Although I’m a country girl, I freely confess that I have never really got the whole horsey thing.  I appreciate that they are beautiful animals but am ever so slightly scared when I’m on the back of one.  So, the prospect of staying in a horsebox for the weekend wouldn’t have necessarily been my first choice.

However, we did just that and it was fabulous.  Willow Acres campsite, just on the edge of Pontypool in the Brecon Beacons, is a little slice of heaven.  The site only opened a month before we visited and as such we had the whole place to ourselves.  However, I have no doubt that this will be a one off, as the minute word gets out, the site will surely be booked for months to come.

So, the horsebox?  Our accommodation for the weekend was in Rose Marie, a converted horsebox.   On the edge of a field, overlooking beautiful countryside, our weekend home was well designed and offered everything we needed.  Two sofa beds pulled out to provide sleeping room for a family, plus there was a little den up above the cab that was perfect for children to sleep in.  

Outside was a balcony and a covered kitchen area, complete with everything we could need.  We even had our own little fire pit, made from an old wheel hub!  And that was part of the magic of the whole site.  Everything was made from recycled materials and items found on the farm.  The washbasins were old cattle drinking troughs.  The floors in the showers were made from old decking.  The site was imaginatively designed and reflected the combined talents of the owners in both design and construction.  In addition, as part of the Greener Camping Club, the campsite is very eco-friendly with solar lighting and compost toilets amongst others.

As well as Rose Marie, there were several tent pitches, each one boasting its own covered kitchen.  As any British camper knows, the weather can be unreliable (!) so having a dry place to sit, cook and socialise can make all the difference.

All the pitches also had their own toilets and showers.  I will confess that we did use those belonging to Lumpy and Snowy (One of the tent pitches, all named after animals on the farm!) rather than our own, as they afforded wonderful views of the valleys, which added to the showering experience!

From the campsite, we were able to walk up to the top of the nearby Garn Wenn mountain which offered spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside.  A hard track all the way to the top renders this achievable for wheelchair users, if a slight challenge to the upper arms!  But, if possible, the views make it worthwhile.  And even better?  The chance to sample some of Simon, the owner’s, home-made sloe rum on our return….

Also worth a visit are the nearby Garn Lakes – the whole area was once a mining community and the nature reserve is actually built on the site of old spoil heaps and colliery workings.  An imaginative land reclamation programme resulted in the area being opened in 1997 as a destination point with fully accessible walks around lakes and grasslands, all of which are home to a wide range of wildlife.  It also offers a great vantage point to watch the beautiful steam trains of the Pontypool and Blaenavon railway.

Where to eat nearby:

Horseshoe Inn in Mamhilad.  We arrived too late for food, but it was worth it just for the setting and the hospitality offered. 

Goytre fish and chip bar and Indian takeaway.  Now, like many other people since Covid, I usually pay for everything on my card.  I also epitomise hangry.  So, imagine the dismay of the rest of the family when they found out that the Goytre chippy did not take card payments.  No matter.  Despite not knowing us from Adam, the friendly chap behind the counter offered to let us have our food and just drop the money in sometime the next day when we were passing.  The best curry I’ve had in ages was only enhanced further when, sitting on the picnic bench outside to eat it, they brought us out a cup of tea each and a plate of biscuits! 

Jackie’s Meats in Pontypool was the source of some of the best steak I’ve had in ages.  Along with cooking tips aplenty from the friendly owner who has her own YouTube channel.  Perfect over the BBQ with a cold beer…

How accessible is it?

So, what about accessibility?  For those with mobility problems, the horsebox would, in all honesty, likely pose a few issues.  There are four steps to get up to the balcony and then a slight lip at the entrance to the horsebox itself.  Once inside, everything is flat, although a little snug if in a wheelchair.  The actual field is very flat with closely mown grass paths between all the pitches.  All the cooking areas are accessible and they boast a reclaimed wooden worksurface with space underneath for wheelchairs.  There is also an undercover communal area which offers good access.  At present, the toilets and showers may prove tricky if you are unable to transfer independently, but there are plans afoot to improve this.

At present, the site would not be recommended for full time wheelchair users as the wash facilities are not yet fully adapted. However, for an individual with the ability to walk a few steps this would be an ideal setting for a lovely, peaceful break. The owners are keen to make the site suitable for all and they intend to adapt some of the facilities to make them fully accessible.  In addition, even more exciting, is that they are planning to install some bell tents in the next field over. These would be situated amongst the bluebells under the tress, a truly idyllic setting.

So, while the site is not yet fully accessible, the owners are keen to build on this, to create a campsite that is welcoming to everyone.

So do watch this space, as Willow Acres campsite is indeed a glorious setting run by the most welcoming hosts and definitely worth considering for a future break away.

To find out more about the campsite go to  https://awheelandaway.com/portfolio-item/willow-acres-campsite

To book a stay visit https://www.willowacrescampsite.co.uk