- Location of Givron
- Availability dates.
- Cottage instructions.
- Visitors' comments.
- Some places to visit around the cottage.
Our family cottage since 1974, Givron is the most restful place we know. It is one of a pair, overlooking the Gilwern valley, with a high moorland ridge away to the west. The stream, sheep and owls are virtually the only sounds, and it has a glorious view over the Gilwern valley. There is an extraordinary range of walks in all directions, with the Offa's Dyke Path a hilly mile and a half away where it runs the length of Hergest Ridge.
Givron is situated 5 miles west of Kington (a market town with a full range of shops), just over the border into Wales, 3/4 mile off the B4594 in the hamlet of Weythel (not shown on most atlases/SatNavs). At the end of the lane a stony track leads up to the cottages. From central London it's about 160 miles or 4-5 hours drive, from Lewes it is about 220 miles.
Not a standard holiday let
We emphasise this is not a standard holiday let, but a more informal arrangement in a remote 200-year old stone cottage, and we ourselves only manage to get down there four or five times a year. We do not have a cleaner, so guests have to allocate time to clean the cottage ready for the next guests. So while we hope you will find it clean and comfortable, please be aware that insects, cobwebs and the like are facts of life, and be prepared for the odd blip. The rent is not a commercial rate, but just enough to cover our running expenses.
The cottage is in epic borderland - neither totally Welsh nor English, with remote hill farms and heather-clad slopes towards the Welsh side, and black-and-white villages and sleepy country towns on the English side. It's still virtually unknown territory to most people. Half an hour away is the second-hand bookshop mecca of Hay on Wye, while the Brecon Beacons are an hour. Also within an hour's drive are Ludlow, Croft Castle, Hereford, Leominster and Llandrindod Wells.
We have printed off a file of some of the best local walks and left them in the cottage for visitors to try. Or you can view them via our Dropbox folder by clicking here..
The accommodation
The cottage has two bedrooms, a sitting room, a garden room, a kitchen, a bathroom/outhouse, a shed for wood and bicycles and an unkempt garden (more a rather wild hillside than a garden, and extending a third of an acre).
The cottage sleeps five (two single beds, which can be pushed together, in one bedroom; one double and one single in the other; if needed, the mattress from one of the beds or the cushion from one of the garden chairs can be placed on the couch downstairs in the garden room). Note that you have to walk through the larger bedroom to get to the smaller bedroom (which itself is accessed by a comically low door). Virtually everyone seems to sleep very long hours!
Rent is £30 per night, plus 30p per unit of electricity. Once you have paid in full the booking is confirmed. We will refund cancellations in full that are made up to 2 weeks before the booking date (any later than that, then normally only half the amount paid will be refunded, but we could accept an alternative booking date).
There is a bathroom with flush toilet, shower and a basin with hot water basin. The kitchen has just a cold tap.
The kitchen has an oven with conventional oven, grill, microwave and combination facilities, induction hob, slow cooker, electric frying pan, toaster and electric kettle.
Great wifi, no TV, stacks of books and games
There's no TV, which most visitors regard as a blessing but there is excellent broadband internet with wifi (although storms can cut the connection occasionally). Mobile reception in the cottage itself is not that good but there is a land line phone which you are welcome to use for inland calls to landlines and mobiles for no charge. The sitting room has a cosy wood/smokeless fuel stove and plenty of books, games and maps. From there a back door leads into a glassed-in porch which makes an excellent reading place. And there is the garden room, where it is extremely easy to pass the day reading and enjoying the view.
Creature comforts
There are various electric heaters and masses of blankets and duvets; you need your own sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases and towels. We have enjoyed stays in all weathers. It is often lovely in winter, though you need plenty of thermals and fleeces, and to keep all the heaters on if you're not going out for bracing exercise.
Right: in our garden room: a great place to relax
Great for hardy children, and mobile cats and dogs
Children and pets are welcome. There are some attractions nearby for children and a stream to play in but note that there are geese, nettles and often mud around the cottage and tiled floors inside which might put off less hardy youngsters. Please also respect the privacy of our neighbour; her garden is in two parts - one is to the left of the house, the other is beyond the far end of our garden. Most people living round here have dogs but you need to keep them on leads where walking in areas with sheep. Several people including us bring their cats, all of which seem to be extremely happy here.
Bicycles
There are two bicycles (one large, one small; both 18-speed) left for visitors' use. This area is outstanding for cycling, both on-road and off-road, and virtually no traffic on B and unclassified roads. To the east it is undulating enough to be interesting, with village-to-village rides around Herefordshire, and an easy level 5 miles into Kington for the shops. Westwards into Wales there are many wonderfully solitary roads over the hills, and the terrain is often challenging.
We hope you can stay at Givron soon. Please let us know of any prospective dates. To check on availability, see cottage dates
Pictured below: walking towards Hanter Hill; the approach to Givron Cottages up the track
Tim and Anne Locke
73 Paddock Lane
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 1TW
01273 475381 or 07516 524223
timothy.locke@talktalk.net