A historic tract of upland in the Cambrian Mountains known has Blaen Mwryo has been launched on the market for offeres in excess of £245,000, including the sporting and mineral rights.
The land was once part of the monastic estate of Strata Florida Abbey, near the village of Pontrhydfendigaid, which was founded in 1164 by Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of South Wales and dissolved in 1539. Much of the monastic estate was subsequently acquired from the Crown by the Vaughan family of Trawsgoed, the present owners.
The land area rises to a height of 525 metres at Crug Gynon, an ancient cairn, and has outstanding views west towards the Welsh coast and northwards over Llyn Gynon, toward the Elan Valley lakes. The landscape is gently undulating with a mixture of grassland and heath on the drier knolls, while the wetland boggy areas have a wide variety of flora and fauna including, bilberry, cowberry, sundews and sphagnum mosses. This is a habitat rich in wildlife and, for the sportsman, there are a few black grouse, as well as hare snipe and the occasional roe deer.
An additional area of sporting rights may also be available and there is considerable scope for the development of renewable energy schemes. Based on the current designation, part of the site is believed to have capacity to accommodate 15 wind turbines in the range 2 to 3 MW.
James Prewett of Knight Frank (01285 659771) says: ‘This is a highly unusual opportunity for a buyer to acquire the freehold of what amounts to a small upland estate of 790 acres for a price guided at less than a one-bedroom London flat. While the grazing rights are owned by a sole third party, there is potential to improve the sporting and to simply enjoy the pride of ownership of what is a remarkably beautiful and unspoilt part of the country.’