I love it here so so much! How lucky am I to be introduced to this wonderful haven.
Jacqui
Four great days walking and enjoying the peace.
Daniel and three teenage boys
Our first time in this part of the world and despite the weather changing to from heatwave to 'what shall we wear today' we still enjoyed it very much.
Paul and Glenys, who liked it so much that they subsequently sold their house in Surrey and moved to within a few miles of Givron.
It's 22 years since we were last here, shortly after we got engaged. Givron has changed (as have we!) hugely in the last two decades: hot water, flushing loo, shower- all unheard of luxuries in the early '90s. But the sense of calm and peace remains. Monopoly by candlelight, craft beer, the tranquility of the setting. The Givron magic is as strong as ever.
Janet, Alastair, Lachlan, Gregory and Harry
This little cottage is brilliant. On arrival I struggled to find the stairs (I thought it was a cupboard) but thankfully others came better prepared. The wood burning stove was nice, and we used it even now in the height of summer. The wife connection is excellent, thanks for that! The magnetic darts board is well worth using too. I can now play darts, sort of. Offa's Dyke is a great walk.
Emily (age 16)
We all immediately felt very at home here - so cosy and peaceful with everything you could possibly need. Such beautiful walking country. Thanks for making this such a special place to stay in.
Sarah, Tom, Connie, Tilly and Miles
Thank you cottage for such a lovely time. See you again next year!!!
Luna (age 15)
We've had a beautiful stay. Energetic but extremely restful. We decided not to use the car and all trips out would be either on foot or bike So Tim's laminated walks were a great find and largely shaped our itinerary!
Imogen and John
Very happy few days in this delightful cottage, with the sun shining almost continually. We did two of the walks from the cottage, plus the spectacular Radnor Forest circuit, at the end of the day with the sun slanting across the purple moorland.
Phoebe and Toby
Lovely Givron! Despite iffy forecasts we have had great walks. Stars and a silver half moon, red kites, a tawny owl and an equally tawny dog fox have thrilled us townies.
Polly
Thank you so much for letting us stay in this wonderful cottage. We have had so much fun playing Malarky in the fantastic evenings here. We have been to places such as the Sugar Loaf, Offa's Dye and Hergest Ridge and lots more. I have been going here many years (9 or 10) and the cottage is getting better and better.
Wendy (age 10, whose first visit was evidently at an extremely young age)
We've enjoyed our stay here tremendously. For me, it's a second visit within two months, and I plan to come again soon. The cottage and the area are lovely and welcoming.
Deborah
Nice, relaxing six days. It's my first time visit here. I love this place.
Himanshu, visiting from India
The raindrops glistened, illuminated by the rising sun, waking us up to a spectacular vista of rolling border country. The geese were already croaking endearingly in the garden. We breakfasted on porridge and, revitalised, took a stroll up to the nearby sheep fields. A perfect beginning.
Luke and Kerry (two travel writers, who obviously liked the area; they moved to the Welsh borders soon after)
Thank you so much Tim and Anne for sharing your lovely cottage with us - what a sanctuary it is - it stole a piece of my heart the moment we arrived! What a treat to stay somewhere so homely and comfortable, with the practical things we needed - a kitchen fitted out for cooking, stove for warmth and bikes for adventures, without the unnecessary frills. I've so enjoyed the simplicity of life here and relaxed enough to actually enjoy the pile of darning and repairs I brought with me. I even managed a little morning yoga. Fantastic walks and a swim - would love to return to explore more thoroughly.
Keri and David
How awful! How awful that we didn't book for longer! It's our first time here (from Lewes) and we all had a fab time. We checked out the waterfall and Hay-on-Wye, ate, read played games and made merry by the lovely fire. It was great to stay somewhere that felt like a home. You could tell it had a history and it's been marvellous to be a part of it now. The kids had a great time here, away from the modern and electrical world they currently live in and it was nice to see they still knew how to 'play' away from the modern life they are used to. A big huge thanks for letting us share it. We will come back again... BUT FOR MUCH LONGER NEXT TIME!
Victoria, Benjamin, Alyss and Vito
Had a lovely, lovely time - reluctant to leave and cannot wait to get back to Givron before too long! We especially enjoyed the walk from the cottage to Hergest Ridge following your directions.
Duncan and Debbie
My family and I stayed at your fabulous cottage in Easter this year and would absolutely love to stay again. We loved the whole area around there, and feel we barely scratched the surface regarding things to do. Oh and of course the cycling is fantastic. My son had a choice between your cottage or Puerta Pollenca in Mallorca; he wanted to go to your cottage.
Toby
I have had a brill time in a brill place. Thank you so much.
Guy
We had a super week at the cottage, we would like to thank you very much for the opportunity and the welcome we had when we got there.
Colin and Kaths
We had a lovely time – it was warm and sunny, on top of the lovely views and peaceful location! Thanks for letting us visit.
The Kumars
Our first visit to the cottage – just the break we needed. We thing this is a lovely area. Everyone we’ve met has been so friendly.
Chris and Sarah
What to say? Such a beautiful place, lovely walks, weather, meeting new friends. These two days have been so full, so lovely.
Richard
We’ve had a wonderful time here and would definitely love to return. Thank you for creating this haven.
Edwina and Ollie
Lying on the couch in the garden room makes for an excellent therapy session.
Jayne
I enjoyed it here but there was a lot of spiders! I was surprised how small the door to my bedroom was. This is a good place for blackberry picking. I had a great time scootering here.
Frances (aged 9)
Sad to go home – must not leave it too long before we return again!
Stephen and Mandy
Givron Cottage is the ideal spot to get away from it all, and we would love to come back. Next time must go out on the bike!
Maureen and Graham Jeffs
The cottage is clearly enchanted – firstly although we arrived at 11.30am after a restful night we were both overcome with desire to lie down and fell asleep. Secondly it expands – tiny on arrival, it unfolds, making lovely light spaces – even bigger this morning.
Hilary and John
It has been four very relaxing days and a very successful Christmas. We walked every day. My favourite being along the riverbank on a nearly totally clear day.
Rob and Jo
Snow made it completely magical here – we started a walk a little late and ended up racing against time as the blizzard took hold on the hills. Spent evenings in front of the fire playing music and singing…so many things to say about how good it is here, but we have to get in the van and drive back. Thank you Tim and Anne, you have made us very happy and we hope to come back again!
Nuala and Mark
Excellent long weekends. Walks included Hergest Ridge, Bradnor Hill and end of valley. We loved the cottage – such a wonderful setting.
Jerry and Jane (who liked it so much that their family has now bought a cottage nearby!)
Another lovely visit – this time we haven’t really left Weythel. It was so nice in the woods that we’ve been there twice – beautiful sweep of wood anemones and some amazing plants. Nice scrambling around Weythel Common. Much painting, drawing etc has been produced in the sun room, and many games of chess, cards, Boggle, Switchback…bliss!
The Liveseys
Our first visit to this cottage and area. Very much enjoyed our time despite mainly cold and wet weather. Lovely walks to Gladestry and Hergest Ridge. This is a delightful place and we very much hope to come again.
Adam and Prinkie
Claire has never been here before and was entranced. She is sure the cottage lowers blood pressure – she may be right. She also loves the way Kington seems to have escaped the 1960s need to renovate shopfronts and I could hardly tear her away from the Chocolate Box, where she was mesmerised by a coal-simulating fire and display of teapots. I rate it too, and my eye rests on a piece of paper inscribed with the words “hand made treacle sponge”.
Sally and Claire
Glorious weather – lots of discussions, and I’m a bit further on with my next novel! Thank you so much for the use of this inspiring place.
Christine, Helen and Andrew (a writers’ group)
Really enjoyed our stay here – such a tranquil setting and so peaceful; the view from the cottage is so uplifting. We have done some fabulous walks.
Gill and Colin
Lovely walk in sun and hail over to Gladestry and dinner at the Harp were our favourite memories – we walked in the dark to the Harp and wobbled home after a bottle of red and some fine organic salmon. Thanks for sharing this tranquil space with us!
Jeremy and Karen
We’ve had a lovely stay: visited Elan Valley, Aberystwyth, Water-break-its-neck (twice, we loved it so much!). Edward (4) has fallen in the stream, the sea and went under the waterfall, so a very wet break for him, but enjoyed all with a giggle. Thank you for sharing your lovely cottage with us and for the introduction to such a beautiful part of Wales.
Kellie, Toby and Edward
Our first ever visit to this lovely cottage and first family holiday to the Welsh borders. The thing we’ll remember most about this holiday is that everywhere you go there are lambs. You can hear them bleating from the cottage, and when you walk across the hills, as we did to Cefn Hir, you walk through field upon field of gambolling lambs. The rescue of several stray lambs has been a big feature of our adventures! Had an excellent short break. The cottage is gorgeous; very homely: even the oversized house spiders in the porch seemed friendly! Kids loved their back bedroom and enjoyed many a game of Switchback.
Lauren, Paul, Cameron (10) and Maddie (8)
We were so delighted at the cottage – it has so much character and charm, and we felt very lucky indeed to be here.
Julia and John
We loved the location of the cottage (although Sat Nav did get confused: thank goodness for your directions!). The countryside is so beautiful and we found plenty to do in our six days. The cottage is so snug and cosy in the evenings too. We had a fantastic time without TV, playing games and reading our new books from Hay-on-Wye!
Andy, Diane, Tom (9) and Jack (6)
Some of our highlights have included climbing Pen y Fan, and driving the mountain road to Devil’s Bridge and the Mynach Falls. The Harp Inn is very recommended for food and views, and Hay on Wye for shopping. Altogether an most enjoyable stay, very ‘back to nature’. We would love to come back again. Thank you!
Anita, Paul and Dominic
Although just “stopping off” on our way to Pembrokeshire, we may look back on these few days as our real holiday. It is beautiful here.
Eva, Phil and Kieran
I got here by train and bus and foot from London without great problem, despite a missed connection at Newport. The return leg may not be so easy. But what a great place! Somehow you have combined spartan with practical, comfort with basic. And what a great porch you have here for me to start to write. That aside, I ate well (having biked to Kington for supplies). The high points for me were two walks - one up Hergest then today out of the cottage for four hours through woods, up hills, across meadows. All blissful. All I can really say is I hope you’ll let me come again.
Guy
A lovely short break. On our first day we walked over Hergest Ridge and back: the view there seems balanced on top of the English landscape. Thanks for a great welcome at this cottage.
Andrew and Fi
Arrived in the cold to see snow still on the ground of the higher hills. Lovely homely cottage; we especially liked reading and playing games in the living room, in front of the fire. Did three walks in our three days, all completely different and brilliant.. Went to Water-break-its neck for a gentle woodland stroll, but enthused by the alpine feel of the snow-covered hills and that fresh icy smell. We were actually walking in crusted snow six inches to a foot thick in places. Absolutely brilliant experience for our southern kids and us too. We’re all very enamoured with the cottage and hope to come again. Many thanks.
Matt, Jules and “three lively children”, visiting in November 2008
Twenty days here doesn’t seem very long; oh dear – we may ask for an even longer stay next time..! A lovely stay as ever.
Sally and Richard
We loved the cottage. Warm, snug and perfectly equipped. Everything worked perfectly.
Pippa, Clive, Olivia, Georgia, Jacob and children
We enjoyed some wonderful sunny days and took the opportunity to walk every day. I've become more and more alienated over the years by hiring over-fussy commercial cottages from impersonal letting agencies, so Givron's unfussy, rustic ambience was a great welcome. You can't really go wrong with maps, music and the Welsh borders - I can see how the place must have developed a huge place in your affections over the years. If there is a place that is 'ever England or 'ever Powys' it's somewhere near to Kington and Offa's Dyke.
Michael and Mark