The house is entered through a lobby with hanging space for outdoor clothes. From here a door leads into a small entrance hall where the deep terracotta coloured walls are lit by white lantern style wall lights.
The galley-type kitchen has the original slate floor and this is complemented by sparkling white units and bottle green tiles. On the opposite side of the hall there is a utilities room which houses a boiler and cleaning equipment. It is useful storage space.
The large high-ceilinged dining room has several ‘café’ type tables which can be arranged to suit various requirements. The tall Georgian windows look out onto a rather austere view of one of the fort’s stone walls.
The bathroom is on the ground floor has the usual facilities and a shower over the bath. Quite recently, a very unusual period fireplace was discovered. It had been concealed for many years behind plaster boarding.
Open fires tend to make parties feel comfortable and at home and the sitting room in Tower House has a splendid fireplace with a marble hearth. There is an upright piano which, if treated with respect, visitors are welcome to play.
On the ground floor, next to the dining room, there is a bedroom with a single bed. Under-the-bed drawers provide storage space and there are hooks for hanging. Though diminutive in size, the gold and turquoise décor is delightful. This room is often chosen by an older member of the party because of the ease of access to all the facilities.
A rather narrow and twisting staircase leads to an attractively decorated landing. Ahead lies a small double bed room with stripped pine floors, a wash-basin and old fashioned bedroom fireplace.
The other door on the landing opens into a large dormitory room with four single beds. It has an old fashioned charm but a modern feel, with blue and white designer guild wallpaper, striped bedding and soft dark blue bedspreads. There is a washbasin and fireplace. At the far end of this bedroom a doorway leads into a double-bedded room where golden colours give a feeling of warmth and welcome.
All three bedrooms have stripped pine floors, low ceilings and low, small-paned windows. These overlook the tower and a cobbled corner of the courtyard. The sundial on the tower reads ‘Sun time of Belan Fort slow of Greenwich 17 minutes.
The Fort was initially garrisoned by Lord Newborough’s own troops and still remains today very much as originally built. Belan was drawn back into the fray during the Second World War when it was occupied by all three services with the Royal Air Force especially dominating the scene by its use of what is now called Caernarfon Airport, which lies some mile and a half away.
