There and back again: Hobbit holes for holidaymakers to be built in Wales

Elgan Hearn, local democracy reporter

Holiday accommodation fit for both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins as well as Gandalf, can be built near Llanrhaeadr-yn-Mochnant.

The Morris family have been successful with their planning application for two “Hobbit houses” with the associated infrastructure at Trewern farm to the east of the village.

There they have a 320-acre sheep and dairy cattle farm.

Powys County Council (PCC) Planning officer, Rhys Evans, explained that the council’s Built Heritage officer and the Welsh Government historic environment service Cadw, had been consulted as part of the process.

This is because, the Trewern farmhouse is a Grade II listed building, and the application site is one kilometre from the scheduled ancient monument of “Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch”.

Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch was the site for a wooden motte and bailey castle during the 12th century.

Mr Evans said: “Cadw have been consulted on the proposed development and have raised no objection in terms of impacts upon the assets.”

He said that there is vegetation and buildings which would screen off the development from the farmhouse and castle site.

Mr Evans added:  “The proposed development complies with relevant planning policy and the recommendation is one of conditional consent.”

Tourism

Agent, Richard Corbett had explained that the family wanted to offer a “unique holiday experience” allowing visitors to relax and escape, while having tourist attractions nearby.

Mr Corbett said “They realise the need to diversify due to the unpredictable dairy market.

“Tourism in Powys helps to support other industries such as agriculture, crafts and local services.

“Although only a small site, it will contribute to the local economy from the construction stage through to bringing visitors to the area.”

Created by the academic and fantasy novelist, JRR Tolkien, Hobbits are a race resembling very short humans, who live in underground houses in a part of Middle-Earth known as The Shire.

Bilbo Baggins is the main character in The Hobbit also called There and Back Again – where he  is selected by the wizard Gandalf to help a dwarf King and his band of warriors re-claim their ancestral home and treasure from a dragon.

The much darker Lord of the Rings has  Frodo as the protagonist and his quest is to take the ring he inherits from his Uncle Bilbo, to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor, and save Middle-Earth from the evil Sauron.

The ring which Bilbo found during his adventure, grants the wearer invisibility, but was made by the  Sauron to control the other rings of power made to dominate the peoples of Middle Earth.