The Welsh Gatehouse

South Wales Monmouthshire Chepstow

  • From £150 a night
  • Sleeps 2
  • Castle
  • Cottage

Availability Calendar

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February 2025

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A romantic and historic self-catering cottage near Chepstow and the Wye Valley

The Welsh Gatehouse is a holiday home with twin towers, turrets, and a Grade II* listing. Book a stay and you’ll feel like the king of the castle, except there’s no one to wait on you here. This is a self-catering place to stay, which means you’ll have these age-old walls to yourselves – and, as it’s just for two, it’s as romantic as it is historic. This place almost certainly predates every other holiday home you’ve stayed in, having been built more than 700 years ago. To put it in context, that’s just 200 years after nearby Chepstow Castle and two centuries before Henry VIII was born.

To arrive, you drive up the long(ish) driveway, where you will find the huge wooden doors that lead into the Courtyard Garden. These are mostly kept closed, but you're invited to duck through the smaller inset door. Go round the corner to the left, and there's your front door. You'll ascend up the spiral staircase. So far, so medieval, but enter the first-floor living space and you’ll see a combination of old and new.

Exposed stonework, beams, and diamond leaded windows with original glass were carefully retained in the renovation of the gatehouse, but modern amenities have been added, too. Some, like the log-burning stove, feel totally in keeping. Others, like the kitchen and mezzanine bedroom, are contemporary, but still somehow fit in. The big surprise is how cosy and homely a 13th-century gatehouse can feel: the building itself is certainly dramatic, and the same word could be applied to the regally coloured red and gold curtains that hang down two storeys from the highest point of this open-plan room. The biggest drama of all is even higher than that – you can access one of the gatehouse towers for spectacular views, including sunsets over the green countryside of Monmouthshire, and both the old and new Severn Bridges. Needless to say, it’s a popular spot for proposals.

It's certainly a romantic place to stay, and you’ll feel its loved-up vibes even more in the evenings when the log burner creates a warm glow, or when you sit outside in the pretty garden after a meal at the nearby Millers Arms. The area can be pretty magical, too. The Welsh Gatehouse is four miles from Chepstow, where there are medieval walls and a clifftop castle overlooking the River Wye. It sits at the southern end of the beautiful Wye Valley, not far from the enchanting riverside ruins of Tintern Abbey, all of which are lovely places to explore on walks or from the water.

Details

Facilities

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger for your car.  One double bed. Wifi.  Smart TV.  Welcome basket. Toiletries. Bathroom Robes. JKey safe so you can arrive any time of the afternoon or evening.  Lovely garden to sit out it. Bench, sun lounger and barbecue equipment available.   

Suitable For

No pets. Not suitable for people who struggle with steps.  Bring 2 small bags rather than a large suitcase, as there is a stone spiral staircase to enter to property. 

Nearby

St Pierre Golf Course is next door.  Chepstow Castle is nearby.  Chepstow Racecourse is very close. Tintern Abbey. The hidden gem is Wye Valley. Bristol, Bath, Monmouth and Cardiff are all a short drive away.

Food & Drink

Pub in walking distance (8 minutes walk) that serves food (The Millers Arms). Walks from the door (the Mathern Mill Fishery - Fishing Ponds are lovely to walk around). 

Open

All year.

Pricing

From £150 a night, £1050 a week. It gets cheaper the longer you stay. One night in low season costs £220, and £265 for one night in high season.

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The Owner Says

The Welsh Gatehouse offers a unique and enchanting escape, perfect for romantic holidays. Built in 1270, this beautifully preserved medieval tower weaves centuries of history into every stone arch and timber beam. Yet inside, you’ll find all the warmth and comfort of modern living—from excellent heating to a cosy, comfortable sofa and luxurious touches throughout. It’s a rare blend of heritage and indulgence, where you can step back in time without sacrificing ease. Ideal for couples seeking atmosphere, seclusion, and a storybook setting to relax and reconnect.  Like living in a fairytale castle.

Location

Contact Website  01291 63 880 6  The Welsh Gatehouse, Mathern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 6HZ

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Getting There

Leave the M48 after crossing the Severn at junction 2. Head towards Chepstow on the A466, then towards Caerwent on the A48. After one mile, turn left towards Mathern and just before the village turn right onto the drive for The Welsh Gatehouse. Chepstow Station is less than three miles away. From London, change at Newport (South Wales) to reach it.

Features

  • BBQs
  • Bed Linen Provided
  • Car-Charging Points
  • Coffee/Tea Facilities
  • Electricity
  • Gardens & Grounds
  • Hairdryer
  • Iron & Board
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave
  • Open Fire
  • Parking
  • Private Bathroom
  • Private Kitchen
  • Private Rooms
  • Smart TV
  • Terrace
  • Washing Machine
  • Wifi

Looking For...

  • Adults Only
  • Exclusive Hire
  • Historic
  • Romantic Retreat
  • Sensational Views
  • Short Walk to the Pub
  • Something Different
  • Walking

Related Guides

See Self Catering in Monmouthshire

Reviews

Let us know what you think of your stay.

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Rated ★★★★★ over 10 reviews

★★★★★

Unique experience

This is a wonderful property and is a unique experience. Very clear and helpful instructions on how to find the place and how to do self check-in. The apartment looks spectacular and you immediately experience the feeling of being in a castle. The kitchen is well-equipped for a self-catering stay and even has an air fryer. The village of Mathern doesn’t have any shops that we saw, but there is a pub (The Millers Arms) an easy 8 minute stroll away which serves great food and has lovely friendly staff. Otherwise it is not far to drive to Chepstow for supplies. We appreciated the wine, chocolate, bread and jam supplied. The stairs up to the accommodation are narrow and very steep, and therefore this place is not suitable for some elderly people or anyone with mobility issues. Within the apartment there are also steep stairs leading to the bed on the mezzanine level. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Gate House and we can honestly say we have never stayed anywhere like it.
May 20, 2025 by Denise
★★★★★

Outstanding

We stayed while exploring southern Wales and the Wye Valley. Great location, beautiful property. The room itself is charming, especially after touring local castles and ruins. FYI, the stairs are quite steep and the bed is a loft. Owners' attention to detail is impressive. An amazing experience from start to finish. Highly recommend both the Gatehouse and southern Wales!
May 10, 2025 by Stephen
★★★★★

Magical

We had a wonderful long weekend at the Gatehouse. It is genuinely as stunning as it looks in the photos! It is also very comfortable and well-equipped, with everything we could need, and some extra luxuries such as dressing gowns, and a lovely welcome basket when we arrived ( we very much enjoyed the Welshcakes!). The location is very private and peaceful, but only a few minutes' walk from an excellent pub, the Miller's Arms, which serves great food. It's a 20-minute walk from a bus stop with half-hourly buses into Chepstow, or you can walk to Chepstow from the Gatehouse in 45 minutes or so, so it's accessible even if you don't have a car, like us. It's an absolutely magical place to stay; you will never regret booking it!
Apr 11, 2025 by Lizz
★★★★★

We'll be back

Absolutely lovely place for a weekend away from the noise, will be back again!
Apr 11, 2025 by Aleksander
★★★★★

The best place we have ever stayed in

It is a while since I stayed in the Welsh Gatehouse, and I have been meaning to write a review. Everything they say on their website is true, and the reality of staying there is even better than the photos on their website. Historic, romantic, unique. Includes a wood burning stove for winter when we went (it's lovely and warm), and there is a garden and barbecue for people staying in summer. The kitchen is really well equipped - we used the air fryer a lot. The electric vehicle charging point is a must for some people. The pub is within 10 minutes walking distance. Highly highly recommend this 13th century Gatehouse. NB I learnt that for best prices go direct to their website - they have a calendar so you can check availability, and a system that allows you to book straight away online.
Feb 6, 2025 by Sandy
★★★★★

Would recommend to everyone

Beautiful, well equipped, and a very special experience. Thank you for an amazing stay.
Jan 24, 2025 by Joseph
★★★★★

Highly recommended. Steeped in history yet really comfortable and warm

I visited the Welsh Gatehouse in the middle of a really cold spell, and we were toasty warm. Sitting in front of the wood burning stove was a delight in the evenings. They had some DVD's for us to watch too. But the main thing is the history. This is such an unusual place and we had everything we needed to have a luxury and comfortable stay. It was also really quiet there. Thoroughly recommended, and we will be back. The Wye Valley is utterly beautiful - a newly discovered treasure for us. Juliet also runs excellent workshops, and it was that that made me aware of the Welsh Gatehouse.
Jan 8, 2025 by Jennifer
★★★★★

Would definitely recommend!

We stayed here for my partner's birthday in November. Great sense of history, enjoyed a roaring fire and a comfortable bed.
Nov 26, 2024 by Viv
★★★★★

A charming place with so much history

We had a lovely stay at the Welsh gatehouse, a really charming place with so much history! We also appreciated the thoughtful welcome basket from the hosts. Wish we could have stayed longer and will definitely be back!
Oct 26, 2024 by Charlotte
★★★★★

We couldn’t have asked for anything more!

We stayed over the August bank holiday - it was so easy to find, the gatehouse was truly amazing Very clean & well maintained All the information was very helpful
Aug 31, 2024 by Tara

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