Client Testimonials

“We really enjoyed our stay at Merlin Cottage – plenty of space for two people and well equipped. We also loved the hot tub! Very clear instructions, information and communication from John and Lucy. Great value for money, we would definitely come back!” Guest, Wales, November, 2024

“Excellent value for money. Very chuffed to have found this place. We will be coming back!!” Guest, England, November, 2024

“We had an amazing stay at Kite Stable Cottage! There were 10 of us, and the cottage was perfect—spacious, beautifully designed, and wonderfully secluded. It offered all the amenities we needed, and the privacy made it feel like a true getaway. The hosts were incredibly accommodating, allowing us flexibility with check-in and check-out times, which made our stay even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we wouldn’t hesitate to return or recommend it to others!” Guest, England, November, 2024

“Lucy and John were very helpful the place was amazing. The hot tub was a nice treat” Guest, England, November, 2024

“The stables exceeded our expectations and was fully catered with everything we could need for our short stay. Close enough to the local surrounding towns, but far enough to have peace and security for the children to run about. John and Lucy were extremely helpful in providing us with directions, and answered all questions we had as soon as they could!” Guest, Wales, November, 2024

“We have had a wonderful family stay for our sons big birthday. A beautiful farmhouse all amenities and really lovely and clean and very warm and inviting. Such amazing scenary and lovely walks. Enjoyed every minute. Thank you” Guests, October, 2024 

“John and Lucy are just amazing hosts. They are very responsive, helpful, kind and polite. l received clear instructions ahead of our stay at their place which was very helpful. We needed somewhere spacious, quiet and peaceful, the Kite was exactly that. The place was clean and felt like home. l would highly recommend it and l will definitely be going back again……oh and l loved the brick bbq (braai) stand….a great bonus to have.” Guest, England, August, 2024

“My stay at John’s place went smoothly. The space is spacious and well-organized. The hot tub is a great relaxing addition to the accommodation. A great base for exploring the area.” Guest, England, August, 2024

“really nice place very rural and quiet” Guest , England, August, 2024

“We stayed in Peregrine and it was beautiful. The house was homely and when we had a question the host was quick to pop round. We used the house as an exploring base; Henrhyd fall (1hr) Rhossili Bay Beach (1 1/2 hrs) Gwili steam train (50 mins) and little trips to Llandovery along the way. A lovely area to walk and explore and stunning scenery.” Guest, England, August, 2024

“We stayed in Kite, great house with plenty of space. Any issues were swiftly resolved. Beautiful area with stunning walks and drives nearby. Lucy and John were more than happy to offer suggestions for places to go for nice walks and recommendations for bike shops. We really enjoyed our stay and may even come back!” Guest, England, August, 2024

“The cottage is a hidden gem, ideal for a peaceful getaway. We had the most relaxed stay, in beautiful surroundings, the cottage was very warm and welcoming. John and Lucy insured that our stay went well, with great communication and clear instructions leading up to our visit. The local viaduct is so beautiful and the area thrives with history. We are already planning our next visit! Thank you both …. and the hot tub was a bonus too!” Guest, Wales, July, 2024

“Perfect location for our family reunion with everything we needed. Stunning location.” Guest, England, July, 2024

“John’s place is amazing. The house is very clean and spacious with an outdoor area for the bbq. We loved the quiet surroundings. I highly recommend the property.” Guest, England, July, 2024

“Had a great time during our week at the accommodation. Very good kitchen and living room, large and airy. Good parking.” Guest, Sweden, July, 2024

“second time staying here and cannot wait to return” Guest, Wales, July, 2024

“Me and my partner both enjoyed a wonderful weekend away at merlin stable cottage, with breathtaking surroundings and the upmost peace and quiet it was a fabulous getaway weekend. we got to venture around john and Lucy’s farm and the neighboring village and what a beautiful place it is! the hosts where extremely kind and accommodating and gave us plenty of privacy. The cottage was spotless and had everything you could need. Will definitely look to book again in the future.” Guest, Wales, July, 2024

“What a fantastic place, exactly what our small family wanted. Quiet location with some nice walks and felids as you can imagine being on a farm. We also visited the national Welsh show caves which was brilliant fun with our 2 little ones. Lovely interior, and again perfect for what we required. Clean and tidy. John and Lucy were extremely helpful and great hosts. We will definitely be returning again in the future.” Guest, Wales, July, 2024

“Great stay and John was fantastic and helpful.” Guest, England, July, 2024

“Lovely place to stay with friends!” Guest, Australia, June, 2024

“This place is gorgeous and exceeded all expectations! Great accommodation, set is beautiful countryside and very sunny!” Guest, England, May, 2024

“My friends and I had entered a race in Llanwrtyd Wells, just down the road. John’s place gave us an excellent base and a nice hot tub to enjoy after the run! Would book again!” Guest, England, June, 2024

“Great place to spend time with family and nature. Information provided ahead of arrival which was handy to plan the trip. Thank you both of you !!!” Guest, England, April, 2024

“Brilliant place to stay for a walking weekend in the Brecons. Immaculately clean and comfortable. John and Lucy were really hospitable and brilliant communicaters the whole way through. highly reccommend” Guest, England, March, 2024

“Thank you so much your place is absolutely lovely and I would recommend to anyone. Pictures don’t do it justice at all.

Thanks from us all” Guest, Wales, March, 2024

“Had a great time here, so many beautiful walks nearby :)”, Guest, England, February, 2024

“Beautiful cottage, in a stunning location. Definitely would go back and maybe take the children too next time” Guest, England, February, 2024

“Absolutely superb! John’s place was nice and clean, we had everything that we needed. John was very helpful and responsive, answering all my questions within minutes. We were there with a group of friends for my sisters hen party and John accommodated us better than we would have expected. We had a brilliant time. The property is very nicely located, peace and quiet, and close to local walking trails. 5 starts all the way.” Guest, Ireland, September, 2023

“Lovely stay hosted by John and Lucy. The cottage was perfect for two families of four and there was lots to do locally. We had a lovely time and would definitely stay again.” Guest, England, August, 2023

“Great stay at Kite cottage. It was perfect for our families. Great space outside for the kids to play and sheep to watch!. Had everything we needed in the house, instructions were all very clear. Cottage was easy to look after with tile floors in all the downstairs rooms and big practical kitchen and simple decor. Robustness needed if you are bringing lots of kids! Lucy’s advice in the paper work and when we bumped into her was really great. Our best days out and the most beautiful spots were on her recommendations.” Guest, England, August, 2023

“A really lovely stay for us all. Overall we’d definitely stay again and loved the beautiful surroundings there. Lucy was very helpful and welcoming to us too.” Guest, England, July, 2023

“Great place with lots of room. Everyone loved having their own bathroom. Lucy was very helpful and gave us ideas to visit. Excellent location for visiting Carmarthenshire and surrounding areas.” Guest, England, July, 2023

“My colleagues and I stayed here for the Urdd Eisteddfod, and it was the ideal base for us as it was close enough to the site to feel convenient but distant enough to give us a well-earned respite in the evenings. The rooms were spacious, the kitchen was well-stocked and we loved the sheep directly overlooking our apartment. Although I largely only slept there, I found it a very peaceful and comfortable place.” Guest, Wales, June, 2023

“The (house) was lovely. The Surrounding area was picturesque and quiet. The host was quick to respond, very helpful and polite. Would stay here again. ” Guest, England, July, 2023

Absolutely brilliant! Plenty of good walks a short drive away. Local village (town?) Has some brilliant options for pubs and restaurants too. Host was a pleasure to deal with.

Guest, England, February, 2023

Brilliant location, brilliant prices, responsive and friendly host. 10/10

Guest, England, February, 2023

“Thank you so much for a lovely stay at you’re awesome place. The grounds are beautiful, the building and finishing is excellent and you were very helpful with anything/ everything we needed! The couches are super comfortable, the WiFi is excellent, the views are wonderful and the bed is fab..” Guest, England, 2022

“Wales and Cynghordy is heaven on Earth. These cottages are so lovely, well kept and we’ll thought out. You could have a completely silent retreat if you wanted or have a full tech conference as well, the WiFi was so powerful! Hot tub was massive, ground we’re fantastic and all in all it gets an 11/10. Thank you so much! ” Guest, England, June, 2022

“I am writing to express sincere and heartfelt thanks on behalf of … who stayed at The Stables last weekend.
For a number of my club members it was their first experience of visiting Wales and you certainly played a significant part in making that first visit a memorable one.
From the feedback I have already received and seeing some of the images produced over the weekend , I feel it’s safe to say there is a strong possibility of a return visit in the future….
I would like to also express my heartfelt gratitude for making the entire booking process , from enquiry to the stay itself , a stress free and enjoyable process, completed promptly, professionally and a very friendly manner, with an excellent level of communication , Thank you .
The accommodation was outstanding , an ideal base for any photography group ,an excellent peaceful location within easy reach of numerous points with a wealth of photography interests… we would like to extend our sincere gratitude for a truly memorable weekend.” Guests, England, April, 2022

“Absolute amazing stay at the stables, lots of walks and trails to do in the surrounding areas with some beautiful views. The Merlin cottage was beautiful and well kept. Will definitely be making a return! Big thanks to John and Lucy!” Guest, England, November, 2021

“The Stables are amazing and have everything you need. Clean and friendly owners and the hot tub is amazing….Loads to see and do in the area and will be back.” Guest, England, August, 2021

“WOW ! beautiful stay in the hobby stable , accommodation is perfect so spacious , clean , modern ideal for a family of 5 we were all impressed it jas just been very well thought out for a nice stay even down to plug sockets etc they are just where you need them. The surroundings are beautiful with lots of walks around and a river at the back , we all used the hot tub which is a great addition, open the bi fold doors and sit in the bubbles watching the hay being baled and the sheep in the fields. Lucy is the pefect host and was so lovely to chat with we will definitely be returning as we all enjoyed our stay.” Guest, England, July, 2021

“We had a fabulous time at the Kite Stable! The place was perfect for a family of 10 – great size rooms, clean house and the views were perfect. Thank you for hosting us.” Guest, England, June, 2021

“Wales was wonderful and we have had a very comfortable stay. Very much enjoyed the railway trips and the spectacular views from the top of sugarloaf. Kitchen extremely well equipped and lovely to find a place that sleeps more than 10 that can ALSO comfortably fit that number dining too. Hot tub a fab perk” Guest, England, June, 2021

“I Would highly recommend these cottages. Not only are they beautifully presented and fully equipped the views are amazing. There are lots of lovey places to walk but you can also drive to local beauty spots. We visited RSPB Gwenffrwd Dinas nature reserve which is only a 20 minute drive away and we all loved it even the kids. There’s a lovely Chinese (Mayflower) in Llandovery town which is a short drive away and the food was delicious. John and Lucy were extremely helpful and any queries we had they responded very fast with lots of information. We will definitely be staying here again.” Guest, Wales, March, 2021

“Incredible place! Worthy of a super host. Very friendly and generous hosts that own a stunning corner of the Welsh countryside! Everything from the living room to the hot tub is better than you can imagine!” Guest, Wales, November, 2020

“Wonderful accommodation in a stunning location. Exactly as described, clean and well kept spaces and facilities. Would return!” Guests, England, September, 2020

“we very much enjoyed our stay this weekend. The accommodation and facilities were just what we had hoped for and the surrounding area was stunning with beautiful walks. Everything was so clean and well labelled and we felt fully relaxed and safe. Thank you for all of the information you provided. I have already recommended you to friends!” Guests, England, September, 2020

“Felt very safe and covid clean, very attentive to the guests. We rented because it was close to relatives and we know the area but would recommend it to anyone. Thanks for a great stay. Dog loved it too, all those forest walks!” Guest, England, August, 2020

“Really fabulous location – so many beautiful walks to go on and places to visit. The hosts were brilliant, communication was excellent and the place is spacious and well equipped. Really enjoyed our stay, thanks so much.” Guests, England, August, 2020

“well where to begin beautiful cottage with everything u need lots of room in the one we stayed in the hot tub was amazing very quiet and with beautiful views owners lovely people communication was great from first email sent it queries we had while we stayed there to make it perfect skylight in bedroom great views of sky full of stars 5star from me and my husband”, Guests, Wales, February, 2020

“Lovely cottage in a beautiful location with the benefit of a brilliant hot tub. Nearest shop only 10 minutes away. Good amenities, very comfortable and clean. Hosts are very attentive and happy to help. Would highly recommend.” Guest, England, December, 2019

“The cottage is lovely, very clean through out. Plenty of utensils and all the cooking equipment we could’ve needed. Plenty of information for things to do, as well as maps provided in the guest book. Guest book was very clear. The house was lovely an spacious, tastefully decorated. And use of the hot tub was an added bonus. John was a lovely host, messaging important information promptly. The location was beautiful and although it rained for all of our stay we did have a lovely time exploring the mountains. Thanks for letting us stay.” Guest, England, August, 2019

“Wonderful place, with great hosts who keep you in the loop all the way. With directions and information. Helpful tips on the area and the guest book was full of great info and tips and brochures. Beautiful decor and lovely glasses. Would highly recommend” Guest, England, July, 2019

“Loved our stay, the cottage was clean spacious and offered everything we needed for a relaxing weekend break. The hot tub was always available when we wanted to use it and the welcome pack provided all the information we needed for the local area. Hosts always responded quickly and were very helpful. Thank you for a lovely stay” Guest, Wales, April, 2019

“A fantastic and idyllic place get away where for complete peace and relaxation! The cottage was perfect with all the amenities you could need. In the Heart of Wales with access to the Beacons and small villages but Carmarthen only a short drive away. The hosts were very helpful and quick to respond to our questions.” Guest, Wales, February, 2019

“What a beautiful stay we had, cottage was outstanding and amazing views throughout, hot tub was a great add on too. Can’t wait to return!! Thank you for a lovely stay!!” Guest, South Wales, November, 2018

“We had a brilliant time staying at Peregrine cottage! The cottage was really comfortable and clean, and perfect for all my family members (spanning the ages of 9 months up to 81 years old). The cottage had everything we needed for our stay, and the hot tub was a really nice extra perk. Lucy and John were really friendly and helpful hosts too, arranging high chairs and travel cots for my nephews which was a great help for my sister. I would definitely recommend staying here!”Guest, England, August, 2018

“”What a beautiful find. We have just enjoyed three nights at Merlin and cannot praise it enough. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and switch off for a few days, this place is for you. It has everything you need and more! Incredibly clean and tidy, we loved it. Will be recommending to friends and family. “Guest, England, August, 2018

“What a beautiful find. We have just enjoyed three nights at Merlin and cannot praise it enough. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and switch off for a few days, this place is for you. It has everything you need and more! Incredibly clean and tidy, we loved it. Will be recommending to friends and family. “Guest, England, August, 2018

“Fantastic place, owners very nice and friendly, very clean and modern, brilliant location, went with friends and family had the whole of the stables as there was about 30 of us, would definately recommend and go again x” Guests, England, June, 2018

“I just wanted to thank you again for letting us use your beautiful
property.
We have all had an amazing weekend Making memories. With the fabulous
hot tub and the great weather was a bonus.
I do hope it was left as you’d expect us to leave it.
We would love to do it all again, so you may be seeing us again
sometime . If you let us.
Hope you enjoy what’s left of this weather
thanks again” Guests, England, June, 2018

“We’ve just arrived home after an amazing weekend and I want to go back!! The beautiful cottage (Kite) was very spacious with a large living room, kitchen and dining area. The bedrooms were very clean and comfortable, with plenty of extra bedding. The farm is extremely peaceful and set in the beautiful countryside. I loved sitting in the garden during the day, watching the wildlife and at night you can see every star as there’s no light pollution from surrounding villages. Despite being a hen party, Lucy made us feel very welcome and encouraged us to enjoy ourselves, which we most definitely did! Everyone enjoyed so much we’re already planning on returning with our families and dogs 😊 the nearest shop is a 15 minute drive away and the nearest pub/cafe is 20 minutes away. However, we didn’t need to leave the estate during our stay. We had a lovely bbq (built in) and the hot tub was just the icing on the cake! I was very sad to be leaving this morning and can’t wait to go back! Thanks Lucy and John xx” Guests, South Wales, May, 2018

“An outstanding place, with plenty of space. Easy to find and amazing hosts. The scenery is to die for and the hot tub is a wonderful extra” Guests, South Wales, May, 2018

“Thank you so much for the stay. We have had the best weekend and everyone has fallen in love with the place. Everything was spotless. We all loved the walls we did and had a lovely time. I hope everything was left as it should have been. We will definitely be back.Thanks again” Guests, Wales, May, 2018

“Beautifully located -friendly, interested and endeavored landlady -clean, well-equipped house -Bathroom to each bedroom for holidays with several couples great Absolutely recommendable!” Guests, Germany, March 2018

“Absolutely fantastic accommodation. Lucy and John are outstanding hosts. The location is stunning too. Thank you for a wonderful time.” Guests, England, April, 2018

“Thank you for having us. We have had a wonderful time. What you have here on the farm and in these beautiful cottages is stunning. I am very jealous!!! Look after the babies ((the new lambs))for me. ” Guests, England, March, 2018

“Just to say how much we enjoyed our stay at Merlin Stable Cottage over
Christmas. Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas tree, it made us
feel just like we were at home celebrating. The cottage was absolutely
perfect and so comfortable, we cooked a lovely Christmas dinner in the well
equipped kitchen, our two dogs loved all the walks in the forests as we did,
we went to Crychan forest on the Wednesday afternoon and walked in a few
inches of snow!! There was no snow when we came back to the cottage.

We hope you found that we left things clean and tidy, we make a point of
doing so as we are grateful that accommodation like yourselves allow us to
bring our much loved pets.” Guests, England, December, 2017

“Would just like to thank you both for making our weekend at Kite one we will never forget. It was fantastic to catch up with friends and talk about old times. Will definitely be in touch soon.” Guests, Wales, October, 2017

Thanks for a super duper weekend. We had a great family get together. Great family memories. Guest, Wales, June, 2017

John & Lucy are very welcoming hosts. There was a plate of yummy cakes in the large spotless kitchen when we arrived. The place is immaculately kept and very homely. It’s a great location to drive from to various beautiful places in Brecon. The hottub is lovely after a long hike up Pen Y Fan with kids. And the lawn outside great for kids to burn energy with a football. As it was lambing season John and Lucy were very hospitable taking the kids to hold the new lambs. Will definitely recommend. Guests, London, April, 2017

John & Lucy were fantastic, as was their house. The cottage was beautiful in a lovely quiet country setting. It was equipped with everything you could possibly want & more; from games to cooking equipment. Everything was spotless on arrival and in great condition. Lucy and John were on hand before & during our trip to answer any questions we had. We were 3 couples looking for a relaxing fun get away & this was the PERFECT place. Can’t recommend enough!
Thank you so much for letting us stay in your lovely cottage. We had a fabulous time and would highly recommend it to others. We loved how well equipped everything was, how clean and how well everything organised. Thank you! Guest, London, October 2016

Lovely cottage, everything you could possibly want from a countryside cottage. The cottage itself is a little way away from any shops, restaurants or pubs. Absolutely fantastic stay, lovely property. Guest, London, November 2016

Lovely cottage, everything you could possibly want from a countryside cottage. The cottage itself is a little way away from any shops, restaurants or pubs. Absolutely fantastic stay, lovely property. Guest, London, November 2016

Guests, England

Our big party of family and friends (more than 30 at times!) loved our 5 cottages at Cynghordy.  The situation was beautiful and the cottages all very comfortable and furnished and equipped to a very high standard. I was expecting a more basic standard as the place was incredible value do it was nice for expectations to be exceeded! The kitchens were particularly excellent with immaculate appliances and heaps of pots and pans and crockery.
The area was fantastic with something for everyone, separately or together.
And John and Lucy could not have been more helpful!  Guest, England, August, 2016

Guests, Wales

We had a really special time. Everyone was really impressed with the accommodations and the scenery! You have a lovely piece of Wales here. Thank you for everything and please enjoy the crumble – April, 2016

Guest, England

Lovely, clean, tidy cottage,very warm, hot tub was brilliant. Had everything that was needed for a great stay. Very spacious, perfect with the desk very inviting.Would defiantly recommend. Thanks – January, 2016

Guests, Wales

Your accommodation is outstanding and catered for every need that we had. The setting is beautiful and was everything we imagined and more. We even had snow on Friday night.

The cakes you left were a lovely touch also. All family were overwhelmed by what the facility had to offer, the standard of finish to the properties and so much more –  November, 2015

Guest, Wales

I just wanted to say thank you for the best couple of days using your cottages!
Me and my friends had such a lovely time and the hot tub was a great success 🙂 August, 2016

Guest, England

We had an amazing nights stay, the cottage was perfect and the cake was enjoyed by all of us! It was also a great end to the day being able to try out the hot tub! 🙂 – August, 2016

Guest, Wales

Thank you for such a lovely week!

The cottages are absolutely gorgeous and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The kids (and adults) loved having the outside garden space to run around and enjoy the sunshine with BBQs and lots of games and the hot tub was a lovely added extra!

They are situated in such a gorgeous area and we spent lots of time out and about exploring! – June, 2015

Guest, Wales

I wanted to let you know that myself and all the girls had a great time at the cottages. We were all amazed at how gorgeous they were, every little detail has been considered. I am definitely thinking of returning, and a lot of the other girls thought so too! The hot tub is outstanding, and we used one of the walking maps too.

I also wanted to say how great you were with my 50 thousand questions! … organising… and you answered every single question I had.Thank you very much – June, 2015

Guest, Wales

Hello i just wanted to say that we loved the weekend it was absalutly amazing place the cottages were lush thank you very much we will defiantly be back later in the year x – March, 2015

Guest, Wales

Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, just the relaxing weekend we wanted. This place exceeded our expectations and we will be looking to come back in the future – February, 2015

Guest, Wales

We had such a fantastic time and I have recommended your cottages to work colleagues already. They were so beautifully decorated, well equipped and just lovely and everyone has said what a fantastic time they had – January, 2015

Guest, England

We stayed at Kestrel over the Christmas period – thanks very much, we had a lovely stay, you’ve made the cottage so beautiful, it was all much appreciated – January, 2015

Guest, England

We’d just like to say thank you for such a lovely stay at The Stables last weekend. Even though the weather proved very mixed we still managed to enjoy walks and cycle rides, and appreciated being able to warm up in the Jacuzzi before some dinner.

We were all very impressed and felt very welcome, and thank you for all your prompt replies to my many questions. We will definitely be recommending to family and friends and look forward to staying again sometime – November, 2014

Guests, England

We had a wonderful time at the Stables. It was the perfect venue for my husband’s 40th birthday celebrations. Very well equipped, spacious and tidy – October, 2014