Welsh Marches Cottages

27/06/2026

We had a tidy up of the most isolated church in Wales today; our local church, Holy Cross at Kilgwrrwg which you can only reach across meadow up a small hill.
The ground had been left to seed through May and June.
It’s Armed Forces Day today so it was appropriate that the ground around a local sailor who died on the last day of WW1 before the armistice came into force was strimmed clear.
A poignant moment.
The church yard goes back to Celtic times and beyond Christianity. It is round so there are no corners in which the devil can hide.

28/04/2026

28/04/2026

We often get asked about parking at Welsh Marches Cottages and about the washing facilities and our warm dog shower. Well here’s a short guide: the washrooms are behind the most magnificent north facing Clematis

23/04/2026

It’s that magical day when the swallows are back. We thought we spotted one or three but this evening in the sun 4 swallows are giving an aerial display over the yard and house. They are back and all is right with the world. Welcome to your summer home

29/03/2026

We are blessed with great walking in the Wye Valley, Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons ( Bannau Brycheiniog)
But sometimes it’s nice to have a change and travel west, a little over a hour’s drive to the edge of the Black Mountain.
Stunning!

17/03/2026

Our three Indian runner ducks have decided it’s spring and are laying their lovely eggs while the Drake waddles around like a proud father. Isn’t the duck egg blue the most gorgeous colour? Our farmhouse kitchen is that colour too.
Guests staying at Welsh Marches Cottages can buy our fresh multi coloured eggs and now for a few months only the larger and creamier duck eggs. Ideal for baking.
We have new guests in later today and we’ve put the dog enclosure up for them off the patio doors so their pet can be outside safely contained.

08/03/2026

First visit to Llanthony Abbey in 2026. Destroyed in the reformation along with Tintern Abbey, It is a gem in the Black Mountains and among the ruins is a cellar bar. They sell the excellent Robertson’s Cider. A bit moody today but well worth a visit.
Started our walk at Cymyoy where the church makes the Tower of Pisa look perpendicular.

04/03/2026

Yesterday on the farm Spring was in the air. After all the rain and the dark nature was stirring. I sat under an oak tree in the final hour of daylight watching my wife Chris school her young cob . All around birds sang. I switched on the Merlin ID app and it identified the chorus: Robin, Wren, Starling, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Sparrow, Song Thrush, Dunnock.
Wow