Welsh Marches Cottages

25/01/2025

On Christmas Day last year we had a visit from a fox which got in the chicken and duck enclosure by digging up the wire. When we can back in the afternoon he or she had killed seven birds but the young ones that roost on the branches of the walnut tree escaped as did the ducks on the pond.
The girls have been traumatised every since but this week, almost a@month after the attack one has started to lay again. This is our first egg. My son Tim and I repaired the enclosure on Christmas afternoon and so far the birds have been safe .
In the last four days since we’ve had two eggs one day, and one on the other days. I’ll restock in the spring. I’ve keep chickens for forty years and it felt very strange to buy shop eggs with the lion stamp on them. Don’t taste anywhere near as good as our farm eggs.

17/01/2025

It may be mid January, cold and misty, but the first vanguards of spring are rearing their lovely white heads out of the earth.
These beautiful wild snowdrops on Upper Glyn Farm give the promise of warmer and sunnier times to come.
The daffodils and crocuses are peeping through, while the primroses wait.
Even the magnolia is gathering her resources for her magnificent display to burst forth in the early spring.
So much potential just waiting to unfold……

08/01/2025

Meet Lucky, ourJacob Cross sheep and companion, who have moved into the compound of our solar panels which provide electricity to the Welsh Marches Cottages and the rest of Upper Glyn Farm.
The 120 panels provide them with shelter and grass when the rest of the fields are looking a bit thin at this time of year. We have placed wire around the exposed cables to stop them nibbling their way through. Seems like a good trade off. They get good grass and shelter. We get two lawn mowers.
Lucky was the offspring of one of our original sheep we named Dolly. Lucky was one of twins but her sibling died. when we decided to sell our flock of about 60 sheep Lucky escaped with two others and has been living semi feral in our fields. We only get them in the shear them.
Now she has a job to do.
Lucky for us!

07/01/2025

If you are staying at the Welsh Marches Cottages and have a special occasion to celebrate then we can certainly recommend the Severn and Wye Valley Smokery on the banks of the River Severn near Westbury. There’s a fabulous fish counter and shop there too.
We visited today to celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary. We’ve been many times before and it’s always a delight. I had a very fleshy Japanese fish topped with caviar in a creamy white bean sauce while Chris started with Scallops. We both had Turbot for our main. Plus we stocked up on salmon, hake, trout, sea bass and haddock for the freezer. You won’t be disappointed

04/01/2025

Predicted snow but if the prediction is right it will be raining by midnight

24/12/2024

Christmas Eve and we are decanting the sloe gin we picked and bottled in the autumn. Lovely to complete the process with son Tom who helped pick the berries with his partner Grace on a lovely stretch of Monmouthshire country in the afternoon sun. It tastes as good as the memory. We kept back a couple of pints to carry on maturing until the Spring.
Merry Christmas to you all. Cheers from the Welsh Marches Cottages and Upper Glyn Farm x

28/11/2024

Back at the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny for their afternoon tea today. We were there to celebrate my wife’s birthday which is tomorrow with our son James, wife Lizzie and grandson Toren. There were pages of teas to try - I managed three types. I forgot to take a photo when the three tier sandwiches, savouries and cakes arrived. Chris and Lizzie are gluten free and they had two stacked three tier plates of food they could eat which looked great.
There was another plate of Christmas cake and mince pies, Sherry trifles and then warm scones with jam and cream. Little wonder it took us three hours to work our way through.
A couple of years ago we went to the Langham in London for their high tea. The Angel didn’t have the live piano and chandeliers but it was a great selection, nicely paced and good service. The choice of teas was better.
A definite treat to consider for that special occasion.
Tomorrow, her actual birthday, we are spending the day in our Happy place, Bath, the place not the tub, with our other son Tom and his partner Grace.
Booked into a very exciting looking steakhouse in the evening . Right now I can’t imagine ever eating again but tomorrow is another day, and we have a birthday to celebrate.
Incidentally all the cakes we didn’t eat at the Angel we brought home. I’m painting the kitchen on Saturday so there’s our breaks sorted.
Better keep off the scales for a few days!!!!!

22/11/2024

I took an old friend and his wife for a thank you lunch at the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny today and tackled the legendary seafood platter. Believe it or not but this two tiered feast is for two people!
John Watson, who has helped me with the solar farm project, and I made a gallant attempt to work our way through the many dishes available watched on by Gwenda and Chris. If you are staying at the Welsh Marches Cottages then this would be a fine treat for a very hungry couple or more than enough for four.
Next week we are visiting again for afternoon tea as part of my wife’s birthday celebrations. Rumour has it that it the best afternoon tea outside of the top London hotels. We’ll see and I’ll post the evidence next Thursday. Put a couple of photos of their Christmas decorations. Nice ceiling but the Welsh witches were a bit Hammer horror

19/11/2024

An unexpected winter wonderland at the Welsh Marches Cottages at Upper Glyn Farm. We didn’t think the snow would get this far south but we are at 600ft above sea level so the extra height helps.
Always looks magical.
I bet the three mountains the cottages are named after - Skirrid, Sugar Loaf and Blorenge - will be well covered

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.