step back in time...

more photo's here

to days before phones, TV and computers, could you do it? We ran away last week, to Bryn Eglur deep in the rural Welsh countryside, to a cottage that has been lovingly restored as a 'tyddyn' a traditional farmers cottage, abandoned in the 1960s and left to ruin. The cottage, furnished with Welsh antiques, even comes with its own black cat called appropriately 'Mrs Jones.'

It was wonderful to spend time together, with books and games of chess and dominoes to keep us entertained, away from the distractions of work, phones and computers. To cook and gather around the gorgeous red rayburn in the kitchen. The authenticity of the cottage, made you appreciate and understand the hardship of generations past, and to use the microwave and electric oven provided in the modern kitchen was almost cheating! There wasn't even a sofa, just traditional Welsh settles, much to the annoyance of one holiday maker when writing in the visitors book! There are however, plenty of chairs, even candlestick backed ones made by the owner after researching traditional styles.

The remoteness and lack of distractions, and maybe the knowledge that Dylan Thomas wrote 'Under Milk Wood' only a few miles away, made me wish I too was writing a novel, at least I did pick up my knitting needles again, after a long break!

I would really recommend a holiday here, I wish there were more places like Bryn Eglur, authentic and sympathetic both in restoration, furnishing and the environment. The only advice I have is take wellies for the wet Welsh weather, there is also a stingy pillow allowance of one small square soft one each {I do prefer a decadent two!}, oh and try to ignore the fact that a rusty old fridge has been painted black to match the kitchen ~ when everything else has been done so so well, something like this really stands out!

You can book Bryn Eglur, from only £209* for a short break, with Under The Thatch.

*2010 prices