The Wilds
Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK
Set within sixty glorious acres of private farmland close to Crickhowell and cradled by the Black Mountains, the Wilds is a traditional Welsh farmhouse immersed in both history and beauty. Affording luxury self-catering accommodation for a truly "in-the-middle-of-nowhere" escape, The Wilds gives large groups the chance to run away to the Brecon Beacons for possibly the best hot tub vantage point Wales has on offer.
Introduction
At the end of a long meandering lane deep within the Black Mountains lies this enchantingly remote self-catering hideaway, sure to charm and delight families hoping to immerse themselves in the beautiful wilderness of Wales' Brecon Beacons National Park. Only a few miles away from the characterful (an award-winning) town of Crickhowell, there is plenty see and do in close reach of this luxe mountain retreat. With four receptions rooms to choose from, children can snuggle in the television room leaving parents time to catch up by the fire in the 'grown-up' sitting room or stargaze from the warmth of the conservatory.
Inside
Here at The Wilds, thoughtful collaboration between landscape and interior result in a seamless flow that enhances the sense of indoor-outdoor space and takes full advantage of the incredible mountain views. Sleeping up to 12 guests, the clever design of this unique self-catering Welsh retreat is well-suited to couple-friends or multi-generational families. The main farmhouse has a number of bedrooms, including a master double bedroom with two en suites (one with a bath and one with a shower) while across the courtyard guests will find a spacious barn conversion, home to a large open-plan living area, kitchen and a double and twin bedroom.
Outside
The Wilds offers families, friends and those of the four-legged variety a chance to embrace the many country pursuits this exceptional Welsh National Park has on offer, including walking, horse riding and fishing. The Brecon Beacons are perfect for adventurous souls who seek rolling hills, tumbling waterfalls and romantic castle ruins. Wander through the woodland and let the trails guide you to spectacular hilltop vistas and scenic picnic pit stops, before coming home to refuel on homemade pizza fire-baked in the outdoor oven and a relaxing plunge in the hot tub to take in panoramic valley views at their best.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 12 guests
From £3,595 per week, £2,750 per short break
Day hire options are available - Alternative group optionUp to 8 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThe main house has a first floor master double bedroom with two en suites (one shower room and one bathroom), a further double bedroom, a zip-and-link bedroom (which can be made up as a super king-size or twin) featuring an en suite bathroom with shower attachment and a family bathroom with separate shower. The final double bedroom in the main house is up on the second floor with an en suite bathroom. In the adjacent annexe is the final double bedroom, plus one twin bedroom ideal for children, in addition to a bathroom with overhead shower.
View bedrooms - FeaturesHot tub
- PetsOne well-behaved dog is welcome
Pets are charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Day: Friday or MondayArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyYes, children are very welcome. One travel cot and one highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThe kitchen in the main house has a large electric Aga with hot plates and gas hobs, a fridge-freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and microwave. The annexe barn has an electric oven with hob, dishwasher, microwave and fridge-freezer, but no washing machine. Gardener Sam will try to visit on changeover days but may have to tend the garden in the week. The annexe barn will be unavailable when booking the sleeps-eight option, however, guests will have exclusive use of the grounds. Please note that mobile signal is near to none due to the remote mountain location, but WiFi calling is available. If arriving by air, helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds.
- Homestay includesLuxury welcome hamper, TV with DVD player, Sonos speaker, WiFi internet, charcoal barbecue, pizza oven, linen, towels, luxury soaps, logs and kindling to get you started...House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more little luxuries
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- Eco-friendlyGround source heat pump, solar panels and spring water
- RestrictionsParties considered on prior permission from the owner
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questionsEV charger locationsCheck mobile signalRecommend to a friend
Prices & Availability
Brecon Beacons
A wide Welsh spread of heather-cloaked mountain ranges and wildflower meadows, the unique landscape of this diverse National Park makes for memorable self-catering holidays in the great outdoors.
Getting there
- On the Map The Wilds is set in a secluded mountain position nestled under the peaks of the Brecon Beacons, just outside the award-winning Welsh town of Crickhowell.
- By Car The Wilds is a three hour drive from London.
- By Train Abergavenny train station is around half an hour's drive away, with regular routes to London via Cardiff.
- By Air Cardiff and Bristol airports are both one and a half hour's drive away by car, where taxis and car hire are available. Helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds of The Wilds with prior arrangement.
From the owner
“The Wilds´ old Welsh name originally means ‘the faraway place of smiles´, which we rather like. Set entirely in its own land on the western flank of the Black Mountains, the spectacular views westward are towards the Brecon Beacons and Pen-Y-Fan, the highest point in South Wales.”
The Wilds was a fully working farm until about 25 years ago. It was the family home of the writer Horatio Clare in the 1980s; his childhood memoir 'Running for the Hills' gives a vivid account of his time growing up here and gives a feel for how the farm used to be. Since then it has had a succession of owners, several of whom still live in the area.
The main farmhouse was extensively restored in 2002 and the barn annexe in 2008. Originally the upper section of the main farmhouse was the only inhabited building; the remaining buildings housed livestock and hay!
We love to see guests enjoy the magical mountain setting and the sense of freedom that it conveys as we have done for many years. Being called the 'far away place of smiles', it certainly is that for us.
The Parsons Family
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Brecon Beacons with an insider’s perspective.
To Do
Wye Valley Canoes
These expert activity providers offer a fleet of Canadian canoes, single kayaks and double kayaks. You are able to hire them for a few hours or for a couple of days if you really want to make the most of the stunning River Wye.
To Eat
The River Cafe, Glasbury
The River Cafe is a licensed cafe-bar-restaurant located in the beautiful Wye Valley. It has a relaxed and informal space with tables on the decking overlooking the River Wye, and serves consistently high quality food. Definitely worth a try!
To See
Black Mountains
This collection of old red sandstone hills dominates Wales´ famous Brecon Beacons, both in size and beauty. Walk through the folklore and fiction of Wales as you experience why so many adore this scenic and secluded landscape.
To Do
Llama Trekking
What could be better than trekking through the Golden Valley with your very own llama? With the Old King Street Llama Farm, you can book half day trekking tours that can be specifically tailored to meet your party´s requirements.
Guest Testimonials
The Wilds is a truly magical place, and perfect for a large group getaway. The location really lives up to its name, so be prepared to load supplies in as there is definitely no walking to a corner store for some milk! But just a short drive to local towns with plenty of shops, so with a little planning ahead you won’t need to venture out. If you are thinking about staying here, don’t hesitate - it will be a magical vacation.
Thank you for a wonderful stay. The Wilds is a magical place and you have created such a warm and homely setting. We enjoyed relaxing in the house, lighting the fires and looking at your lovely collection of books. I am now reading Running to the Hills by Horatio Clare, ordered for when we arrived home! Our daughters loved the hot tub, as did we. It was quite hard to actually leave the house, but we did. We had a lovely Sunday roast at The Farmers Arms where we were very welcome and enjoyed walking up the hillside to admire the wonderful views. We only wish we could have stayed longer!
This has truly been everything I would have wished for to celebrate my 50th birthday. A week of celebrations with friends and family making full use of the hot tub, the beautiful views and walks from the house. A great welcome back and most importantly the fixtures, fittings and furnishings are what make this the perfect week in this dream house!
We had an incredible week at The Wilds. The location and scenery is magical, our children spent the week outdoors exploring the wonderful property, the swing and hot tub. No need to even leave this beautiful spot as we walked the many hills and fields directly from the back door. The house is so well equipped, and we loved the pizza oven. We also very much enjoyed reading about the history of the house. Thank you for sharing your home, we loved it.
We had an amazing week at The Wilds. Such a beautifully idyllic home from home with everything you could ask for and so much more. We climbed mountains, chilled in the hot tub, played card games, completed puzzles, watched films, relaxed in front of crackling fires, read books, flew high on the garden swing until our toes touched the branches of the highest tree and ate like kings. We’d love to come back again.
The Wilds was the perfect place to celebrate and make lots of lovely memories, the views and incredible and the house is beautiful and homely. The best weekend with friends and family!
The most beautiful setting and very trendy house, truly one of the nicest places we´ve stayed. Thank you very much to the owners for such a generously appointed and equipped property, the extra touches make it very special.
Lovely relaxing time, we enjoyed the Brecon Mountain Railway and exploring the area. Pony trekking in the mountains was amazing fun for all the family, and watching the sunset from the hot tub was the highlight of our evenings and the house is picture perfect. Thank you!
We travelled a long way to visit Wales for the first time, and what a remarkable home we found! Such a magnificent area to explore. Hay on Wye and horse riding through the Brecon Beacons was fantastic, thank you so much.
With a large kitchen as the heart of the house and three separate sitting rooms, we could choose to be together over a glass of wine or just enjoy the tranquillity of The Wilds and its beautiful views. Reading the Sunday papers, overlooking the Beacons, while listening to the crackling logs in the fire, total bliss. Thank you for this truly relaxing weekend stay and your incredible eye for detail!
What a beautiful place! We really enjoyed our short stay here, the house is stunning and had everything we needed and the location is perfect with very easy access to places, not to mention the amazing views. We especially loved the hot tub at night time. We hope to visit again one day.
We couldn´t fault any aspect of our weekend away. The property was more than five star and the little touches were very much appreciated. Thank you to the team who look after The Wilds. The hamper was a fabulous touch. We had taken our own supplies as this is what we´re used to but these little touches made us feel very welcome. Thank you
We are very sorry to leave this heaven of peace and solitude. To be alone with nature is a beautiful thing, but to experience that in such a glorious setting is a rare treat. With too many places to visit and things to do locally in this part of the Brecons you can fill a holiday easily.
This morning I was thinking about my three favourite things from my visit to The Wild´s! My absolute highlights of the stay were steaming hot showers with strong water pressure, local cooking and champagne on a starry night in the hot tub - oh the decadence!
On top of the world. The wildlife is all around. The house is all that we could have hoped for and more. It is beautifully appointed and comfortable and truly unique. The icing on the cake, however, is a plunge in the hot tub to watch the sun setting. We look forward to coming back.
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which The Wilds and Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
The UK´s best stargazing spots
House & Garden
September 2023Remote UK Hideaways
House & Garden
August 2020Brilliant Christmas escapes
The Times
November 2023The UK´s best holiday homes
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2023Natural world
25 Beautiful Homes
November 2023The world´s best stays for art-lovers
The Times
November 2023Sense of purpose
Country Homes & Interiors
October 2023Glastonbury is extortionate - here´s what else you can get for your money
The Telegraph
October 2023
Collections > Baby-Friendly Breaks > UK > Wales > Brecon Beacons > The Wilds
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
