Joanne Ridout

A major fire at Rheola House, a Grade II* listed manor in the Upper Neath Valley designed by John Nash, has gutted the main building, servants’ quarters and coach house, destroying features including its Georgian staircase, wall panelling and ornate plasterwork. The surrounding lodge, cottage, ice house and land appear largely unaffected. South Wales Police arrested four teenagers on suspicion of arson after the fire, which was treated as deliberate. The estate is owned by The Brook Group, whose redevelopment proposals include hundreds of lodges, leisure facilities and converting the manor into a boutique hotel.

The Grade II-listed building now operating as Rhymney House Hotel, bar and events venue is being offered through Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £215,000. Built in 1801 as the manager’s home for the Union Ironworks, the property is linked to the workers’ uprising known as the Scotch Cattle and retains an important place in Rhymney’s industrial history. It has up to ten ensuite bedrooms, several bars, dining and event spaces, a conservatory, commercial kitchen, cellar, gardens and extensive parking. The auctioneer says it could continue as a hospitality business or, subject to planning approval, be converted into a substantial home or apartments.

Lock Cottage, a former canal worker’s home near Bettws in Wales, has been transformed from a damp and semi-derelict property into a two-bedroom canalside cottage with renovated living spaces, a garden and parking for up to four cars. The historic site lies beside the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal network, whose industrial transport role declined after railway competition. Paul Fosh Auctions is offering the property with a guide price of £118,000; it could serve as a private home, holiday let or secluded retreat for an artist or writer.

A vacant Victorian police station in Tonypandy, built in 1876 and retaining its former cells and interview rooms, is being offered in an online auction with a guide price of £99,000. The building was a hub during the 1910 Tonypandy Riots, a miners' dispute that lasted almost a year and resulted in one miner's death and hundreds of injuries. It has planning permission for serviced offices, while residential conversion or other redevelopment may be possible subject to approval. The station has been unused for years after its public front desk closed around 2007.

Aberaeron is presented as Wales' best seaside place to live and the UK's second-ranked coastal location in The Times' assessment because it retains a thriving year-round community rather than relying solely on tourism and second homes. A visit by property editor Joanne Ridout found a lively harbour, welcoming residents, independent shops, restaurants and community facilities even during a wet November stay. The town's colourful Georgian and Victorian architecture, access to six beaches within six miles and relatively moderate house prices add to its appeal, although summer parking, dog fouling, vacant shops and the lack of major chains are drawbacks. Overall, Aberaeron appears to have avoided becoming a seasonal ghost town, with its active local community and distinctive character standing out most strongly.

A distinctive four-bedroom bungalow near Abersoch is built into a cliff above Machroes Beach, with a cantilevered section extending over the sand and water. The property includes panoramic sea views, private beach access, two terraces and coastal-facing living spaces, and is marketed by Elvins Estate Agents for offers above £1.1 million. The feature places the home within Abersoch’s expensive property market, where detached homes and premium coastal plots can command significantly more than the Welsh average.

Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones confronted a scrambler rider on the Carneddau mountains above Llanfairfechan after receiving reports that a motorbike was disturbing livestock. The rider claimed a landowner had granted permission, but Jones disputed this and ordered him to leave, warning that he would involve police. Off-road vehicles are unlawful in open countryside unless used on private land with explicit landowner consent, and North Wales Police were contacted for comment.

Pentre Barn, a three-bedroom converted barn near Berriew in Powys, is set within more than six acres of woodland, orchard, valley and a wildlife lake. A recent renovation added triple glazing, a ground source heat pump, extensive insulation and fibre-optic broadband, bringing the property close to Passivhaus energy-efficiency standards while retaining its rural character. The home, marketed by The Modern House, includes modern living spaces, three ensuite bedrooms, a home office and outdoor amenities, and is listed for £595,000.

Aberaeron is identified as the highest-ranked Welsh entry in The Times’ 2026 list of the UK’s best seaside places to live, placing second nationally. The Isle of Anglesey ranks fifth and Mumbles ranks sixteenth. The article highlights Aberaeron’s colorful Georgian and Victorian architecture, harbor, coastal walks, independent shops, restaurants and community, while noting an average house price of £248,800. Anglesey is praised for its extensive coastline, wildlife and relaxed lifestyle, although prices vary sharply by location. Mumbles is presented as a well-connected coastal town near Swansea and the Gower Peninsula, with beaches, amenities and average property prices of about £378,000.

After suffering a skull fracture, brain bleeds and a broken back in a 2024 ladder fall, 78-year-old John Parry was diagnosed with bladder cancer that had spread to his right kidney. Rather than withdraw, the Pontypool-born grandfather launched Grandad’s Great Walk, a roughly 460-mile journey from Lowestoft to St David’s Head in Pembrokeshire along the Via Beata route. Supported by family, strangers and Strictly Come Dancing professional Lauren Oakley, he is raising money for Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Farleigh Hospice and St David’s Hospice, with donations reported at more than £54,000 toward a £75,000 goal. Despite difficult terrain, heat and blisters, Parry says support from cancer patients and the public continues to motivate him and that he intends to keep fundraising after the walk.

A member of the public heard cries for help in the River Conwy and contacted emergency services. Conwy RNLI launched a lifeboat within minutes, working with Llandudno Coastguard Rescue Team and other agencies to locate and recover a casualty who was unable to help themselves and was barely conscious. Oxygen was administered before the casualty was transferred to the Welsh Ambulance Service and taken to hospital. The coordinated response, from the 999 call to the casualty being brought aboard, took 19 minutes.

Cardiff-born theatre director and playwright Peter Gill has died peacefully at 86. Luke Evans said Gill changed his professional life by casting him in the 2008 revival of Small Change, which Evans credits with helping launch his acting career. Gill was praised for his emotionally precise work, working-class productions and lasting influence on British theatre by his agent, Michael Grandage and Tamara Harvey. His career included senior roles at the Royal Court and National Theatre, where he founded the National Theatre Studio, as well as collaborations with leading actors and playwrights.

Adrian McAnarney, a devoted father and experienced hiker from Katesbridge, County Down, is understood to have died on August 2 after an accident while hiking in Eryri National Park. He was remembered for completing a charity climb of Kilimanjaro that raised £52,523 for the Southern Area Hospice, his passion for mountaineering and his plans to attempt Mount Everest. Family, friends and fellow climbers described him as an exceptional gentleman and offered condolences to his wife Monica and sons Jack and Charlie.

Welsh contractor Marc Reardon recalls spending six months in Antarctica in 1995 working for Tilbury Douglas on a laboratory, research station, dive tank and decompression chamber. He describes extreme cold, whiteouts, isolation and the unusual experience of living alongside seals and penguins, while also recounting the journey through the Falkland Islands and the lingering dangers of mines and wartime wreckage. Now based in Monmouthshire, Reardon runs Pearwood Projects and has become president of the Federation of Master Builders Cymru, where he is focused on construction skills shortages, apprenticeships, greater participation by women and action against rogue traders.

A new direct Transport for Wales service links Liverpool and Llandudno in under two hours, making day trips between Merseyside and the north Wales resort easier. The writer enthusiastically recommends Liverpool's docks, historic buildings, museums, galleries, pubs, restaurants, events, football attractions and Beatles heritage, while acknowledging redevelopment work at Tate Liverpool and the International Slavery Museum. The city’s community spirit, particularly its response to the 2025 Liverpool FC parade incident, is presented as a defining strength.

Alison and Andy describe their unique home, The Mill House, built on the site of a ruined mill beside Dyserth Waterfall in Denbighshire. Despite the waterfall’s constant noise, visitor traffic and potential dangers, they value the area’s natural beauty, history and community. The property was featured on BBC Cymru Wales’ Wales’ Home of the Year, and the couple have spent four years developing its interior and challenging garden, including a deck, gin bar, hot tub and plans for a whiskey room. They say the home’s holiday-like setting means they have no intention of moving.

Marvyn and Danielle bought a former schoolhouse and village hall in the Vale of Glamorgan for about £380,000 after competing with developers at auction. They spent roughly 18 months converting the Grade II listed building into a family home while preserving historic stonework, beams, windows, artwork and the original bell. The renovation exceeded its budget because of specialist conservation work and bespoke windows, but received strong support from local residents and Cadw. The finished property includes open-plan living areas, a mezzanine bedroom, a new kitchen and a self-contained annexe, and features on BBC Cymru Wales’ Wales' Home of the Year.

Pastry chef Richard Holt left a senior London role to lease the historic Melin Llynon windmill on Anglesey and launch a tea room in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic forced him and his family to diversify into chocolate production, while the introduction of takeaway mônuts, a safari trail and a chocolate-factory experience expanded the business. A bookkeeping error discovered in 2023 left Holt with substantial debts, and mounting financial and operational pressures later triggered a panic attack. Viral endorsements from food vlogger Kalani Ghost Hunter in 2025 and 2026 brought international visitors to the windmill, doubling daily takings and helping Holt begin repaying five-figure debts.

Bryn Aber, a recently remodelled coastal estate on Anglesey beside Cemlyn Bay National Nature Reserve, is being marketed for £1.25 million by Beresford Adams. The former home of aviator and conservationist Captain Vivian Hewitt includes five bedrooms, open-plan living areas, extensive coastal views and roughly 3.9 acres across two parcels. The property’s historic outbuildings have planning consent for redevelopment into secondary accommodation, while Hewitt’s conservation work helped shape Cemlyn’s lagoon and its important tern-breeding habitat.

A new mural in Pontypridd town centre commemorates Morfydd Owen, a prolific Welsh composer, pianist, singer and writer who died aged 26 in 1918. Created by local artist Tee2Sugars, the mural incorporates lampshade-shaped flowers inspired by Owen’s unconventional fashion and is intended to raise her profile alongside better-known Welsh musical figures. The project was supported by Pontypridd Town Council, Park Arts and public funders, while the annual Morfydd festival continues to celebrate her work and legacy.

Bear Grylls owns Saint Tudwal's Island West off the Llyn Peninsula, which his family bought in 2001 for a reported £95,000. The remote island contains a Grade II-listed lighthouse, a former keeper's cottage and Grylls's renovated man-cave, but has no mains electricity, running water or regular mobile coverage. Grylls says the property has become a treasured family sanctuary, despite the logistical challenges of transporting supplies and securing permission for a jetty. The island's lighthouse was automated in 1921 and modernised with LED lighting in 2021, while the surrounding waters and cliffs support seals, dolphins and seabirds.

The Albion, a Grade II-listed former hotel on Tenby's harbour, is being offered for £750,000. The property combines a two-bedroom main home, a two-bedroom holiday let, the freehold of a neighbouring three-bedroom apartment operated by the Harriet Davis Trust, dual parking permits and views across the harbour. Its historic features include medieval and Tudor vaults, a former smugglers' tunnel, secret doors and links to paddle-steamer crews. Owners Alan and his wife renovated the building after buying it in 2012 and are selling because they need a more accessible home, while remaining committed to the Tenby community.

Greenfield House, a substantial early 19th-century Georgian property in Presteigne, Powys, is being offered for sale with a guide price of £360,000 through online bidding. The Grade II-listed house has multiple reception rooms, up to 10 bedrooms, a cellar, walled garden and self-contained apartment. It served as a Carmelite convent from 1951 until 1988; after the neighbouring church was built, the nuns' community became enclosed and largely cut off from local society. The property is now a private home with significant renovation potential and convenient access to Presteigne town centre.

A detached mid-century house near Trelewis, Wales, is on the market for £900,000 through Flying Keys. The property includes four bedrooms, five reception rooms, five bathrooms, a stone-clad bar with original beer taps, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a garden outbuilding. Much of its 1960s design remains intact, though the house requires renovation. Its location also offers access to Parc Taf Bargoed and nearby outdoor activities in the Taff Valley.

A Grade II-listed three-bedroom cottage above Abereiddy beach in north Pembrokeshire is on the market for £875,000 through John Francis. The property overlooks the Blue Lagoon, a 25-metre-deep flooded former slate quarry now known for kayaking, coasteering, swimming and international cliff-diving events. The cottage is also surrounded by historic quarry ruins, workers’ cottages and the former Abereiddy Mill, whose connection contributed to its heritage listing by Cadw in 1991.

A Grade II listed abandoned cottage in Powys is offered at online auction, retaining the former occupant’s belongings and showing signs of smoke damage but presenting strong renovation potential. The 18th‑century smallholder’s cottage includes two main rooms, a former stable area, approximately 2.74 acres of land, and an additional old forge building. The listing highlights the property’s rural setting, historical character, and opportunities for redevelopment into a private countryside home or smallholding.

Troedrhiwfuwch, a 94-house village of about 600 people in South Wales, was demolished in 1985 after decades of landslides, subsidence, cracking and rockfall linked to the unstable Cefn Brithdir mountain and former mine workings. Former residents describe a close-knit community centered on its school, pubs, churches, shops and shared traditions. Local historians and descendants are preserving its story through research, photographs, a website and a war memorial garden honoring the 16 villagers killed in World War I. Only two buildings survived the demolition, with the second recently sold at auction for £49,050.

A derelict two-bedroom cottage called Cwm Grenig in Carmarthenshire is being offered through online auction with a guide price of £23,000. The property is considered too dangerous for internal viewings because of mud, standing water, unstable floors, missing windows and doors, and holes in the roof. Paul Fosh Auctions says the cottage requires full modernisation but could have significant renovation and extension potential, subject to planning permission. The sale begins on July 28 and ends on July 30, with buyers advised to park responsibly and respect nearby property owners.

Eve and James have spent a decade gradually transforming Llantwit Cottage near Neath from a dated ten-room home into an eclectic, highly personal sanctuary. The historic Welsh cottage was once rented by explorer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and was later featured on BBC Cymru Wales' Wales' Home of the Year after a friend nominated it. Its rooms combine bold colours, contrasting patterns, vintage and second-hand pieces, travel souvenirs and themed décor, including a full-sized skeleton and designs inspired by Wallace's natural-history legacy. Eve says homeowners should decorate for their own enjoyment rather than to impress others, while the couple's experience shows how personality-led interiors can develop organically without a large budget.

A homeowner in Merthyr Tydfil commissioned artist Matt Dey to paint a large wildlife mural across the front of his house, transforming the property into a local attraction. Despite initial scepticism from neighbours and family, the project was completed in five days using a doodle‑grid technique and has drawn widespread positive attention. The mural also highlights the growing visibility of the Valley Street Art Project, founded by Dey to expand mural opportunities in south Wales. Enthusiastic about the outcome, the homeowner plans to add more artwork, while visitors continue to stop to view and photograph the house.

A Grade II-listed medieval church in Martletwy, Pembrokeshire, is being auctioned with a guide price of £125,000 to £130,000. With origins dating back to at least the 13th century, the building retains Norman and medieval features, including a stone font and a unique priest’s effigy. Recently restored with a new slate roof, the church is no longer in religious use and is presented as a rare redevelopment opportunity subject to planning approval. Situated in a rural village near Narberth and the Eastern Cleddau estuary, the property includes a potential garden area but excludes the churchyard.

A Victorian country home in Glan Conwy is presented as a high‑end property offering privacy, extensive views and proximity to notable Welsh and cross‑border destinations. The residence features refined interiors, landscaped grounds of approximately 3.5 acres and outbuildings with approved planning consent for residential conversion. With five bedrooms, multiple reception spaces and high‑quality finishes, the property provides scope for multi‑generational living or income‑generating accommodation. It is listed for £1.725 million through Currans Homes.

A beachfront building in Broad Haven was transformed into Rwts after Tim Rees took over the property originally purchased by his elderly father. Drawing on his hospitality experience, Rees created an inclusive, locally focused venue with a Welsh‑centric food and drink offering and a design intended to be welcoming and calming. Motivated in part by challenges his former partner faced with dietary restrictions, he ensured the menu accommodates vegan, vegetarian and gluten‑free needs. The business underwent major refurbishment, including redesigned interiors, a new bar and upgraded guest rooms. Despite industry‑wide financial pressures, Rees aims to make Rwts a community‑oriented destination where visitors feel uplifted and connected to the coastal setting.

A historic Georgian house in Laugharne was rescued from severe disrepair after Tim Lowe purchased it and undertook a 15‑year restoration involving extensive structural work, specialist conservation, and reconstruction of original architectural details. Assisted by conservation architect Peter Holden and local craftspeople, he replaced the roof, removed later partitions, restored period features and revitalised long‑hidden elements such as an inglenook fireplace, attic spaces and a filled‑in well. The property now operates as a holiday let under Great Welsh Escapes, offering restored interiors, modern amenities and a landscaped garden with a pool, reflecting Lowe’s long‑term commitment to preserving its heritage.

A Grade I listed Georgian mansion in Ceredigion, Plas Nanteos, has been placed on the market after operating as a country house hotel until 2025. The property’s history spans centuries, incorporating remnants of an earlier medieval house, long-standing family ownership, and a legendary connection to the Nanteos Cup, which some associate with the Holy Grail. The estate includes extensive grounds, historic architectural features, and several Grade II* listed structures. Once restored and run as a hotel, it is now offered for sale at over £4 million, presenting opportunities for redevelopment or reopening as a hospitality venue.

Long‑time owners Lisa and Gary Jones are closing Cardiff’s Dutch Garden Centre after nearly five decades due to economic pressures, competition and their plans for semi‑retirement. The site, owned by Cardiff Council since 2018, is expected to be demolished for future redevelopment. The couple reflect on the garden centre’s family legacy, community ties, celebrity customers, and challenges over the years, choosing to relocate to north Devon as their children pursue their own paths, marking the end of a well‑known Cardiff institution.

Amy Dowden returned to Caerphilly to unveil a miniature statue of herself featured within a new Town Relief Map installed as part of regeneration work at Dafydd Williams Park. The project includes improved lighting, play equipment, seating and a series of art installations highlighting the town’s cultural heritage. Dowden praised the transformation and expressed pride in being included. The event also launched the Made in Caerfilli Trail of Tales, a virtual tour showcasing notable local figures, with local businesses participating in the celebrations.

A couple in north Wales transformed a long‑admired but deteriorating period house into an award‑winning home through years of self‑directed renovation, relying heavily on online tutorials and a save‑and‑do approach amid rising costs. Living in the house during the work brought challenges, but they achieved a personalised, nature‑inspired design, culminating in appearing on BBC Cymru Wales’ Wales' Home of the Year, where they won the regional heat for north west Wales. The experience left them surprised and emotional, and the episode is now available on BBC iPlayer.

Sker House near Porthcawl won the Heritage Award at the 2026 RICS Wales Awards, recognised for its extensive restoration and historic significance. Other major winners included Swansea’s Y Storfa community hub, Prince Charles Hospital’s refurbishment project and the Canolfan Pentre Awel innovation campus in Llanelli. The awards highlighted leading construction, regeneration and community-focused developments across Wales, with regional winners set to compete in the UK Grand Final later in the year.

A historic three-part estate above Langland Bay in Mumbles has been listed for sale, offering buyers the option to purchase the entire £2.845m property or its three individual dwellings. Built in the 1920s and once used as a World War II officers’ club, the estate includes a main residence, a rear wing called Number 27, and a detached Coach House, all with sea views and period features. The site’s location near Langland Bay and its rarity as a full-estate sale enhance its appeal for buyers seeking multi‑generational living or restoration potential.