The exciting farm renovation project that could bring out your inner Jeremy Clarkson

Once in a while an absolutely incredible renovation opportunity pops up on the market that will excite anyone who dreams of creating a rural retreat and smallholding, surrounded by some of Wales' most glorious scenery, whilst saving a slice of the country's property heritage.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Wales where the border with England loops around the property creating a pocket of peace cocooned by a rolling rural landscape in all directions you will find The Great House, a historic former farmhouse and its surrounding outbuildings, all of which require renovation and restoration. Like Jeremy Clarkson took on his own farm project for his TV series - you too could branch out into a new countryside life.

The property can boast a slightly elevated position which means anyone taking on this extreme renovation project is likely to get regularly distracted by the mesmerising views that sweep all the way to the horizon in all directions and include the famous Pen Y Fan mountain within the magnificent Bannau Brycheiniog Brecon Beacons National Park. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here.

READ MORE: Welsh cliff-top lodge with mesmerising sea views and an interior to envy

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Inside massive former bank in popular town that’s now a dream home full of surprises

This escape to the country opportunity is found hiding off a quiet country lane and is well-placed to explore the national park, as well as the Black Mountains, Offa's Dyke National Trail, and the Wye Valley National Landscape (formerly known as the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). However, at the end of this meandering lane is the A465, offering a direct route to Abergavenny to the south and Hereford to the north, where the UK's main trainline network can be accessed too.

But there won't be much exploring happening for the new owner who is going to bring this historic site back to life because there is much to do, but the reward at the end will be worth the challenge - a dream home in an idyllic location preserved and loved for the present and into the future.

The main farmhouse achieved a higher Grade II* listing from Cadw in 2000, a higher level of listing that only about 7% of properties achieve if they are 'particularly important buildings of more than special interest which justify every effort being made to preserve them'.

The listing for the main house states that the property dates back to the 17th century and shows 'a Renaissance influence on the regional style in mid 17th century, with fine surviving 17th plasterwork in the ground-floor parlour and upper chambers' and that since a few changes that occurred during the 19th century there have been 'have been relatively few internal changes and the house still retains a strong historic character'.

As well as renovating the rooms inside the four-storey farmhouse to bring them up to a standard for comfortable modern living there is careful restoration work to do to bring the surviving features back to their former glory, including exposed beams, mouldings and plasterwork and fireplaces.

In 2000 Cadw was particularly impressed with what could be done to restore and preserve the original features still found inside, hence the higher level of listing, stating the reason being that the property was 'a substantial 17th century, two-unit house retaining unusually well-preserved interior detail, including fine plasterwork'.

Currently, the main house is configured over four storeys, with the kitchen, utility, downstairs cloakroom, store room and cellars on the ground floor, three reception rooms on the first floor, four bedrooms on the third floor and attic space. Obviously, any renovation and restoration work will, of course, have to be in conjunction with permissions and advice from the local authority conservation officer and Cadw.

But there's so much more to this property for sale than the very special farmhouse, because next to it is a single-storey cider barn and cow house that is also in need of renovation and listed, this time at a Grade II level. Awarded the listing in 2000 at the same time as the farmhouse, Cadw stated that it was probably an 18th century farm range converted to use as a cider house in the 19th century and listed due to its group value with the house and being a 'well preserved cider mill that retains circular stone trough, drive shaft and stone mill wheel'.

The courtyard of farm buildings includes a substantial barn that can boast a Grade II listing too. Again awarded in 2000, this building dating back to the 18th century was once a seven bay corn barn that also includes a 20th century addition of a blockwork partition to create a milking parlour.

To the west of the farmhouse is a range of traditional stone farm buildings arranged in a courtyard opposite the farmhouse. The courtyard comprises single-story buildings in the main, although the former granary provides 2 storeys, the upper level accessed by stone tallet steps. There is also a range of modern farm buildings including, silage store, Dutch barn, livestock building and cattle shed.

Outside, as well as the magnificent views, is about 4.3 acres of land including a paddock and the possibility of negotiating to buy more, but if you are thinking of creating a home with income potential via holiday lets, the farm is not for you. The selling agent states that the property will be sold subject to a restrictive covenant preventing either the farmhouse or any of the farm buildings being used as holiday lets.

In addition the agent adds that the traditional farm buildings opposite the house will be sold subject to an overage / uplift provision whereby the vendor will benefit from 15% of any uplift in value arising from the implementation of any planning permission for a separate dwelling. This will be applicable for the period of 20 years from the date of sale. Purchasers should note that this overage/uplift does not apply to the traditional farm building adjoining the farmhouse.

So, a multi-generational living site is a perfect future proposition for this historic site, subject to planning and listed building consent - other layers of the family would surely be enchanted to live at the property in one of the converted farm buildings.

The house, outbuildings and land are on the market with a guide price of £750,000, call Savills, Oxford on 01865 269000 or Savills, Banbury on 01295 228025 to find out more.

For more property and renovation stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here. Plus the latest edition of the award-winning Amazing Welsh Homes magazine is out now – buy online here.

Find your own renovation property here: