Rivendell House is tucked away in the heart of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is famed for its phenomenal river scenery, woodland expanses and limestone cliffs. It is presently configured as a three-bedroom residence with a self-contained three-bed annexe, but a third-storey extension has been added recently. This most recent addition to the property is still in the works and therefore affords a new owner a prime opportunity to put their stamp on the impressive country home.
Rivendell House is tucked away in the heart of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is famed for its phenomenal river, scenery, woodland expanses and limestone cliffs. It is presently configured as a three / four -bedroom residence, providing options for multi-generational living or potential business use as holiday accommodation.
The current owners have lovingly renovated the current house to a high standard. There is also a third-storey extension that has been added recently. This most recent addition to the property is still in the works (it is ready to be 1st Fixed by trades) and the beauty of this extension is that it does not impact current living arrangements in any way. This affords a new owner prime opportunity to put their stamp on this impressive country home.
Location
Symonds Yat Rock, an ancient hill fort and present-day viewpoint, exhibits a picture postcard image of the River Wye winding its way through the rocky landscape. It also offers an excellent spot to watch the birds of prey and, in particular, the Peregrine Falcons dominate here. A few hundred yards away, there sits a welcoming log cabin cafe which sells freshly made cakes, pastries and hot meals.
On both sides of the river, there are a multitude of reputable riverside pubs and restaurants which are exceedingly popular with residents and tourists alike. A hand ferry near The Saracens Head Inn gives a delightful means to cross the majestic waterway, and there are also plenty of enchanting walking and cycle routes throughout the area. For those who enjoy outdoor pursuits, various companies offer a wide range of activities such as canoe hire and abseiling sessions.
The nearby village of Whitchurch is particularly sought after, partially owing to its Church of England Primary School, which has been graded as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. The popular community-spirited village shop, Woods of Whitchurch, stocks locally made produce, fresh fruit and vegetables, and various essentials. The establishment also operates as a coffee shop and takeaway.
In addition, Whitchurch also boasts a village hall, an MOT centre, an Indian restaurant, a variety of hospitality venues, a dentist, a post box and a bus stop.
Symonds Yat Rock is centred between the two popular market towns of Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, both of which offer highly regarded secondary schools, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, leisure facilities and independently owned shops.
The home at a glance
The title "Rivendell" was made popular by Tolkien when he published The Hobbit in 1937 as his fictional sanctuary for wayward Elves and its meaning is that of a "deep valley". Its namesake, Rivendell House, is perched on a gorge, straddling the River Wye and the unique residence wonderfully exhibits this enchanting vista.
The original part of the home dates back to the 1840s but was extended in the 1940s and a third-storey extension has been added recently. This would create four bedrooms on the top floor - two of which would have en-suite bathrooms – the bedrooms open out onto the balcony, which is the length of the whole house, affording fantastic views at a higher viewpoint again, from both of these bedrooms.
The staircase would begin in one of the current first-floor bedrooms, therefore the finished residence has the potential to be a six-bedroom property, including the option to have the ground floor as a self-contained one-bed annexe, if so desired.
The second entrance into the main house opens into a reception porch, which gives visitors space to remove shoes and coats after time spent enjoying the beautiful surrounding area.
Beyond here, there is a well-appointed open-plan kitchen which contains an AEG induction hob with Faber angled extractor hood, a Zanussi double oven - one with an air fry feature, another with a grill) and there is also an Esse oil-fired range cooker, a staple of country life. The dual-aspect space, sourced from Wren Kitchens, also features a porcelain tile floor, a deep granite double sink, shaker-style units, a built-in dresser, and a variety of integrated appliances including a Bosch fridge/freezer, a Bosch dishwasher and two pull-out pantry's. There is a breakfast bar, offering casual dining space.
The far end of the kitchen leads down to a substantial pantry and, further along, there is a sizeable utility room, giving space and plumbing for both a washing machine and tumble dryer, as well as an additional sink and storage units. Accessed via this space through an outside door is a sizeable storage area which is locked and secure and then next to this is the wood store.
The opposite end of the kitchen leads into the principal sitting room, a bright and airy space that carries a stone feature fireplace with a Jøtul stove. Like the kitchen, this area features a porcelain tile floor, and this area has underfloor heating. A door in the far left-hand corner leads to a balcony, which gives a private space to soak in the sublime surroundings or set up a hot tub.
The sitting room also gives access to a sunroom, which serves as the formal dining room. This triple-aspect area is streamed with plenty of natural light and includes spellbinding views over the wooded hills, jagged peaks and gorgeous valley. There are quartz tiles on the floor with underfloor heating.
At the far end of the light and airy sitting room, there is a door into a hallway which leads to the three bedrooms. Of these, two are found at the front of the home and both exhibit the views of the magnificent surrounding area.
The third bedroom is found on the opposite side of the hallway. A door leads up a couple of steps into a lobby, which bears a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams, and a church-style door. An old fireplace, now capped, gives a particularly handsome focal point. A door on the right-hand side leads to the third bedroom, which includes a built-in cupboard and a window that presents one with a good spot to birdwatch. On the opposite side of the lobby, there is a door into a shower room which includes a walk-in dual-headed shower, a quartz countertop vanity unit, a WC and a patterned industrial-style cast iron radiator.
The second bathroom on this level of the property includes an antique cast iron bath, quartz countertop vanity unit, WC, two heated towel rails and underfloor heating.
The lower ground floor of Rivendell House has the potential to be a self-contained one-bedroom annexe which provides excellent opportunity for multigenerational living or business opportunities, along with a huge storage space area, which is discreetly hidden behind doors, providing easy access when needed. There is also a connection cable ready in place to install an electric car charging point.
Outside, the south – facing garden wraps around the whole house and gives a serene spot to bask in the beauty of the setting throughout the year, where wildflowers such as primroses, daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells and wild garlic carpet the land of an ever-changing vista. Whilst the home and its grounds are perched on a hillside, the outdoor space has been landscaped to create several level areas and there is a small seating space ideally positioned that showcases the beautiful River Wye. Work has started on an area to create a pond under the stunning acer tree and there is an electric socket in place ready to connect a pump.
The top of the garden has gated access which opens out directly into the woodland footpath that leads to a variety of stunning walks, one of several being up to the top of Symonds Yat Rock, another leading down to the river and access onto the Peregrine footpath or the Wye Valley Walk footpath.
There is also ample opportunity to cultivate fresh produce; the grounds include a small orchard, giving apple, cherry and plum trees. Wild sloes grow in abundance and there is a vegetable patch, complete with three raised beds and a greenhouse.
There is a summerhouse towards the bottom of the garden which has a veranda, power, lighting and insulation. It is currently used as a garden office. In terms of parking, there is parking for at least 5 cars and there is a secure driveway with outdoor lighting that covers the whole of the driveway between the top of the garden right through to the electric gates.
General
Services
Oil central heating. Underfloor heating. Mains water and electricity. Septic tank. Telephone line and superfast high speed broadband.
Local Authority
Forest of Dean District Council. Council tax band E.
Tenure
Freehold
Directions
From Ross-on-Wye, take the A40 towards Monmouth and stay on this road for approximately five miles. Take the exit for the A4137 and turn almost immediately right onto the B4229 towards Goodrich. Stay on this road for three-quarters of a mile then turn right towards Symonds Yat. Head over Huntsham Bridge and continue for one-and-a-half miles. The turning to Rivendell House will be denoted on the right-hand side of the road.
What3Words: shuffles.fizzled.bristle
Ross-on-Wye 6 miles • Monmouth 8 miles • Hereford 18 miles • Gloucester 23 miles • Cheltenham 30 miles • Bristol 34 miles • (All distances are approximate)
* Agent's note: We have been advised that the plot is approximately 1.5 acres but this would need to be verified by your solicitor.
NB The light fittings and soft furnishings which includes bespoke Voyage blinds and curtains throughout the property are available by separate negotiation. The stone troughs and stained glass window are not included in the sale of the property.
Read less
Update Cookies Preferences
