Handsome Ein Cynefin stands majestically among rolling hills and meadows stretching to the English border near Chester. This Victorian manor house is the former home of sister-owners Angharad and Teleri, who have thoughtfully restored the house with a sympathetic nod to their Welsh heritage. Behind the building’s honey-coloured facade, original features blend with curated interiors sourced from local Welsh artisans to create a fresh take on a classic country retreat.
You enter into a grand, double-height hall with a Bechstein baby grand piano in the corner, the first of many handpicked antiques that decorate the rooms of this beautiful home. The hall leads to a myriad of living spaces, all with sash windows and 20th-century Welsh art, one with a pretty window seat, another with a roaring log burner. A sweeping staircase ascends to five light-filled bedrooms (four doubles, one twin), each enormous and ensuite, with long, leafy views of the gardens (on all four sides of the house). These gardens are a dream for youngsters, who can play croquet or badminton, hide in the trees, or pick apples from the orchard. And when you’re not all playing lord of the manor, the Welsh countryside calls: climb the Clwydians (Moel Famau - Mother Mountain - is visible from the house), or head up to North Wales’ beautiful coastline. Fresh air, family fun, and the finer things in life, all just 40 minutes from both Liverpool and Manchester, what could be better?
Ein Cynefin
Flintshire, Wales, United Kingdom
Highs
- An elegant family manor restored with love and an eye for design, and yet excellent value
- All five bedrooms are large and light-filled, and each has an ensuite boasting a bath with a view
- Set among stunning North Wales countryside just across the border from Chester, with rolling meadows, the Clwydian hills and the coast nearby
- The sprawling lawns are perfect for letting kids (and dogs) run free
- Warm, hospitable owners who can arrange extras, from hot-tub hire to catered dinners. Reduced occupancy rentals can sometimes be arranged on request
Lows
- You’ll need a car – shops and restaurants are a short drive away, and there's not much to do within the immediate vicinity
- This is an old house, so expect the odd creaky floorboard
- The rural location means WiFi can be patchy in some rooms, particularly for streaming
Best time to go
Our top tips
See what's on at Mold’s Theatr Clwyd, Wales' biggest producing theatre, just 5 minutes down the road.
- Country House
- 5 bedrooms
- Self-catering
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
There are five bedrooms, all ensuite and individually named. Each has lofty ceilings, big windows and decent square footage, so they're lovely and light-filled. Welsh textiles add warmth, while soft colour palettes allow the countryside views to shine. And what views they are! Gardens and fields are on show in every direction here.
Green and Blue are the two kingsize rooms, Autumn and Apricot are doubles, and Twin is – you guessed it - the twin. We think the Blue Bedroom sounds like the showstopper, a three-room suite with its own private hall. Bathrooms are equally generous, all with bathtubs (with handheld showers; two bathrooms also have walk-in showers) and heritage-style fittings.
Downstairs, there are myriad spaces for relaxing. The morning room gets the sun for most of the day and has direct access to a lovely terrace. Afternoons might be spent in the formal lounge, where bay window seats overlook rolling fields. Evenings are for cwtching in the snug, which has a log burner and a 48-inch TV for movie nights.
Features include:
- Beach towels
- Bluetooth sound system
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea making
- Fireplace
- Hairdryer
- Satellite TV
- Toiletries
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
The smart, navy blue kitchen-diner has an island with bar stools, a range cooker, an induction hob and a walk-in pantry (with extra fridge and freezer). There’s seating for 10 here (plus two high chairs) at a long, handcrafted wooden table. Or you can eat in the formal dining room, among antique display cabinets and a grandfather clock, or outside on the sunny terrace.
Your welcome basket has a selection of local produce and milk to start you off, and basic kitchen essentials (oil, tea, coffee etc) are provided. To stock up on other groceries, the nearby town of Mold (10 mins) has a Tesco and an Aldi. For artisanal produce, try the incredible farm shop at Rhug Estate (40 mins), the farm shop at Hawarden Estate (10 mins), or the excellent farmers' market in Celyn (10 mins) on the first and third Saturday of every month.
For celebratory suppers, Angharad and Teleri can recommend a private chef to cook in-house. And when it comes to eating out, your nearest (and best) option is Bryn Williams at Theatre Clwyd in Mold, which serves brunch through to brasserie dinners. Other recommendations include Sticky Walnut in Hoole for bistro fare, The Glynne Arms in Hawarden for good pub grub, or Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias for contemporary food and a stunning beach view.
Features include:
- Barbecue
- Chef on request
- Coffee maker
- Dishwasher
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Microwave
- Oven
- Toaster
Activities
- Drive 15 minutes to Moel Famau for a lovely hill walk offering the region’s best views
- Loggerheads Country Park (15 mins) has a woodland and pretty riverside trails; ideal for families and dogs
- Spend a day on the North Wales coast (30 min): Talacre has a sweeping beach with a lighthouse; Colwyn Bay is good for watersports
- For some history, try Flint Castle or Conwy Castle, both built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales, or visit St Winefride’s Well in Holywell, a popular pilgrimage site
- Visit Mold’s markets, cafés and recently renovated Theatr Clwyd
- The National Trust’s Bodnant Gardens has 80 acres of Grade 1-listed formal gardens, woodland and panoramic mountain views to discover
- Explore the pretty Victorian seaside town of Llandudno (40 mins), which has beaches, museums, a tramway and the longest pier in Wales
- North Wales has a lot to offer adrenaline junkies: Within a 1-hour drive you can trampoline amongst Eryri's tree canopy at Zipworld, drive a husky team at Mynydd Sleddog Adventure, or whitewater raft through Llangollen
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Plantlife / flora
- Rafting
- Shopping / markets
- Zip-wiring
Kids
This is a great house for families or multi-generational stays. There is a range of bedroom options and lots of space for entertaining. The 1-acre garden is great for playing in, and the local area has plenty of family attractions, including beaches, castles and country parks.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
There are four doubles and one twin bedroom, all with space for a cot or extra bed.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Kids Activities on site:
- Books and jigsaws
- Indoor games
- Drawing and painting (equipment provided)
- Molkky and croquet
Kids Activities nearby:
- Hawarden Estate has lots of kids' activities (Little Growers Club, Art Workshops etc)
- ZipWorld
- Chester Zoo
- Greenfield Valley with woods, playground, local museum and cafe
- Adventure Parc Snowdonia
Distances:
- Airport: 45 minutes (Liverpool)
- Hospital: 30 minutes
- Shops: 5 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Ein Cynefin sits in Soughton, near the market town of Mold, Flintshire, North Wales. It’s perfectly placed between the Clwydian Range and the North Wales coast, with Chester about 30 minutes’ drive away.
By Car:
You’ll need a car here. There’s ample parking on site.
By Train:
The nearest mainline station is Chester (30 minutes / 25 km).
By Air:
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is a 45-minute drive away; Manchester Airport is around an hour’s drive.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Liverpool 50.0 km LPL
- Manchester 64.0 km MAN
Other:
- Beach 27.0 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km
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