Stay with us...
“ We need the tonic of wildness...we can never have enough of nature.”
- Henry David Thoreau, Life in the Woods
Visit Cwmffrwd Farm...
Cwmffrwd Farm's off-grid, pop-up site is a back-to-nature retreat for those looking for simple camping in stunning surroundings. Nestled within 22 acres of wildflower meadows, the spacious pitches for campers and glampers alike make visitors feel like they've found a secret spot in South Wales, tucked away amid towering mountains at the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Exemplified by the site's focus on maintaining the natural biodiversity of their surroundings, hosts James and Pridie are advocates of outdoor life and positive environmental change, with James having worked in the energy and environment sector for over a decade, while Pridie is an accredited bushcraft instructor and outdoor storyteller. As such, the amenities may be basic here, but they're situated in a site owned by people who know a great outdoor spot with a view when they see one.
Camping pitches are spaciously spread out across its meadows Onnen, Cyll, and Helyg. The latter has a gate that opens out onto the Waun Fach mountain range, with its summit height of 811 metres granting it the highest peak of south-eastern Wales' Black Mountains. Freely select your pitch, plant your tent, and explore your surroundings with minimal fuss. The five-metre tents are positioned at the highest point of the campsite, providing a sprawling view across the valley along with a lovely babbling brook to sit beside.
The secluded nature of Cwmffrwd Farm ensures guests' privacy compared to other, more densely populated sites, along with keeping this beautiful land unspoiled. This is reflected in the simple amenities, with a washroom located in the barn, with hot water and an electric shower. Be sure to say "hello" to the family dogs, who loves to greet guests!
Mountainous surroundings provide ample opportunities for lengthy rambles and hikes, while guests should ditch their phones (there's no WiFi here, allowing a firm disconnect from modern life) and replace them with books from the site's little outdoor library, which also contains charts to help you identify the resident wildlife. You and the kids can also enjoy Pridie's 'Fairytrails' outdoor storying adventures, immersive nature-based yarns that combine folklore, natural navigation, and your wilderness skills. Suffice to say, you won't forget Cwmffrwd Farm in a hurry.
Accommodation options...
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Prices are as follows...
CAMPING
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£10 per adult, per night
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£5 per child (5 - 16 years)
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Under 5's free
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Dogs free
GLAMPING
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£85 per night for 5m bell tent in Mountain Meadow (sleeps up to four adults, or two adults plus three/four children). Please note: a double bed and two inflatable mattesses are provided. Guests need to bring their own bed linen / sleeping bags. (Reduced rate weekdays.)
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£70 per night for 4m bell tent in Mountain Meadow (sleeps up to two adults, plus one child). Please note: two single mattresses are provided with one inflatable mattress. Guests need to bring their own bed linen / sleeping bags. (Reduced rate weekdays).
Important info for campers & glampers...
WHAT'S NEARBY...
Campers can embark on picturesque travels straight from their tent, with the site being within reach of Waun Fach, an open-access mountain with the highest summit of southeast Wales' Black Mountains. The gorgeous town of Crickhowell is a 15-minute drive away from the site, providing you with an array of shops to visit in this small Usk Valley community. In the surrounding area, the site resides in the heart of Brecon Beacons National Park, offering scenic walks through the stunning countryside. Enjoy the Brecon Promenade, a grade 2 walk along the river Usk, or look across the lakes and ponds as part of the Craig-y-nos route. Also tucked away in this National Park is the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre (01874 658272), an award-winning indoor and outdoor centre with horse riding, an indoor climbing centre, and pony trekking trips. For a night out with the family, Theatr Brycheiniog (01874 611622) is a little under 30 minutes away, a modern theatre and community venue, with a variety of shows from ballet through to comedy clubs.
Further info...
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Each campsite booking is allocated one pitch in the camping field with a maximum of six people per pitch, one tent and a gazebo. There is a maximum of six adults per booking (to avoid large groups as the aim is to be a peaceful site). There is space for six small campervans (only VW/transit size). Sorry, no motorhomes or caravans. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome, but please keep them on a lead and be extra vigilant when it comes to clearing up after them.
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Please call in at the farmhouse when you arrive to be welcomed and shown where to park before choosing your spot. To keep everyone safe and the meadows healthy, there is a 'no vehicles in the meadows' policy and guests are asked to park just inside the first camping field (Onnen Meadow). As much as possible, we like to give everyone free range when it comes to choosing your pitch in our two camping fields - so have a wander once you are parked and, when you are ready, grab a wheelbarrow and off you go!
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We have a single flushable toilet, electric shower and two hot water washing up sinks in 'The Byre'. Here you'll also find a freezer for your ice packs, a kettle and a selection of books and nature guides. There are also two compost loos in the meadows.
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We kindly ask all guests to take their rubbish home with them to recycle (there are extra binbags provided in the toilet barn if you need them.)
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There will be hand sanitiser in the barn, a disinfectant spray and blue roll to wipe the toilet seat etc. Campers will be expected to take responsibility for their own social distancing. 'The Byre' washroom is very well ventilated.
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Please cook on barbecues that are at least 12 inches off the ground (feel free to move the fire bowl temporarily and place your gas stoves/ BBQs onto the fire bricks). Please don't burn holes in the fields. No disposable BBQs on the grass please.
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Fire bundles are available at £10 a bag and include kindling, logs and firelighters.
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Minimum two nights for all bell tent bookings at weekends (although email if you find this tricky and we'll see what we can do :)
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Pitches are available from 2pm on the day of arrival and up to 12 noon on the day of departure. Please ask if you would like to arrive earlier or stay longer on your day of departure. This is not normally an issue outside of peak times.
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Keep an eye out for the extra special story walks and family bushcraft experiences that Pridie runs (see here.)
Rules:
We don’t believe in having too many rules, but want everyone to have a fun and enjoyable stay so:
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Please keep dogs on leads and clean up after them.
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Please keep noise to a sensible level, particularly after 8pm. We welcome acoustic music around the campfire, but no stereos, amps or car radios please. We ask for no loud noise after 11pm. Loud talking/laughing into the late hours can drive your neighbours bonkers. Please be aware of others that may be trying to sleep.
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Please DO NOT cook inside, or take flame lanterns into, the bell tents (or any tent for that matter!)
REWILDING OUR LITTLE BIT OF WALES...
We want to provide people with the opportunity to experience and enjoy the magic of the Great Outdoors, because we believe that a strong connection with the wild world leads to an even stronger desire to protect and preserve it for us all.
Cwmffrwd Farm provides gifts some very special naturescapes to everyone who visits. With hawthorn, hazel, alder, willow and ash trees, wildflower meadows and a mountain stream born of a spring above to encounter and explore, we are keen to increase the biodiversity further still and so we strive to make the landscape a place where wildlife can thrive by restoring habitats and teaching about the ways in which we can all do this - wherever we live.
Our approach is to allow nature takes the driving seat at Cwmffwd Farm - to 'rewild' itself - and to thus provide a space for everyone to rest, relax, recharge and relearn their relationship with the natural world.
James Tiernan
A massive advocate of outdoor life and positive environmental change, James has been working in the energy and environment sector for over a decade. Ever seeking the next project - be that installing the newest and greenest technology, building adventure vans, or crafting bespoke bunk beds...James delights in getting creative, problem solving and generally encouraging everyone to reduce, reuse, re-purpose and recycle as much as they can! Very much at ease in the outdoors, he's always keen to sleep under the stars and get cooking on the campfire with family and friends!
Ex-Royal Engineer and now Energy and Environment Manager with years of experience under his belt when it comes to a wide variety of eco-engineering projects, it's safe to say that James is happiest when he's busy being busy - outside!
Pridie Tiernan
Pridie is an unashamedly outdoor-obsessed educator and professional performance storyteller. When she isn’t teaching, running expeditions or performing stories, you’ll find her reading fairy tales, foraging for a wide variety of natural materials to play with or having an outdoor adventure with family, friends and her black lab Brock!
A professional storyteller, accredited bushcraft instructor, qualified teacher and Mountain Leader (MLTB), it's safe to say that Pridie is an outdoor enthusiast committed to experiencing life via plenty of wild!
Follow Pridie @thewildofthewords on Facebook and Instagram for more exciting details about her immersive nature-based experiences including her unique Folkcraft retreat and story walks.