The peaceful and tranquil waters off Ardlamont Estate are probably the least likely of moorings for one of the 'Little Ships' immortalised by their exploits in evacuating the Allied Army from Dunkirk in 1940.

But the MY Llanthony, which made numerous Channel crossing under intensive enemy fire and evacuated 500 weary and wounded soldiers, is part of Ardlamont's extensive offering to guests.

The 77ft steel-hulled yacht has been lovingly restored to its former glory.

It was built for a Mr Beaumont Thomas, a steel baron in the Welsh valleys, who was an MP in London, and she was his pride and joy before being commandeered for Dunkirk duties.

After the war, MY Llanthony was purchased by Lord and Lady Astor of Hever Castle.

The Llanthony which like the other surviving Little Ships is entitled to fly the White Ensign, is available for charter, and for weddings, 21sts and other special occasions.

It can sleep up to ten people and is available for charters of two and three days, or by the week.

Anyone stepping on board will immediately feel the sense of history, although it is hard to imagine now how badly beaten up and bullet hole ridden she was when she limped into Ramsgate after her last crossing from Dunkirk.

Rear-Admiral Robert W. Timbrell of the Royal Canadian Navy (retired) was a newly fledged Sub Lieutenant stationed at Whale Island in Ramsgate when he was summoned to take command of the Llanthony in 1940.

His dramatic account of the Llanthony's adventure concludes by noting that the ship was in such bad repair after its adventures that he found it hard to get anyone to take her off his hands.

The present owner found the Llanthony in 1995, languishing in Rhodes harbour in an extremely dilapidated state.

The yacht has been lovingly restored with all her original fittings, and returned to British waters to take pride of place in the Diamond Anniversary Reunion of the Little Ships in the year 2,000.

Her Wartime Captain Robert Timbrell met his Little Ship in Dunkirk and sailed her back to Ramsgate. He was accompanied by his daughter. The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships had flown Rear Admiral Timbrell back from Canada to undertake the historic voyage at the age of 82. He died in 2006 at the age of 86.