The Bluebells are out in their full glory at the moment, and we decided to join them to celebrate Dawn Chorus Day this weekend, camping out in the woods to catch the earliest risers.
It was quite a show, starting here at 4.20am with Redstarts and gently rising to a full cacophony of well over 20 different species of bird in that part of the woodland. A stunning start to the day!
Summer availability…
We wanted to let you know that we have availability for weekends and mid-week breaks as we enter the summer months – and if you are still looking for a week away in the summer holidays with the family or loved ones we currently have some availability for week bookings. Check availability and book on our website.
It was great to hear the Golden Valley featuring on BBC Radio 4’s Open Country recently.
They visit a number of our local favourite spots and explored the Golden Valley Pilgrimage Way that passes through our immediate neighbourhood.
It reminded us of just how many adventures there are to be had during stays in The Barn…
There are 48 acres of wildlife rich hillside and woodland on your doorstep to explore for starters, with streams and views to enjoy at every turn, and plenty of snoozing, reading, picnic, campfire and den-building opportunities (and if you want to camp out literally under the stars we’ll happily lend you our tree hammocks or bivvy bags for a fully connected outdoor experience*.
Start relaxing and you might not feel the urge to leave the immediate site of Garn Farm, and that is fine by us (we often measure the success of a holiday by how little we have to leave each day!).
Head down the hill for sustenance, with three local pubs to walk to, local ice cream and cider tasting, and probably the best stocked local shop, Hopes of Longtown, in the world.
Lots of mini adventures are there to be had too. Paddling in the river at Clodock or exploring the castle remains in Longtown. The wider Black Mountains and Golden Valley provide outstanding walking and castle trails, as well as wild swimming, biking and pony trekking. There are opportunities for gentle walks with not much hill climbing, to the much more adventurous and challenging!
For those looking for pavements Hay on Wye, Abergavenny and Hereford are all within easy reach with their shops, cafes and art centres.
There are also massage, yoga and reflexology available locally, plus co-host Polly is a qualified counsellor providing in person and online therapy, so you can now also take advantage of pre-booked counselling sessions during your stay (and online both before and afterwards).
Details and further suggestions for adventures, walks and places to eat are provided in the folder in The Barn and also on our website – and as some pubs and restaurants and activities require pre-booking we provide all the details for you to plan your time here.
*sleep not guaranteed!
