The Granary at Roch Mill
Ideal for a couple or small family the Granary can accommodate up to five people if required*. It comprises three rooms: bedroom, shower room and a large living area divided tastefully into three zones for cooking, dining and relaxing. Part of the Granary's charm lies in its creative design. The bedroom, for example, includes a “croglofft” sleeping space for two children, located above a king-sized bed. This is accessed by a short but steep paddle-tread stair and, because of restricted headroom, is best suited to children under about 12.
*There is also a double sleep sofa in the lounge and we can provide a cot if needed.
Extensive use has been made of natural materials such as slate floors and oak doors and we have reused many of the original timbers in inventive ways. The Granary is fully equipped with a cooker, microwave, fridge, satellite TV, DVD, video recorder and Hi-Fi and is furnished to a very high standard. A shower room completes the accommodation Photos.
Of course the Pembrokeshire weather is superb all year round, but just in case you should hit a cool spell the Granary is fitted with underfloor heating throughout and, for that cosy feel, a wood-burning stove.
May picture of the month
Immediately outside the front door is a seat and picnic table overlooking the gardens through which the lower mill-race meanders, and beyond that to the Brandybrook river, only a few yards away.
Roch Mill, which has its origins dating back to the 13th century, was last used around 1953 employing equipment installed in 1868 (and earlier). Most of the mill's machinery is still intact and we are gradually undertaking its restoration. During 2008 we plan to reinstate the water wheel and ultimately hope to extract some heat energy from its operation.
Situated inside the Pembrokeshire National Park and just two miles from spectacular beaches the six acre mill estate nestles in the secluded Brandybrook valley. This pretty little river boasts a significance far greater than its size would suggest as it forms the western end of the boundary between the “Welshry” and “Englishry”. It is the historical Lansker line and marks the limit of Norman influence nine centuries ago. Even today place names to the north of the line are nearly all Welsh whereas those to the south are predominantly English. Similarly the Welsh language is much more frequently heard to the north of the Lansker line.
Green Issues
While some way from being energy neutral we are endeavouring to improve the "green" attributes of the Mill and Granary. The first thing we did when we came here was to install a Reed Bed to clean up the effluent from our foul water drains. This works extremely well and the resulting clean and nutrient-rich water now feeds our recently created bog-garden on its way to the lower pond and river. We will shortly be installing solar panels to supply most of our hot water needs and in the future we hope to drive the underfloor heating system using a heat pump driven by the new water wheel. This combinations will supply up to 80% of our heating needs.
We are open all year and prices range from about £200 to £500 per week. Weekend and mid-week breaks are available during low and mid-season - just ask.