Some time ago when my grandson was small I told him how I had surprised a roe deer in the Radnor Forest, a stone’s throw from Drovers Retreat. Wide eyed he enquired ‘Did you ride it?’ And that was the magic, not only that he should picture me doing just that, but that he believed in my imagined lithe leap on to its back as it pranced through the undergrowth. Now not all our visitors like deer of course. One guest this weekend remarked he had quite enough of them in his garden.

In the photo you can make out a well trodden path through our bluebell wood. This was created, not by humans but by the regular passage of badgers from our ancient sessile oak wood. You can trace their footprints across our lane and into the thick thorny bushes that skirt the field opposite. And not everyone likes badgers, especially cattle farmers. But here there are different kinds of magic for everyone to be found here at Drovers Retreat.

The wilderness of the Elan Valley or the music-filled town of Presteigne nearby, the chance to play a boisterous game of table football in the wet weather barn or simply to enjoy the peace of a night by the log burner on a chilly evening.

Julia’s visit in March was cut short by the snow but she had time to write in the guest book ‘Have fallen in love with the cottage and the area. A wonderful, quiet, relaxing place. Just the sound of the dog snoring, the fire crackling and the tawny owl calling...bliss!’

Then come and see for yourself!