Medley Meadow

You’ll find the four safari tents of Medley Meadow between the Wye Valley and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons). It’s a good place to stay if you want to visit either – or, perhaps, both. But it’s also a good spot to simply enjoy. These dog-friendly tents are pitched in nine wildlife-rich acres which are being managed with conservation in mind. Red kites and buzzards soar overhead, kingfishers, herons, and water voles are spotted by the pond and if you hear any snuffling about at night, that’ll probably be the resident badgers. Or the hedgehogs. Or, perhaps, even a pole cat. You’re probably getting the idea. “The wildlife,” says the family behind this re-wilding site, “is as welcome as the guests”. And you’ll soon find out that guests are made to feel pretty welcome indeed.

Each of the safari tents is kitted out for up to six people, with two bedrooms (one a double, the other a bunk bed twin) and space for two more on a sofa bed in the living room. That space is warmed by a log burner and incorporates the kitchen and dining room – and there’s an en-suite bathroom too. With electricity and running water, it’s a real home from home in the field and the fields are never far away. Unzip the front of your safari tent and you’ll find yourself on a huge verandah. It’s partly covered for shelter and shade and partly an open deck from which to watch the wildlife, enjoy a morning coffee, or even a spot of yoga. There’s a fire pit in your outside space as well, which is screened from the other tents.

A series of signposted paths help you weave your way around the meadows if you want to discover its hidden corners; among them are a stream, a pond, and an ancient oak. It’s worth planning to spend at least one day of your stay right here on site to slow down and really enjoy the peace of the place. But the world outside will beckon. The mountains and waterfalls of Bannau Brycheiniog on one side, the spectacular Wye Valley on the other with castles, canals, and rolling countryside in between.