And relax. A peaceful retreat, perfect for 2

You'll find The Old Bake House tucked away below the Black Hill in stunnng rural Herefordshire, just a stone's throw from the Welsh border. It's the perfect escape for 2, a place where you can immerse yourselves in the tranquility and natural beauty of its peaceful setting. Wake up to the soothing sounds of birdsong and the river flowing nearby before exploring the Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, or just curl up on the sofa with a favourite book in front of a cosy fire! The space The Old Bake House is a detached, charming cottage, full of character with its vaulted ceiling, exposed oak beams and quirky features from its 200 year history. Spacious yet cosy, the interior fittings and furnishings have been carefully chosen to provide comfort and style. The Super King bedroom is comfortable, light and airy with two windows overlooking the pretty gardens. The bed can also be configured as two 3ft single beds if required - just let us know when you book. The main living area is full of character with plush rugs, soft furnishings and a comfy sofa with chaise longue. You'll find games and books inside the dresser and a dining table and chairs for 2 by the window. The large woodburning stove makes for cosy evenings in front of the 42 inch Smart TV so you can log onto your own Now TV, Netflix etc accounts. Wifi is excellent - and free. The kitchen has everything you'll need for home-cooked dinners or a lazy brunch (double oven with hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, cafetiere and fridge) and the utility room provides a freezer, dishwasher and washer/drier. The larger-than-average bathroom (or more accurately, shower room) features a generous shower enclosure with sky view, and a contemporary frosted glass wash basin. Off the main living area is the bright, airy sun room with views across the south-facing gardens. Our guests love this space with its lounging chairs for dozing in the warmth, or settling down with a good book, or simply watching the birds and little critters that live in the garden. We've popped a small dining table and chairs in there as it really is a perfect lookout spot. Outside the sun room you'll find a paved patio with chairs and coffee table. Most of the garden can be seen from here but please have a little explore of it. It's not perfectly weeded and tended as we make a point of supporting birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife. You'll be able to see the River Monnow as it flows along the garden boundary. There is so much on offer within a 10 mile radius of the cottage, from canoeing or kayaking on the River Wye and pony trekking to mountain biking and paintballing. We'll email you our list before you arrive but there are leaflets in the cottage as well. You can just step out of the front door and walk in the hills - you'll find books and maps in the property. However, it's also important to acknowledge the potential for a restorative, relaxing holiday where you feel you can escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy life. Bring those books you've been meaning to read, or catch up on that TV series! Take the opportunity to do some stargazing - the cottage is in one of the least light-polluted areas in the UK. Hay on Wye, famous for its many book shops and eateries, is well worth a visit and is only 8 miles away. Abergavenny is also a worthy destination and is becoming reowned for its many and varied eateries and independent shops. You can arrange a grocery delivery to The Old Bake House if you wish to - in spite of its rural location, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco all deliver to the cottage from Hereford (17 miles). Alternatively, Abergavenny (14 miles) is well served with Waitrose, Aldi and Morrisons supermarkets. Guest access Guests enjoy a dedicated private off-road parking space and exclusive use of the lovely, large garden behind the cottage. The cottage sits approximately 20m from the parking space across a lawn with stone footpath. We can provide EV charging on site for a reasonable additional cost. Other things to note There are 2 steps up to the front door. The interior is all on one level apart from a small step up into the shower. Please note that some of the doorways inside the cottage are quite narrow (26 inches) due to the history and age of the property. The flagstones have uneven surfaces as they are so old - no two are the same! There is an original oak beam in the living area which is below standard height so you may have to duck. A signal for mobile phones is usually available in the cottage, but if this is weak, a better signal can be obtained by walking a little way towards the parking space. Electric Vehicle charging using the cottage's electricity supply is strictly prohibited for safety reasons and because it will invalidate our Insurance.