The Studio at Neuadd View

Sometimes you just need to switch off the noise, leave the hassle behind and reset. Finding the right destination to do that isn’t easy, but maybe we can help.

The Llanthony Valley, a deep glacial slice of the Black Mountains is a magical place, some say mystical. Do not be surprised to find your mobile signal also takes an enforced break as you wind away from the bright lights of Abergavenny, and head into the National Park. Steeply wooded hillsides give way to patchwork fields and busy streams, and time stands still. The journey is very much part of the process of switching off.

The Studio is compact and cosy, small but perfectly formed. It is very comfortable without unnecessary fuss. There’s also room for one dog, so don’t forget your four legged friend at home! The view, the peace and quiet, and the ‘away from the madding crowd’ vibe is its key USP. The blissful soundtrack is one of calling red kites, bubbling brooks and the wind in the trees. Take a minute or two to pause on the deck, wiggle your toes in your walking socks, and breathe in the quiet.

Then inside, there is a toasty wood-burning stove, ideal for pulling up a fireside armchair and finally getting stuck into that novel, whatever the weather. The well-equipped kitchen makes not using the car a possibility. A monsoon shower will wash away the muscle aches after a day’s mountain biking ( ask Jim for some top lycra clad ‘downhill’ tips ).

Offa’s Dyke path, that at least notionally, forms the border with England, passes close by, and the panoramic views from Gospel Pass grace many a postcard in the famous nearby Town of Books, Hay on Wye. Lively Abergavenny is busy with independent eateries and delis, and is home to the fabulous world-renowned Food Festival, a must not miss event in every self-respecting foodie’s diary, now in its 25th year.