Drovers Retreat 4-star Secluded Self-catering Eco Cottage in Welsh Borders

Drovers Retreat is our sympathetically converted and eco stone barn at Graig Farm, in the Welsh Border country. It offers beautiful 4-star self-catering accommodation for up to four people. A travel cot and high chair are also available.

Ideal for couples, families, nature-lovers, walkers, cyclists and dog-lovers.

Drovers Retreat lies above a medieval Drovers road, a few hundred yards from a Roman road.

Feel close to this history and wide landscape. You can walk or cycle the green lanes, forest tracks and footpaths; listen to the sounds of nature and livestock, or just breathe the clear upland air. Red kites and buzzards circle above on the thermals with their evocative cries, whilst sheep graze in the fields below.

Enjoy our own Drovers Woodland walk, where you can unpeel the history, whilst children and dogs can explore the regenerating wild area.

Relax and unwind to soak up the majesty of nature at our secluded and unique location, whilst still enjoying all the 4-star family luxury and conveniences you require. Then explore the local market towns and picturesque villages of the Welsh Borders- there’s more going on than you may think!

This is Welsh Border Country at its natural, idyllic best.

ROOMS
Drovers sleeps up to 4. All rooms lead from the spacious living and dining room; these comprise a kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms - 1 double, 1 twin. 
The impressive living room, with vaulted ceiling, beams and original flagstones, has a dining area, Freeview tv, cd player, radio and a selection of games and reading material.
The whole building is well insulated, cool in summer behind the stone walls and extra cosy in a Welsh winter, with the log burner for added comfort. 
A refurbished butler sink sits happily in the traditional farm kitchen which is fully equipped with electric hob and oven, under-worktop fridge/freezer, plus additional freezer, washing machine, and dishwasher. There is an energy-efficient electric clothes drier, perfect for damp coats or a full wash.
 The bathroom has a thermostatic shower, and a large bath, heated towel rail and Victorian-style wash basin and wc. There is an electric shaving point and a hairdryer. 
Flagstones can be cold and hard, so we provide 'Flag-flop slippers' for your comfort and use during your stay
Drovers Retreat is a no-smoking property.

GAMES ROOM
The adjoining original stone and timber barn is a wet weather haven with table football, snooker, darts and plenty of space.

SUMMARY OF FACILITIES AT DROVERS RETREAT

FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN
oven
hob
fridge/freezer
freezer
dishwasher
washing machine
electric clothes drier (plus outside washing line and pegs)
electric iron + ironing board
toaster
microwave
cafetière
full crockery and cutlery
original flagstone floor
Electric radiator

BATHROOM
bath
shower
wc
basin
heated towel rail
sets of towels
hairdryer

BEDROOM 1
double bed (4'6" - 1.37m)
vintage wardrobe with mirror
bedside tables and lights
duck feather and down or anti-allergy micro-fibre pillows
duck feather and down duvet
luxurious cotton mattress and pillow protectors
slippers
oak floor
electric radiator

BEDROOM 2
two twin beds (3' - 0.9m)
vintage dressing table with mirror
bedside tables and lights
duck feather and down or anti-allergy micro-fibre pillows
duck feather and down duvet
luxurious cotton mattress and pillow protectors
slippers
oak floor
electric radiator

LIVING ROOM
three lounge chairs
log burner (first basket of logs free)
original flagstone floor
vintage sideboard
vintage dining table with 6 dining chairs
wall mirror
bookcase with selection of books and games
flatscreen tv with Freesat channels
DVD player
radio/CD player
2 electric radiators

INFANT FACILITIES
high chair available on request
infant travel cot available on request

GAMES/WET DAY BARN
large, traditional stone and timber barn connects from kitchen
Table football, snooker and darts available

DOGS
We welcome up to two well-behaved dogs for an extra charge (£25/dog/visit - payable after arrival), but please keep them off beds and furniture. We are surrounded by sheep farms, so please keep your dogs under strict control, both on our farm and out and about locally.
We supply a large dog bed, and stainless steel food and water bowls.
Our woodland area is a great place to let the dog (and children) exercise.

GENERAL FACILITIES
Welcome Pack of: Welsh Cakes, milk, tea, coffee, sugar, wine
Free 4G Wi-Fi (based on mobile signal, with download limited to 14GB/week)
good 4G mobile phone signal for EE
pure spring water, treated with uv filter
100% renewable electricity from Ecotricity
access to private woodland area, and private right of way to Radnor Forest
BBQ facilities
outside furniture - bench, table and two wooden chairs
Weatherproof, secure storage for bicycles
washing line
large car park
smoke detectors
carbon monoxide detectors
fire sprinklers
Drovers Retreat is a No Smoking establishment

NEARBY FACILITIES
horse riding stables (1/4 mile)
pub (2 miles)
petrol station, cashpoint and Nisa store (5 miles)
Heart of Wales Line railway station (2 miles)
market towns of Llandrindod Wells and Knighton (both 10 miles)
Overwhelmingly, visitors to the farm comment on the peace and tranquility. Set well away from the main road, Drovers Retreat backs onto a wooded valley with a stream. it is a perfect place to escape the stresses of the modern world without compromising on comforts. We live in the farmhouse, tucked away at the far end of the yard and are here to help and advise when needed but otherwise you can easily feel you are the only people for miles.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
A couple of local pubs (2 and 4 miles) are great for a drink, whilst several first class eating places are about 30 minutes away, including the Harp Inn at Old Radnor.
Local visitor attractions include the Elan Valley dams and reservoirs, which supply Birmingham's water; Presteigne's Judges Lodgings enable you to experience a Victorian courtroom, complete with cells; and of course, superb walks in all directions from Drovers Retreat.
The gloriously picturesque Heart of Wales railway line has a station 2 miles away at Dolau. Head north towards Shrewsbury, or south towards south Wales and Swansea, through some of the most beautiful and unspoilt countryside in Britain.
Eight miles east and you are across Offa's Dyke into England, with its pretty Black and White villages, and market towns. Head west towards the Cambrian Mountains, and the most spectacular scenery. The Brecon Beacons are not far away. Everywhere is walking country, and castles, country pubs and picturesque market towns await you either side of the Wales/England Border.
There are many attractive small towns within easy access, including Knighton (10 miles), Llandrindod Wells (10 miles), Presteigne (12 miles), and Rhayader (14 miles). Many of the market towns on the Welsh/English border are picturesque and full of interest. Places such as Ludlow (29 miles) and Leominster (26 miles) were developed on the wealth of the Medieval wool trade. Hay-on-Wye (30 miles), famed for its annual book festival, and its many second-hand book shops is about 40 minutes away.
The nearest seaside is at Aberystwyth (55 miles). For larger towns, we are about equi-distant from Hereford (39 miles) and Shrewsbury (44 miles), both an hour or so away.

KNIGHTON
Known as the Town on the Dyke, Knighton boasts the Offa's Dyke Visitor's Centre.
A traditional Border Country market town, Knighton, which straddles the English/Welsh border, is certainly worth a visit. A busy livestock market, as well as a Community Market, with plenty of local produce, independent shops and some great coffee shops are amongst its attractions. If you haven't been to a livestock auction, Knighton's is well worth a visit. There are auctions every Thursday (Finished Lambs and Cull Ewes) and the first and third Friday in every month – Store Cattle and Store Sheep.

LLANDRINDOD WELLS
Some of the Victorian architecture of Llandrindod Wells
Llandrindod Wells (known locally as Lllandod), developed as a Victorian Spa town. The legacy of this is some fine Victorian architecture. Now the County Town of Powys, it hosts the main Powys County Council buildings.
The town developed from the mid-19th century as a fashionable spa around its mineral springs, which can still be taken today. This was boosted by the arrival of the railway in 1862, which gave visitors an easy way to access the town. The railway also remains, and the Heart of Wales line connects Swansea with Shrewsbury, and is one of the country's most scenic routes. One station, Dolau, lies just over 2 miles from Drovers Retreat.

PRESTEIGNE
The one-time capital of the old county of Radnorshire, Presteigne is an attractive Border town, with plenty of activity.
Together with many independent shops, cafes and restaurants, Presteigne is worth visiting for the Judges Lodgings, with the audio conducted tours, ending up in the dock of the old courthouse.

RHAYADER
The series of dams which supply Birmingham with its water are just outside the small town of Rhayader at the Elan Valley. A fantastic engineering feat of the late 19th century and early 20th century, at close quarters the dams are staggering.