Drovers Bough
Perched deep in the rolling Black Mountains, close to the English/Welsh border, Drovers Brough is truly remote, accessed via an old drovers' path through the trees. Offering peaceful and beautifully designed accommodation for individual travellers or couples, the award winning Drovers Brough is the ultimate self-catering hideaway for people who want to escape the bustle of urban life while retaining underfloor heating, a full kitchen, and architect-designed style.
The house itself is pleasingly compact, and finished with timber externally. A large wooden balcony contains a dining table, and boasts beautiful views of the valley, creating a spot where most guests choose to drink their coffee in the morning and plan their day. This area is accessed through folding doors from the main living space, which comprises a kitchen area, dining space and living room, all under a high vaulted ceiling, in a room which extends the full length of the building. The bedroom is accessed via an open staircase.
The aesthetic throughout the house is pared back and minimalist, emphasising the views, and creating a homely and harmonious space. The bedroom is finished with plaster, and elsewhere you'll find that walls and surfaces are either whitewashed or timber finished. Despite the simple and subtle design, the house is well equipped with everything you need for a a lengthy break away, with underfloor heating, well designed lighting from solar panels, a wood-burning stove, lashings of high pressure hot water in the fitted bathroom and a kitchen with a fridge-freezer and induction hob. For chilly or rainy nights, there is a television mounted opposite the sofa, while warm summer nights are typically spent down by the firepit, which comes with a cooking grill suspended over it.
The house is a mile away from public roads, a haven of birdsong and untroubled wilderness, but a fantastic pub called The Bridge Inn is just five miles away, a good hike. Alternatively, head to The Carpenters Arms in Walterstone, definitely driving distance but worth it for the excellent food. For a real treat, book a table at the Michelin starred Walnut Tree.
Outdoors enthusiasts should also try canoeing the Wye, or heading to the Monnow for wild swimming. Closer to home, the neighbouring farm has the only horse-powered cider mill in the UK, and offers tours if you book in advance, as well as sales of their cider and brandy. While the area offers a range of activities, many guests choose to spend the bulk of their time at the house and land. Either reclining in the hammock with a book, grilling some locally raised steak over the fire, or sitting with a glass of cider by the wood-burning stove, waiting for dinner.
£270.00 up to £300.00 per night
