I love Wales. The mountains, the soaring views. The lack of phone reception. The enforced slow down.
A friend said to me today, that being in the mountains allows stresses to quite literally fall off your shoulders. She said it was all that looking up, your worries sliding off your back as you stand their gazing up. I believe she is right.
Last week, we spent four wonderful days in Mid-Wales, beneath the towering hills of the Black Mountains. Kite Hill Yurts is a treasure, and absolute joy. Owned by Canadian Dominic and Brit Kate and their young son, who last year returned to the UK to live the good life. Searching for a small holding, came across this farm and fell in love. It is enchanting, fields, views, ducks, a lama and two beautiful large Yurts.
Set high in a field behind the farm house, with breathtaking views of the Black Mountains laid out in front. We stayed in the yurt called Skylark, blue in colour, painted in Buddhist symbols and furnished with a large, comfortable bed, a single with a pull out truckle bed. Arm chairs and importantly a log burner for cosy nights in bed reading Harry Potter (which we did).
We spent days walking the surrounding moorland, discovering a mountain lake and meeting the local sheep and wild horses. Playing cricket, board games and catching bugs. As the evening drew in, we had delicious bbq's, pork chops with aioli and crushed potatoes. As the sun went down, Dan lit the fire and we made fire apples and sang camp songs.
After four days in this wonderful location, we felt renewed, revived and in love with Wales even more.
Thank you Dominic and Kate - you have a really special place! For more information on staying at Kite Hill Yurts, please visit their website or visit their facebook page.
Recipe for Fire Apples:
Apples
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Stick
Peeler
Fire
1. Peel your apple (preferably picked from the tree, to be really outdoorsy and authentic)
2. Push the peeled apple onto the stick (found lying near bushes)
3. Roll the apple in a mix of brown sugar and cinnamon
4. Sit comfortably around a blazing camp fire
5. Dangle the sugar coated apple in the flames for a while
6. Check regularly and turn apple to avoid burning
7. Once apple is golden and caramelised, blow a little to cool and scoff
8. Repeat until you are stuffed