Skirrid holiday cottage under construction

The wedding party should be in good shape for the wedding at the end of August.

Sugarloaf and Blorenge holiday cottages under construction

Drinks and cheesy chips at CAMRA’s Gwent Country Pub of the year (2019)

Busy Weekend at Welsh Marches

This lovely family from Hebden Bridge stayed with us last weekend. The children helped collect eggs on Friday and met our horses including gentle giant Caspar. Thanks for the review in the visitors’ book:

“Sugar Loaf is an absolutely beautiful well equipped, spacious place. It is wonderfully decorated and very clean with homely furniture. John and Chris are superb hosts. We will definitely come back.”

Wow! Thanks Jack.

Later on Saturday I took a wedding party from south Wales on a stag/hen walk from Llanthony Priory onto the Bal Mawr ridge dropping down to Capel-y-ffin and back along the valley to the Priory. Bride and groom, two best men, a maid of honour and friend celebrated completing the 4 and a half hour walk with a well earned drink in the Priory grounds. Always a favourite and all the better for selling Robinson’s cider, which is a real treat.

On Sunday Chris and her mate Amy took a ride down to the Fountain Inn at Trellech Grange through Chepstow Park, Fedw and Ravensnest Woods. It took about an hour and a half to get there crossing only two roads on the way.

Steve the landlord has been keeping an excellent selection of beers and ciders for years and we are delighted he’s received the recognition his pub deserves.

It’s an excellent route to the pub from Upper Glyn Farm which walkers, runners and cyclists would enjoy as much as those on horseback.

We already provide a number of maps detailing routes from the farm and I’ll add this one to the collection. We provide laminated copies and an OS map so visitors can take the guide with them.

Finally a big thanks to Richard for his review after staying in the Blorenge over the weekend:

“Beautifully presented in a superb location with attentive but not intrusive hosts. Pretty close to perfect and I will return.”

Coming up

My next organised walk will be on Saturday August 17th when we are doing our annual walk around the Three Castles route, a triangle which links White Castle, Skenfrith and Grosmont.

We are starting at Grosmont this year going anti-clockwise to White Castle. The route will mean we can visit the WI café opposite Skenfrith castle in the afternoon for tea and cake and finish at the wonderful Angel pub in Grosmont for supper.

The walk is under 20 miles but it always takes about 10 hours with stops including two of my favourite viewing points in South Wales.

Numbers are limited but if you are staying in one of the Welsh Marches cottages that weekend and you would like to join us please let me know. John: 07850 758201