Welsh Marches Cottages

11/11/2024

On this Armistice Day as we remember those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom bare a thought for the 861 people who died on the last day of the First World War as the guns went silent on the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month 1918.
Among them was Able Seaman Richard Morgan who is buried in our local Church at Kilgwrrwg. At the age of just 26 he drown at sea off the coast of Plymouth on that day of victory and celebration.
His gravestone is in the circular land surrounding the Church of the Holy Cross. It has been described as the most remote church in Wales sitting as it does on the top of a hill surrounded by meadows on all sides. It is a very special place and if you stay in the holiday cottages at Upper Glyn Farm I recommend a walk over the ridge above us and down into the plain below to visit. About 40 minutes there and an alternative route back up the only road out. A step back in time and a fitting resting place for a local young man who lost his life on the last day of the war.

03/11/2024

This is the tenth year that our kitchen at Upper Glyn Farm has been taken over for cider making by our son Tom, his partner Grace and friends. The enterprise has grown over the years and new equipment has taken production to a new level. This year’s vintage has been called Scrat Summer Cider. They’ve picked, processed and bottled 20-25 litres.
It will be ready by Christmas. Let’s hope it’s a good year

26/10/2024

It is four months today that we started generating and exporting electricity from the 120 solar panels erected in the corner of one of our fields at Upper Glyn Farm. Since late May they have provided power for our Welsh Marches holiday cottages, the stables and farm buildings, our multimedia business offices, farmhouse and five electric charging points. Excess electricity is stored in a bank of ten batteries for use at night or on dull days. The rest is exported to the National Grid. In 4 months we have exported just shy of 20,000 KWH and taken just 2,500 KWH.
It has been hard work going through all the hoops to get here but today the sun is smiling and so am I

25/10/2024

The fine art and science of creating Sloe Glyn Gyn at Upper Glyn Farm and the Welsh Marches Cottages. These plump beauties where picked at a secret location in Monmouthshire by son Tom, his partner Grace and me. 5.65 kilograms of them.
First you freeze them to simulate a frost. The berries are placed in sterilised jars with castor sugar and Lidl’s finest London gin. I guess the proportions but it’s about 250g sugar to 450g berries and 1 litre of gin. I used 5.6 litres of gin in total.
Shake regularly for a few days to dissolve the sugar and help the fruit start to soak out its flavour. Put in a cupboard for the next two months, turning a few times a week.
First batch will be ready by Christmas but the rest will continue to mature and infuse until next summer by which time it will be like a thick liquor.
Only had a tiny drop of last year’s sloe gin left and two bottles of damson gin.
Thought I’d finish the sloe to celebrate making the next batch. Cheers

21/10/2024

Delighted to say our lovely wildlife pond in the Glyn Valley is full again after some clever wizardry by Ed the Pond who maintains it for us. Basically it was leaking and filling with sludge so he was continually having to dredge it. He has fixed the dam and installed pipes which divert flood water from the pond and into the rapids so silt is diverted too. Clever stuff. Our little rapids have pools up which brown trout could jump. In the summer at low flow the pond will remain full for the many pond plants we have established.
Even in mid October we are still see dragon and damsal flies hovering about.
We have exciting plans to develop the area further but getting the pond right was the first step. Big thanks to Ed the Pond for his expertise

18/10/2024

13/10/2024

Grandson Toren showing Teddy and mum Sarah round our Chicken and duck enclosure . The family are staying in our Sugar Loaf Cottage

12/10/2024

A big thank you to Ben for our latest Airbnb review. So pleased you enjoyed your stay so much.
“Such a perfect place for us and our four dogs. Great walks close by and also close distance to other popular walks and routes.
scenic views, quiet and peaceful…could not have asked for a better place to stay.
Great walks only 2 minutes from the location for allowing the hogs to run free and safely.
Dog wash was perfect with our four adventurous dogs who like to dive in the mud, a great facility that you don’t find everywhere.
John recommended walks and places for food once we described our plans. Hunter’s Moon was great near Abergavenny, a cute local village pub that has the best food, absolutely recommend.
Thank you John, an amazing host and great place. “
You are so welcome Ben and Laura. The Hunter’s Moon do a fantastic Sunday Lunch. If you are a walker, climb the Skirrid mountain nearby in the morning and go there for lunch. But book as it’s very popular because it’s so good.
Absolute top tip if you are staying with us.
Try the Robinson Cider too. It is sooooo goooood.

11/10/2024

Delighted to report that we continue our Superhost status with Airbnb after another quarter of 5 Star reviews. I’ve posted a few images that give you a taste of why guests love to stay at the Welsh Marches Cottages on the edge of the Wye Valley close to Tintern and Chepstow.
The first three images are of our three bedroom Sugar Loaf Cottage. Then there’s a few of the one bedroom Skirrid and the one bedroom Blorenge with its wonderful wet room shower.
And out of the window of all three guests see horses grazing in the field opposite with the Glyn Valley and Kilgwrrwg ridge beyond.

09/10/2024

I thought I’d show you what the new temporary dog enclosure looks like at the Sugar Loaf Cottage. The model is my cocker spaniel Smudge.
It worked a treat for the Skirrid last week and it can be reassembled there for those that want it and also for guests staying at the the Sugar Loaf. One of our guests over Christmas has already requested it for her dogs.
The beauty of the enclosure is that when it is not needed it can be put away so guests can move easily from the terraces outside the cottages onto the lawn beyond.
The third of our cottages, the Blorenge has its own permanent enclosed area off the back door with views across the Valley.
Flexible and easy.

06/10/2024

Ten years ago Tim, Clive and me finished the National Three peaks in under 24 hours in our 50th, 60th and 70th years. Today we climbed the Sugar Loaf mountain on our 60th, 70th and 80th years. Clive, the oldest of us, is an inspiration and I want to be like him when I grow up!
It might have been wet, with no visibility but our 4 hours up to the summit and back from Llanbedr was a joy. Long may it continue.

03/10/2024

Ben and Laura Collis from Cornwall and their four dogs are our first guests to use our new temporary enclosure at the Welsh Marches Cottages. The Skirrid and Sugar Loaf Cottages open onto a grass area and track, and some of the many guests who stay with us with dogs have requested an enclosed space to contain their pets. So we listened and now we have these interlocking wire panels to put up on request.
Odin the Pointer and Spaniels Rudi, Ralph and Rocky seem to have appreciated the space and the freedom it gives them.
The couple are here to celebrate Laura’s birthday and they have already completed a hike around Symonds Yat.
“If you had not got the enclosure we won’t have been able to book” they told me.
“It’s big enough for the four of them. It’s a great area for them to chill”
They said they love the openness that the Skirrid cottage gives them “it is an ideal location” said Laura enjoying the autumn sunshine, “ beautiful and quiet “
Tomorrow they are off to explore the waterfalls in the western side of the Brecon Beacons.
Happy Birthday Laura

29/09/2024

We named one of our cottages the Skirrid because it is one of my favourite local mountains. I walked up it today with a couple of friends from Llanvihangel Crucorney across the fields. Wonderful views as ever with the Sugar Loaf prominent, another mountain we called one of our Welsh Marches cottages after. Many guests staying in the Skirrid have walked it during their stay. Our tip for a drink and a meal afterwards is to visit the Hunter’s Moon Pub in nearby Llangattock Lingoed. A wonderful Sunday lunch washed down with a pint of Robinson’s Cider. Highlights of the vegetable sides purée parsnips and Brussels sprouts with bacon and almond flakes. Delicious.

28/09/2024

🏡✨ Discover The Sugar Loaf: a luxurious 5-star cottage in Monmouthshire! With three en-suite bedrooms, including a master suite with a king-sized bed and bath, plus stunning Glyn Valley views, it's the ultimate self-catering retreat. Opened in 2019, this gem offers unmatched comfort and style. Book your stay today! 🌄🌟

25/09/2024

One of the joys of offering shiatsu sessions for guests staying at the Welsh Marches Cottages is that often it is their first experience of this touch therapy with its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japan. I’ve been a practitioner for 25 years.
A recent guest who stayed in our Skirrid Cottage was a woman with the delightful first name of Rosebud. Here’s what she thought of the session “
‘I am so grateful I was able to experience a shiatsu session with John. I have been curious about shiatsu for a long time, and it was meant to be to wait and receive my first session from John. I learnt so much about the practice in the short time I had, and received an amazing session that helped me feel more grounded, and release an injury I have been holding for some time. I look forward to returning for another session as soon as time allows. Thank you John for your guidance, time and energy.“

17/09/2024

Some of the first people to make use of my new Shiatsu space was a family who stayed in our Sugar Loaf cottage for a week. Mum, Dad, daughter and new mum, and her husband. All four had a shiatsu session through one day and mum and daughter came back for another one each before they left.
Mum , Liz, kindly sent me this review:

“Our visit to Welsh Marches was made even more enjoyable by the opportunity for the whole family to enjoy shiatsu treatments from John. We found the treatments both enjoyable and also very effective. I found that two persistent problems with my hip and shoulder were very much improved by the treatments; before the first treatment I had been somewhat struggling with the rather hilly walking, but the treatments allowed me to stride out and really enjoy the following days. Thoroughly recommended”
Guests at the cottages can book a discounted session during their stay. John is also taking private bookings for anyone interested in trying this amazing touch therapy based on Traditional Chinese Medicine akin to acupuncture but without the needles!

15/09/2024

My Shiatsu room is ready. I’ve been a Shiatsu practitioner for 25 years and this was the space I used when I was training and first started practicing. Now I’m back in the oldest part of the farmhouse - the stone spiral staircase is still in the corner. Now I’ve retired from the day to day running of the business I am building up my shiatsu clients again including offering shiatsu sessions to our guests in the Welsh Marches cottages.
The cottages are a haven of relaxation anyway but a shiatsu experience takes it to another level

08/03/2022

We have the sam policy at Welsh Marches

BEST DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL SIGN! 🤣😂😅