Slow Stays | Highbrook Cottage, Welsh Borders
Disclaimer: this is not an ad, but I photographed Highbrook Cottage for a photography job and stayed there free of charge.
Last month I had the pleasure of spending a couple of nights at Highbrook Cottage, a beautiful secluded abode tucked away on the Welsh borders. Surrounded by woodland, fields and Whinyard Rocks’ vineyards, the cottage feels worlds away from the stresses and pressures of everyday life. It’s a true escape, where you can completely switch off (although there is a TV and WiFi if switching off isn’t your thing) and just enjoy your surroundings. I was there to photograph the cottage and it’s surroundings, and my stay coincided with unseasonable weather, so I spent most of my time cosied up inside the cottage - snuggled up in bed with a book, editing photos sprawled on the sofa, and eating meals around the kitchen table. When the sun did shine, I leapt at the chance to spend time outdoors, strolling down country lanes, sipping Whinyard Rocks natural wine in the cottage garden, and enjoying a full tour of the vineyards and fledgling flower field with owner, Susan. My only trip out was a wander around Hay-on-Wye, and an afternoon at Hergest Croft, to admire the beautiful trees in their arboretum and the delights of their flourishing kitchen garden. I usually want to venture out, try new places to eat and explore, but the wet weather gave me the perfect excuse to just slow down and enjoy my immediate surroundings.
Highbrook Cottage is beautifully designed and decorated, with so many snug little corners that were perfect for my favourite activity: curling up with a good book. Soft tones of pink and green form the basis of the interiors, with beautiful prints, stylish textiles and antique artwork providing interest. There are two bedrooms upstairs, both with large, comfortable beds, soft sheets and panelled wardrobe doors that I loved. Every window offers views of the neighbouring fields and trees, providing little vistas to admire the nature from the comfort of your bed or armchair. One of my favourite details was the large dried flower wreath that hangs above the stairs, creating a soft, natural statement piece that perfectly complemented the rest of the interiors.
Find out more about Whinyard Rocks and Highbrook Cottage here, and enjoy your own little getaway in one of my favourite areas of the UK: the Welsh borders.
