Full disclaimer: I paid for this trip myself but was given a press discount.

At the beginning of the year, I booked a few special U.K trips to look forward to. The past two years I’ve been taking advantage of the pandemic to explore more places closer to home, but I haven’t been quick enough to book the accommodation that caught my eye. So, in January, I planned three trips to give myself something to look forward to. The first of these trips was for my boyfriend’s birthday last week: three days in the Welsh borders, staying at Hergest Lee.

It feels like a long time since I shared my travels on here, not being able to explore the world as much as I would like over the past couple of years. I have so many plans and ideas of where I’d like to visit this year and even next year, but I’m trying to stick to my ethos and take things slow, savouring every moment of each place I visit. Last week in Wales was no exception. We visited two towns that have been on my radar for some time on the way to and from the cabin (Hay-on-Wye and Ludlow), but spent most of our time just cosying up inside and enjoying the slow pace of not really doing anything.

The cabin we stayed in, Hergest Lee, was beautifully designed, meaning that we were quite happy to snuggle up on the sofa or in the den with a bottle of wine, bowls of snacks and the huge pile of books we acquired when passing through Hay-on-Wye. Other than nipping out for a couple of meals and walks around the neighbouring woods, I was happy to put a to-do list to one side and just relax. It helped that there was a beautiful bath positioned beside the huge window in our bedroom, giving me a place to soak while admiring the views.

Hergest Lee is filled with beautiful small touches that really make it feel like a home-from-home. The style of decor is very similar to our own house, with Mid-Century touches and plenty of plants, dried flowers and beautiful ceramics, helping me to feel right at home. I felt like I was permanently taking notes of elements of the cabin I’d like to introduce to my own home, and felt inspired to plan our kitchen/dining room makeover while sprawled on the sofa.

Previously, I haven’t cared too much about where I stay, travelling with the mentality that I will spend as little time as possible actually in my accommodation. This is still true to a certain extent - on a city break or beach holiday, you’re unlikely to find me in my apartment or hotel - but I find that I care more now about the place where I rest my head at night. I have a keen interest in interiors and beautiful design, and I also like to have a place where I can retreat to rest and relax, that feels homely and comfortable. I found Hergest Lee the perfect base for exploring Powys, and am hoping to return in the future during the summer months to explore more of the area (the welcome pack includes a list of the owner’s wild swimming recommendations that I’d love to try out!) but still have a relaxing place to return to at the end of the day.

Here are a few of my favourite photographs I took during my stay. I took a lot, so I hope you like scrolling!