A cottage by the sea is a property daydream for so many people, and if that cottage has been renovated into a beautiful home packed full of period charm and delicious interiors, even better; all you have to do as a new owner is move your stuff in and get your chair out into the garden.
And if the outside space matches the high standards of the home, offering classic cottage garden flowers, shrubs and trees combined with extra areas added for a choice of alfresco dining spots, then this home is surely a dream property come true.
If you can ever be bothered to emerge from this pretty home and delightful garden called Longcroft it will be worth it as down the cute country lane, flanked by a selection of attractive coastal homes, is an award-winning, expansive beach.
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The cottage is located in the Gower coastal village of Horton and at the end of the country lane that meanders through the mainly period properties down to the sea, the stunning Port Eynon Bay awaits to take your breath-away with its sweeping sands, rolling surf and refreshing breeze that dances off the water.
This most beautiful of beaches is an expansive bay that runs from the headland shared with next door cove Slade Bay and then bends round to the village of Port Eynon itself.
A bracing walk, a day at the beach building sandcastles, exploring rockpools, or taking on one of the many watersports the bay can offer, are just some of the tempting reasons to regularly leave the cottage and enjoy this most fabulous of natural neighbours.
According to website Visit Swansea Bay, Port Eynon Bay beach is a multi-award winner, with a Blue Flag Award, a Seaside Award, plus being voted the Best British Beach in the 2011 Cadbury Flake 99 Great British Beach Awards.
And if straying away from Port Eynon beach is tempting too, there are an embarrassment of gorgeous beaches and coves nearby to explore; all award-winning and all unique.
Arguably the most tempting are Rhossili and Worm's Head to the west and Three Cliffs Bay to the east - there is ample choice for a day visit but it's so hard to decide; what a wonderful dilemma to have.
It's easy to see the attraction of the bay and the village, nestled along Gower Peninsula in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and nestled within a close knit and supportive community.
It is also easy to see for most people that the cottage itself is a mini area of outstanding natural beauty.
Even if cottage style is not your interior design scheme of choice, there's no denying the owner of this home has successfully combined classic cottage features and decor with modern and comfortable additions.
Arrive at the classic country gate after parking up on the generous driveway that can welcome numerous friends and family vehicles too, very handy for a group day out to the beach.
The white-washed facade with a pretty exposed stone porchway is an exciting start to the cottage; surely there are some lovely country cottage features waiting to please inside?
But before you have a rummage around the cottage, the garden is definitely worth a wander around first, from the cobbled patio that hugs the front of the house to the hidden sunny terrace at the rear of the home.
There are numerous pockets of flower beds, borders and shrubs that are joined by mature trees and immaculate lawns. Combined they offer a garden that is a joy to come home to or spend the day enjoying.
At the summit of a gentle slope in the garden there's a surprise decked area - a surprise because it is so much bigger than it looks from below, extending into a patio that looks like it backs onto the cliff rock of this coastal area's natural geology.
From this spot enjoy a view either across the patchwork of rooftops one way and over to the sea the other way, at the top of this elevated patio.
And so to the cottage itself, and there is an immediate decision to make - how to get in. A stone porch on the side is the secondary entrance that leads into the dining room, but the main front door is the spacious porch at the front.
This bonus first room includes an area for storage, putting your shoes on or off, and there's even enough room for seating to enjoy this porch as a garden room to connect to the outside space when the weather is not welcoming.
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And then into arguably the main event of the ground floor, a substantial lounge that is a double-width space that can boast the expected cottage ceiling beams, exposed stone chimney breast with log burner, and characterful, gnarled wooden mantle.
This charming room is enhanced further by the choice of warm tones, natural and tactile materials, classic furniture and accents of soft pastels and juicy berry tones.
The interior design throughout the home is tasteful, pretty and country cottage inspired, with the dining room offering a classic Welsh dresser to the decor as well as paler and fresher shades than the cosy, earthy-toned lounge.
This sociable dining room can easily invite six people to dinner, including the cook, although there's room for more.
The current owners have also created an inviting reading nook in the corner with the perfect placement of a classic armchair and soft furnishings waiting to hug you into an afternoon nap.
The grey feature wall adds a modern edge and the curtains happily tie the whole scheme together, as well as their pretty floral pattern paying homage to the garden view peeping in through the window.
Between the reception rooms the kitchen adds character with added ceiling beams and a range cooker tucked into a chimney breast recess and Shaker-style units in a contemporary but soft-toned grey.
The downstairs includes a useful lean-to for storage for all the outdoor watersports gear and there's a utility room and cloakroom too on this lower level.
Upstairs the house has four bedrooms and a family bathroom which has a statement roll-top bath nestled under the window, as well as luxurious limestone-style tiles on floor and walls.
To one end of the first floor is a mastersuite, with views to the sea and horizon in the distance as well as an attractive ensuite tucked into the eaves that has a charming wood panelled sloping ceiling.
The master also has an ensuite walk-in wardrobe dressing room that is currently being used as a home office.
If the size of the new owner's clothes and shoe collection demands this room be reinstated into a wardrobe and dressing area, then there is scope to either maybe rework the large utility and cloakroom spaces downstairs to maybe include a partitioned office area.
Or why not bag one of the hidden corners in the garden for a cute wooden cabin as an office, if working from home facilities are imperative? Surrounded by the beautiful cottage garden, you will either be inspired or distracted.
And then, when the work is done, it's off to the beach at the end of the street to call on the sandy neighbour who is always at home and always a welcome addition to the day.
Longcroft in Horton, Gower is for sale for offers over £800,000 with Fine & Country Swansea, call them on 01792 367301 to find out more.
