If you want a character home in an area that has become famous over the decades for being absolutely gorgeous, then maybe a converted stone building nestled within a pretty village in a stunning valley is your perfect property combination.
This visually-engaging former school house is a lesson in how to transform a period property that oozes charm from a practical former life into a welcoming and wonderful home.
And when school is out, the surrounding countryside offers some of the best and most unique outdoor experiences in Wales, so getting bored of the location is never going to happen.
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The beautiful Wye Valley is one of Wales' most stunning, landmark locations, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This world-famous slice of Welsh countryside in Monmouthshire is a centre for and base to explore the area and its abundance of culture and castles, stunning scenery and water sports, plus many attractive and bustling nearby market towns.
It could be argued that the pretty village of Tintern, that hugs the mighty River Wye as it meanders south, is one of the most famous of the places within the valley to call home.
As well as the breathtaking scenery, the village is the site of one of the UK's most iconic ruins; Tintern Abbey.
Described by Cadw as a national icon, Tintern Abbey was established in 1131 by Cistercian monks but it wasn't until 1269 that one of the masterpieces of British Gothic architecture was designed and built.
But in 1536 the abbey suffered during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries and since then the abbey has become the romantic ruin that thousands of people are drawn to visit every year.
It is a majestic structure that towers up from the valley floor and has been inspiring visitors for centuries, including the famous painter Joseph Mallord William Turner.
According to Tate Britain, in the 1790s Turner toured around Britain looking for historical structures to inspire him and when he arrived at Tintern in 1792 the abbey captured his creative heart.
Poet William Wordsworth was also moved by the beauty of the building and the surrounding valley to create the poem in 1798 entitled Tintern Abbey.
It is mesmerising and if you move to The Old School Room in Tintern, the abbey could be your unique neighbour, literally just down the road.
Go past the abbey, after marvelling at this magnificent building, and the next lane takes you into a tiny collection of homes and each plays its important part in creating this pocket of pretty properties.
The Old School Room is a converted stone property that might have taught local children from the adjacent chapel in the past but today it teaches any visitor a lesson on converting an old building into a modern home whilst encapsulating as much of the original character and ambience as possible.
Just arriving at the pretty facade of this dream property gets the heartbeat rising, with multi-toned stonework, arched windows and a charming porchway combining to create a most characterful of welcomes.
Inside, the old school room has been allowed to breathe - the impressive double-height, vaulted ceiling and its bulky, exposed roof structure is the star of the central living room.
Of course, there is a need to create living spaces and sleeping zones within a converted property, but it needs to be balanced with not totally covering up or losing the aspects that made the building special in the first place.
Arguably, this conversion gets that balance just right.
The space includes a mezzanine level that allows access to the two bedrooms on the upper floor, as well as an extra, useful space for lounging or working, plus providing views down to the cosy living room below.
The feature stone fireplace creates a central area with seating nestled around it.
The addition of a bold colour on the chimney breast is a clever choice, demanding your eyes to travel up the structure to marvel once again at the exposed beams and ceiling above.
The dual aspect arched windows add extra character and the warm wood flooring adds visual, as well as tactile, warmth.
Up to the mezzanine level, which could be the perfect spot for a home office, and at either end there's a double bedroom to discover, with the master having its own spacious, ensuite bathroom featuring a free-standing roll-top bath.
Both bedrooms benefit from a slice of the special roof structure as the main focal point, and this also ensures the rooms feel as spacious as possible, with the ceiling height extending up to the ridge of the roof; the rooms are high rather than wide.
Back to the ground floor and this property continues to give you more space than may first appear, with the third, double bedroom found off the main living room.
This home has its unusual aspects as well as maybe not realised potential, and this extra bedroom is a good example.
This third bedroom rather uniquely actually has its own front door and entrance hall, at the far left side of the building, and next to it is a downstairs shower room.
Help with your hunt for a home here:
If a new owner fancies making their new home pay its way to a degree, then blocking up the shower room door to the lounge door and knocking through to the bedroom makes this into an ensuite slumber space.
This means you have now created a self-contained bedroom ensuite that can boast its own entrance.
Of course, any changes to the layout and to the usage of part of the home to generate income will need planning permission.
Currently this third bedroom is being used as a study and cosy snug, but the solid oak flooring and decorative fireplace ensure that whatever function a new owner decides for this room, it will be a charming space to either work, rest or play; or maybe all three.
Lastly, the kitchen diner can be found at the far end of the building, on the other side of the central lounge and is a modern take on a classic country style, boasting oak Shaker-style units and terracotta floor tiles.
The room has enough space for a sociable dining zone, as well as a classic stable door out to the garden, meaning the beautiful surroundings and fresh country air flavoured by the essence of the nearby River Wye can float in whenever required.
Outside, the school room has a pretty and low maintenance, private courtyard garden, offering various places to park your table and chairs for alfresco dining and just relaxing in the sun.
There are two parking spaces for the cars too, as well as a shed and log store.
The garden area is fully paved with areas of shingle, so there's no need to pack the lawn mower when you move and provides a private little oasis that comes with a charming home, within this stunning area of natural beauty.
The location is as tempting as the characterful property, that will surely delight you any day of any season, surrounded by woodland and riverbank walks, hill rambling and water-based activities.
Or just a stroll to the nearby pubs, cafes and village shops and get embedded into the local community, all under the watchful gaze of the mighty Tintern Abbey; it doesn't get much more unique than that.
The Old School Room is for sale for £495,000 with Arden Estates, call their Lydney branch on 01594 368202 to find out more.
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