Richard Bowen is the owner of the beautiful Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages, located in Pontardawe, and his family have taken care of the estate for several decades.
These lovingly restored holiday cottages are located on the historic Plas Cilybebyll Estate, situated perfectly between the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Gower Peninsula. Richard grew up on this Estate and spent his childhood there while it was a working farm. He wanted to share this idyllic part of Neath Port Talbot with the world, and so the Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages were born.
In his own words:
“One thing in particular I love about this location, is that we’re so close to several towns and cities with quite dense populations, and yet you’d never know. It’s very quiet and peaceful here in the hills, so while you may only be an hour or so away from city life, it feels a million miles away.
“We’re right in the ‘Dramatic Heart’ of South Wales, which means the well-known tourist hotspots are accessible, yet so are the lesser-known areas that are equally as beautiful – like the woodland surrounding our holiday cottages!
“My favourite part about welcoming guests is introducing them to this area. Surprise is a feeling that I think most of them experience when they lay their eyes on the Estate for the first time.
“Sharing my knowledge of the area is a passion of mine, so I’ve written a book detailing the history of the Estate, the walks that guests can enjoy on-site, and some interesting artefacts that I’ve found – some dating as far back as the Welsh Kings of the Dark Ages!
“It’s a real joy to share my home and memories with people far and wide. Seeing guests visibly relax and immerse themselves in their surroundings here is absolutely priceless.”