and Eastern items from the owner's travels and original local art work.
The accommodation briefly comprises an attractive entrance hallway which leads on the same level to : - a light lounge/diner with Wi-Fi, 42" TV, DVD player and a music centre, with games, DVDs, CDs and books for guests' use during their stay; a kitchen with a small breakfast bar, electric cooker, fridge and freezer; two double bedrooms, one with a shower unit and small TV and both with patio doors to the outside decked area; one good sized twin bedroom which could be converted to a double; a bathroom with bath and overhead shower, wash basin and toilet; a laundry room with washing machine and tumble dryer; a small cloakroom with wash basin and toilet; and a tile floored pantry / storage room with storage for coats, shoes, etc..
Doors from the kitchen and lounge lead down one step into the conservatory with doors opening to a large decked area with dining furniture and a BBQ provided. This is a lovely spot to enjoy an alfresco meal on a summer's evening. Bench seats on the decking and in a paved lower level garden area allow guests to enjoy the peaceful views over the valley and to watch the local birds and wildlife. Around the cottage are stepped paths. There is oil fired central heating with radiators in every room. Hand towels are provided in the kitchen, cloakroom and bathroom and personal bath and hand towels can be available for hire at £5 per person per week. A high chair and child's cot are provided. Pets are welcome (but no cats please!). Valley View is a no smoking property. Very highly rated on Trip Advisor reviews.
Valley View is an ideal all year round holiday base for families, couples or friends to get away from it all. Peacefully situated on the side of a wooded valley, the cottage is within 1 minute's walk of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and only 5 minutes downhill walk from the centre of the popular village of Little Haven, with its picturesque harbour, sandy cove, pubs and restaurants.
Little Haven can also be reached via the Coast Path allowing you to watch for peregrine falcons, fulmars, gannets, seals, ravens, whitethroat and even otters and dolphins as you walk. Heading south will take you via the cliff top path to the Goultrop Roads SSSI and stunning views over St Brides Bay.
When the tide is low you can walk round the headland from Little Haven to the long golden sands and surfing beach of Broad Haven. Here there are more pubs, restaurants, a well stocked Londis store and a water sports kayak and board hire centre. Why not try your hand at one of the water sports on offer or a ride on the beach from Nolton Haven.
Further afield you can explore the wealth of archaeology, history, geology and natural history in places like the Preseli Hills; the offshore islands of Skokholm, Skomer and Ramsey; the tiny cathedral city of St Davids; the Napoleonic forts and maritime history of Milford Haven; Fishguard and Newport.
This partner has demonstrated and is committed to fast response times, the best rates, and a great guest experience.
Although he was born in London and grew up in Hertfordshire, David has lived in West Wales for over 30 years, having fallen in love with the area during family holidays on his Grandfather's farm near Tregaron.
He has worked for most of that time in a professional and voluntary capacity in the fields of fisheries and conservation first as Manager of a Welsh Water Authority Salmon and Trout farm near Llandysul in the Teifi Valley and then as Fisheries and Conservation Manager with the National Rivers Authority. He has been a member of the RSPB Advisory Committee for Wales, Chairman of the Wildlife Trust of S & W Wales and has represented the Welsh inshore fishing industry.
He also has a long standing interest in art and antiques and after being down sized out of the National Rivers Authority following funding cuts in the 1990s, he set up a shop in Haverfordwest as Art 'n' Antiques selling a range of decorative items from around the world. David has used a number of interesting items from his collection to decorate Valley View for the pleasure of his guests.
David is currently taking a BA Degree in Photography by distance learning through the Open College of the Arts.
David purchased this cottage in 1999
Ever since living in Pembrokeshire I have had a soft spot for the wide sandy beaches, dramatic coastline and varied amenities found in the Havens area. When I decided to move out of Haverfordwest after the children left school for college, the Havens was an obvious area to look for my new home, and I was delighted when I found Valley View was for sale.
Its rural location close to the Coast Path and its views over the valley sold it to me immediately and the close proximity to the village of Little Haven with its community, pubs and restaurants was the icing on the cake. I was not disappointed and it has remained a special place for me ever since.
With my lifelong interest in wildlife, I have found the countryside immediately around the property to be a constant source of pleasure . I have seen otters, peregrines and dolphins from the cliff path, sparrow hawks, buzzards, woodpeckers and huge flocks of starlings from the decking, and the Sheep Fields across the road from the cottage are a wonderful place for butterflies, whitethroats, stoats, and at night in the Summer, shearwaters overhead with their eerie 'Cupacocoa' calls. The cottage is also conveniently placed for visiting the islands of Skomer and Skokholm with their rich diversity of seabirds, seals, cetaceans and other marine life.
Living in the Little Haven area has the advantage of being within easy striking distance of many places of beauty and interest such as St Davids with its historic cathedral, the attractive fishing village of Solva, the wonderful long beach at Newgale so popular with surfers and other water sport enthusiasts, the unique and 'must visit' charm of the Druidstone Hotel, the historic and fascinating area of Milford Haven much lauded by Nelson as being 'the best natural harbour in the world'. The more modern amenities of the county town of Haverfordwest with its shops, supermarkets and stores, cinema, leisure centre and swimming pool are only 15 minutes drive away.
Valley View started life in the 1940s as an army Nissan hut on a range in South Pembrokeshire but was moved up to its present location on Strawberry Hill by the owners the nearby Rookery Nook who owned all the land to serve as a cottage for visitors. In more recent times it was bought by a local builder who transformed it into the surprisingly spacious and characterful cottage that it now is. It was from this builder that I bought the property.
As the many visitors to Little Haven will testify, the village has a very special charm, character and community, and to have the benefit of these features so close whilst also being just far enough out to be able to have the rural peace and quiet away from the holiday crowds in peak season is perfect.
The special features of the property itself that I value most are :-
1. the sense of light and space within a relatively small and easily manageable plot
2. the easy access to the south facing decking area from the conservatory and two of the bedrooms so that the interior is linked to the outside natural world
3. the views from the decking of the valley and its wild inhabitants many of which can easily be encouraged to the decking by maintaining a feeding station
Very clean and welcoming owners. Great location for stunning walks. The little garden and large decking area are lovely for sitting outside to enjoy the valley and wooded scenery. Full of birds. Was lovely to wake up to bird song, making a lovely change to the alarm. The wine and fresh flowers were a lovely unexpected touch. Fantastic pieces of art. Especially liked the seal above the toilet photographed by the owner. Comfortable beds and pillows. Lovely large plants throughout. Great value for money as the best cottage I have rented, a real home from home. Will defiantly be back. Also the first time I have ever given 5 out of 5 but I just can't fault it
This is an absolutely wonderful property. It is clean and tastefully decorated throughout and David, the owner, makes you feel very welcome as guests here. He clearly makes lots of effort to ensure you enjoy your stay. There were fresh flowers in each room and a bottle of wine for us to enjoy. Soap, washing up liquid and sponges/cloths were all there for us and the kitchen was very well equipped for cooking if you fancied a meal in. For exploring the local area, there were plenty of maps and guidebooks for our use and the coastal path is literally a five minute walk from the front door. There are 3 pubs in the village, just a short walk down the hill and a local shop a short drive away in Broad Haven.
I really can't fault Valley View. We have stayed in many self catering properties over the years but this one is the best we've been to and we will definitely be back for more!
Totally enjoyed our break the cottage was spacious and well equipt .loved watching the birds in the morning from our en-suite.couldnt ask for a more perfect holiday.
Many thanks david .
Snowed in. What a lovely place to be. Relaxing. Able to lie in bed and watch all the birds on the feeder! Really friendly local pubs and nice walks. Beautiful home to stay in. Thank you David. We really enjoyed our stay. X
Good dog friendly pubs in walking distance. Great coastal and beach walks. Nice cottage.
The bungalow was supposed to be ready for us at 3pm on our day off arrival so was slightly disappointed when we got there as the cleaning hadn't been finished. However, when we got in there about half an hour later it was only because of the high standards David had set himself. Was a beautifully clean and spacious bungalow decorated to a very high standard, full of lovely personal touches - board games, DVD's and a large selection of books to choose from. It was especially nice to see a decent TV and DVD player installed as well as separate sound system and a small CD collection.
The bedrooms are very tastefully finished with high quality bedding and loads of storage space.
It was the same story with the kitchen...think of something you needed and there it was from coffee press to chopsticks! Even washing up liquid, scourers and tea towels were included. Very impressive! The flowers and wine were the icing on the cake :)
But our favorite thing had to be the conservatory - ideally appointed overlooking the valley with a large decking complete with bird feeder (which you couldn't help but stare at!) Another thoughtful touch was extra bird feed so you could continue to watch the impressive array of birds that visited. We spent a good few hours in there, just drinking coffee and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere that had been created for us.
Thank you David, it was an absolute pleasure to stay here. I would highly recommend Valley View to anyone looking for a bit of R&R.
Little Haven itself had a small beach which was a bit wild with it being December but we enjoyed watching all the adventurous people taking part in the New Year's Day swim. Little Haven is perfect if you want to take your four legged friend with you but not the place to go if you want the night life.
The only negative I could think of to mention would be the roads - absolutely horrendous if you are not a confident driver! Very narrow with few passing places.
Valley View provides an ideal base from which to explore the historical and natural beauty and the amenities to be found in the surrounding area. The world famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path, now a part of the Welsh Coast Path, passes through the fields across the road from the property and can be followed to the right down to Little Haven and beyond to the cliffs, bays and sandy beaches of Druidston Haven, Nolton Haven, the surf beach at Newgale, the pretty fishing village of Solva, the historic cathedral city of St Davids and beyond. To the left the Coast Path passes through the hanging oak woodland of the Goultrop Roads SSSI before heading along the cliffs to St Brides and on to Martin's Haven (gateway to the islands of Skokholm and Skomer), Marloes, Dale and Milford Haven. While on the coast path always keep an eye open for wildlife. Peregrines, chough, ravens, fulmars, gannets, badgers and a host of other wildlife can be seen if you are lucky, and in the late Spring and Summer the path is a natural garden filled with wild flowers and butterflies.
The valley below Valley View has an attractive footpath that can be followed in a circuit round to Little Haven and Broad Haven has a feature board walk around an old Slash Pond used by otters at the back of the village.
For the more adventurous, kayaks and other water sport equipment and clothing can be hired or bought from the water sports centre by the Galleon pub in Broad Haven. A wonderful trip for more experienced kayakers is to go out to Stack Rock about 1 hour paddle out from Broad Haven beach where you will always see seals, sea birds and other marine life and there is always the chance of a dolphin sighting. While you are out there why not take a line and try for a mackerel to cook for tea later?!
Further afield but easily accessible via a short drive north are the unmissable delights of the tiny and beautiful city of St Davids with its famous Cathedral and Bishop's Palace, the fishing village of Solva nestling in its natural harbour with its galleries and restaurants, the spectacular storm beach at Newgale much loved by water sports enthusiasts, the beach horse riding offered by the stables at Nolton Haven and the fresh crab salads eaten on the terrace overlooking the sea at the unique cliff top hotel at Druidstone.
Heading south will take you to the little bay at St Brides, the small marina and water sports centre at Dale where you can book sea angling trips, the waterway of Milford Haven (much admired by Lord Nelson as being the best natural harbour in the world) and now a great place to see Napoleonic forts, wildlife and oil refineries all cheek by jowl, the old whaling town of Milford Haven with its large marina, fishing boats, wide choice of shops and excellent theatre, and the waterfront at Neyland where there is another marina nestled in the shadow of the road bridge over the Haven to Pembroke with its well preserved castle, birthplace of Edward I.
A 'must do' for everyone while they are at Valley View is a visit to one of the offshore islands. At St Davids there are a number of operators where you can book a boat trip out to Ramsey Island to see seals, porpoises, seabirds and spectacular caves and cliffs or to Grassholme Island, the remote home of one of the largest gannet colonies in the world where one might also see dolphins and, if you are very lucky, even a basking shark or a passing whale.
Boat trips round the sea bird breeding islands of Skomer and Skokholm are a delight for all ages in the late Spring and Summer when great rafts of guillemots, razorbills, shearwaters and cheeky puffins can be seen in the air and on the water as they gather to feed, rest or bring in food for their youngsters onshore. Trips to land on Skomer can be arranged through the Wildlife Trust's Lockley Lodge at Martin's Haven from where the boat departs and takes visitors out to walk over ancient paths through seas of blue bells and campion, past the burrows of rabbits and thousands of nesting shearwaters, on to towering cliffs loud with the cries of breeding seabirds and finally to grassy cliff tops with puffins scampering round their feet as they bring food to their youngsters.
Further afield again are the traditional seaside towns of Tenby and Saundersfoot and inland from these and about 45 - 50 minutes from Valley View are the major attractions for the young and 'young at heart' of Oakwood, Folly Farm, Manor Park Zoo, Heatherton and the Dinosaur Park and for lovers of wild open spaces, the Preseli Hills with their Iron Age burial chambers and hill forts will refresh the soul.
Pet Fee | £20 |
Damage Deposit | £100 |
David's intention is that the expectations of all guests of Valley View will be met and exceeded and that they will experience the property as being a 'home from home' where they can relax and enjoy themselves. The property has a 100% 5 star rating record on Trip Advisor so it must be working! In order to try to maintain this record and ensure that there are no unfortunate 'surprises' when you arrive, the following information is provided.
Valley View is a strictly 'no smoking' property. Please respect this rule at all times within the accommodation for the comfort and well being of guests to follow.
Whilst hand towels are provided in the kitchen bathroom and cloakroom, no personal towels are provided as standard. Personal towels can be provided at a charge of £5.00 per person per stay.
Dogs are welcome to stay provided that they remember that i). they are not human and must therefore stay off furniture and out of bedrooms, and ii). their owners are responsible for clearing up any mess before they leave!
Whilst there are no changes of level within the cottage itself except to access the conservatory and to gain access outside, there are steps leading down to the property and within the grounds. This should be borne in mind for potential guests who are elderly, infirm or disabled.
Guests are respectfully asked to treat the property and its contents with respect, to leave it in a clean and tidy condition and to report any breakages or or other damage or faults to David in advance of their departure so that he has the opportunity to take action before the arrival of the next guests. Failure to do so is likely to incur a charge against the damage deposit.
A 'Welcome Pack' and a large selection of informative brochures and books is provided giving details of the accommodation, its surroundings and things to do and see. David's contact details are provided in the event that any guest has a query or problem they require help with.
Enjoy your stay!