Holiday Cottage in the Black Mountains, Wales

Graig Ddu, has attracted this remark on more than one occasion since the present owner bought the cottage in the mid-1990s. Then there was no electricity and water was fed into the cottage from a spring high up on the slopes of the Black Mountains, where it nestles in the middle of Forestry Commission woodland, one mile from the hamlet of Llanthony. In the spring of 2005 the cottage was fully refurbished and brought up to date and makes an ideal retreat from the 21st century.

This gorgeous self-catering cottage offers perfect isolation: wild walks amid beautiful scenery directly from the back door, but luxurious and cosy inside, the ideal place in which to relax and wind down away from mobile phones and city life.

The cottage is approached via a good gravel track through the forest. Enter via the back door into a generous porch with flagstone floor (ideal for wet dogs and wellies) and pegs for outdoor clothes. The comfortable country kitchen is spacious and well-equipped with all mod-cons essential for a relaxing holiday for 4; this includes an oil-fired Rayburn as well as a top-quality gas cooker, microwave, dishwasher and a good-sized farmhouse table. The entire cottage offers luxury and comfort with simple elegance. It has oil-fired central heating throughout, but for those who enjoy a real fire, the open range in the sitting room ensures a cosy atmosphere in which to relax and read, play some of the games provided or enjoy the digital satellite TV/DVD. French windows open out into the pretty terraced garden which is full of interesting flora and fauna.

Upstairs, the two surprisingly spacious bedrooms (one including en-suite power shower), sleep two couples in superb comfort. Beautiful white cotton bedlinen, 4-season goose down duvets and electric blankets for extra snugness in the winter and fluffy towels and bath robes are all provided. Babies are welcome, as a cot and high-chair are available. Steam away the stress in the very well-appointed bathroom. Soak in scented bath oils and surround yourself with the calm of candlelight - or blast the past away under the rigours of another power shower. Downstairs, there is a useful cloakroom area providing washer/dryer, clothes airer and loo, and a backdoor to the garden where the barbeque is kept.

The cost of staying at Graig Ddu is all-inclusive. Firewood is provided, as is the cost of electricity and heating. There is no mobile phone reception at the cottage, but there is a telephone from which local calls can be made. Private water supply is provided by the borehole. 2 well-behaved dogs are very welcome, but downstairs only please.

Graig Ddu lies on the slopes of the Black Mountains on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It was originally owned by the Llanthony estate and was sold off, as were the farms in the valley, during the 1960s. The cottage is about 1 mile from Llanthony which is famous for its ruined Cistercian Priory. Visit The Abbey Inn which is in the crypt. The closest town is Abergavenny, known as the Gateway to Wales, which is about 10 miles away. It is a typical Welsh market town and offers a very good selection of shops essential for the self-catering holidaymaker. These include 2 very good butchers, Rawlings the sausage champion, and HJ Edwards - both source their meat locally, also a Waitrose supermarket and fish shop. There is a very good local produce market on Tuesdays and Fridays, and local farmers' market on the last Thursday of each month. The tourist information office is near the bus station.

Llanthony is an excellent place from which to explore the Welsh borders, The Black Mountains and The Marches. Offa's Dyke footpath runs along the ridge on the opposite side of the hill and there are numerous castles within a short drive away to explore. There are many walks in and around the Llanthony area and pony-trekking from either Court Farm or Trevelog Farm. Slightly further afield, Cardiff, with its rapidly expanding and exciting Bay area, Hereford, the Cathedral and Mappa Mundi and even Ludlow, with its ancient black and white houses and market within sight of the castle, are all within striking distance to explore in a day.

This lovely self-catering retreat has been awarded 4 stars from the Welsh Tourist Board. Short breaks are available - so if you want to spend a weekend or a few days in the Black Mountains in a luxury cottage in Wales then you have come to the perfect place!

Weekly rates:   low season £360 to peak season £495 - short breaks are always available.

Please contact Caroline MacDonald at carolinemacdonald@ntlworld.com to enquire about availability of this isolated Welsh cottage to rent. We also have two 5-star Welsh Tourist Board cottages which are ideal for couples who want a luxury break in Wales - please email for details or go to

Blaentrothy Holiday Cottages Wales , near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales NP7 8HN.