To step inside this converted 17th-century cornmill on the outskirts of the Welsh town of Abergavenny is to feel that you are stepping back in time. The staggeringly thick walls, the rough flagstone floor, and wonky beams supporting the ceiling are evocative of the building’s long history. A sensitive restoration at the hands of its current owners has kept this strong sense of the past intact, and although such contemporary niceties as electricity, hot water and comfortable beds are firmly in situ, there is a general sense of leaving the modern world outside the door.

The building, which would once have hummed and buzzed with the sound and motion of mill wheels, is now filled with homely, rustic antiques, vintage art, and modest, unpretentious fabrics: the curtains are done in ticking fabric and modest blinds in sheer linen deck the higher windows. The beds are also swathed in Piglet in Bed linens and cheerful prints from Molly Mahon make an appearance here and there. Pretty, muted paint colours on the woodwork enliven the rough-hewn architecture, from the jewel red of the kitchen to the blue and green painted doors in the bedrooms. The owners Hayley and Leo have done most of the work themselves, including building appealing box bunk beds in the children‘s room and adding new staircases and wood flooring. The handmade nature of the place is a huge part of its appeal.

Nonetheless, everything is comfortable and convenient. Sofas and chairs are squashy and inviting, beds are firm, and there is reassuringly well-functioning heating, hot water and wifi. The cottage is next door to the owners’ own house, and so Leo and Hayley are on hand to help with the log burner and can also offer home-grown produce from the vegetable patch and even home-cooked meals by a private chef on request. Beyond the doors there is a delightful courtyard garden growing up, where you can eat meals outside during the warmer months, with the sound of the river gurgling past the property on its way into Abergavenny proper.

The location of the cottage is extremely convenient; it is only a five minute drive from Abergavenny rail station, and the distance can even be walked if you’re so inclined. The centre of Abergavenny with all its shops and amenities is around a 15-minute walk along the river trail, and you can easily hike out of the town to walk on one of the three hills surrounding it, the Skirrid, the Blorenge or the Sugar Loaf. Slightly further afield are the ravishing landscapes of the Wye Valley, and you can also explore the long ridge of Offa’s Dyke, the medieval boundary between England and Wales. There is a wealth of activities in the area, from wild swimming in mountain pools to exploring historic ruins such as the atmospheric remains of Llanthony Priory.