Moon Conker
Powys, United Kingdom
Chillderness Escapes
- Our low price promise from £135 €154 p/n
-
Pod
Sleeps 2
- One king-size bed
Not suitable for children
Not suitable for pets
Overview
The Moon Conker embraces deliberate simplicity, perfect for adventurers that are ready to build fires, swing axes, and reconnect with nature. Found in its own private woodland with a river running through it, it’s a Shinrin-yoku inspired experience. It has a moon bathing setup – two Scandi-style baths filled by hand-pumped stream water and heated with a traditional ghillie kettle. There’s also a private, outdoor shower, with a woven cubicle, offering a refreshing, tranquil experience, blending with the natural surroundings.
Inside, you’ll find a super-king bed that converts into a comfortable lounge with a wood burner. The observatory portholes let you gaze at the starry skies from the warmth of your cosy space, so you can take full advantage of the Dark Skies Park.
For dining, the bespoke Pentagon pod provides a sheltered spot in your personal one-acre spot by the river, equipped with a twin-burner gas stove with a whistling kettle, and there’s also an upcycled washing drum firepit to warm up after watery Welsh adventures. For dining, a wood-fired mini pizza oven is available. Instead of a fridge, there’s a stream-cooled basket to keep your essentials chilled the natural way.
Read more
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM
- Check out: 10:30 AM
- Use of the wood-fired twin tubs are included in your stay
- This is an off-grid space with a mix of solar and electric power
- No Wifi
- The outdoor shower may not function in sub-zero temperatures
- Please bring a torch, walking boots, and swimwear
- The car park is a short walk down a steep gravelled path from the space
- Initial supply of firewood is provided with more available to purchase for £10 per bag or you can forage for wood around the site
- There's no electric refrigeration or cool boxes at this space - but you can cool sealed drinks in the river
- Phone signal available depending on the network
- Please bring a portable charger to charge your electronic device
Sleeping arrangements
- One king-size bed
Cooking
- Private covered outdoor kitchen with a gas cooker, kettle, and sink
- Cooking utensils, crockery and glassware provided
- Firepit BBQ
Washing
- Private compost loo a short walk from the pod
- Basic outdoor hot shower (may not function in very cold weather)
- Please bring toiletries
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen and towels provided
- The pod has heating and a log fire
- Solar lighting
Entertainment
- Outdoor wood-fired twin bath tubs
- Firepit area
Read more
Getting there
Chillderness Escapes, Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, LD2 3SG
What3Words: ///ventures.rewriting.river - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the estate entrance so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
Public transport
The nearest train station is Llandrindod (8.5 miles), from here guests can book a 20-minute taxi to the space.
By car
To reach Chillderness Escapes, follow the W3W or your Sat Nav until you get onto road B4358. Follow the road until you come across a church and turn right at a carved wooden sign for Red Kite Barn. Follow the single-track road straight, ignoring any right turns.
When you reach a 5-bar wooden gate, continue straight. You will pass another Red Kite Barn sign and the road will soon turn into a track. After a de-forested area on your right, you’ll spot a curved red sign reading Wy y ddraig / Dragon’s Egg. Continue past it for about 50 meters, and you’ll see another 5-bar gate on the right with a sign for Red Kite Estate. Go through this gate and follow the track for about 100m, just before reaching a small vehicle bridge. Look for another wooden sign and a small parking area on your right.
From the parking area, it is a short walk to the space which involves crossing a narrow log bridge and navigating uneven ground, so flat, waterproof shoes or walking boots are recommended.
Read more
Food & Drink
At Chillderness Escapes
A few welcome treats are provided, such as milk, marshmallows and Welsh cakes
Local shop
The Post Office (4 miles) - doubles as the local village store and is the closest shop to the estate. A decent selection of choice for a small space, including local produce.
Tesco (8.5 miles) Llandrindod Wells.
Pubs & restaurants
The New Inn (4 miles) - a good, local ale pub with the owner's award-winning sausages featuring on the menu and in their ‘rare breeds’ butcher shop next door too.
White Hart Inn (9 miles) - an old high street pub with landlord playing guitar and singing the old hits late on a Saturday evening.
The Llanelwedd Arms Hotel (8 miles) - a traditional hotel, pub and restaurant that also serves excellent and authentic Thai food.
Triangle Inn (11 miles) - a cosy old drovers inn at the gateway to the Elan Valley.
The Felin Fach Griffin (24 miles) - a historic inn with menus that changes daily and seasonally. In the winter you might have venison from the nearby Welsh Venison Centre, or in summer Welsh lamb with peas sourced that morning from the neighbouring Alfie Dan's Market Garden.
Read more
Activities
At Chillderness Escapes
Explore the 80 acres of woodland
Bring your binoculars and spot the local wildlife
Visit the 2,000 year old yew tree in the Llanafan Fawr churchyard which is approx. a 1-hour walk each way
Places to visit
Willow Globe (8 miles) - a wonderfully quirky mini-Globe made from planter willow trees, and beautifully intimate. It has a varied programme of Shakespeare plays and events.
Hay-on-Wye (27 miles) - a market town world renowned for books, bookshops and the Hay Festival which brings readers and writers together.
Strata Florida Abbey (34 miles) - explore they Abbey's magnificent arches and ruins, which is all that remains of a grand monastery from medieval times, dissolved by Henry VIII.
Outdoor & Active
Nearby wild swimming
Wolf’s Leap - offers a series of deep pools, about 10m across and 3m deep, at the outflow of a narrow slot gorge.
Elan Valley (17 miles) - a beautiful area of lakes, dams and reservoirs that provides a great opportunity for walking and cycling. It is home to the Red Kite Feeding Centre and is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it an ideal spot for stargazing.
Elan Wye Junction Pool (27 miles) - an idyllic spot that your hosts love and highly recommend. Pack a picnic and your swimming gear and embrace the refreshing water.
Llangorse Multi Activity Centre (30 miles) - offers a range of outdoor activities such as aerial zip lines, challenge courses and indoor activities like rock climbing and abseiling.
Brecon Beacons National Park (37 miles) - a stunning area of mountains, forests, and waterfalls that provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Henryhd Waterfall (48 miles) - visit the highest waterfall in South Wales.
Read more
Meet your hosts
Meet Anjana and David
Anjana has been described as a "force of nature" and David (who is proudly Welsh) is a barrister-turned-builder and back again; they met in Paris 40 years ago and bonded over a shared love of architecture and all things Francophile, particularly lunch.
20 years ago, they cut their construction teeth on the Curved House, which featured on Grand Designs. Their children are now grown and full members of the Chillderness team – it's a family affair!
Over the years, they have built a selection of uniquely designed range of isolated places to stay in Wales and France, rooted in those passions, as well as their strong values around upcycling and sustainability.
Wildlife & Environment
Anjana and David use geothermal heat pumps, a borehole, solar power and compostable toilets onsite. Their land is undergoing a rewilding project, with Carneddau ponies introduced to graze freely, and continue to protect the biodiversity that lives on their 81 acres, including the red kites, countless other bird species, hares, foxes, badgers and more!
Read more
-
Overview
The Moon Conker embraces deliberate simplicity, perfect for adventurers that are ready to build fires, swing axes, and reconnect with nature. Found in its own private woodland with a river running through it, it’s a Shinrin-yoku inspired experience. It has a moon bathing setup – two Scandi-style baths filled by hand-pumped stream water and heated with a traditional ghillie kettle. There’s also a private, outdoor shower, with a woven cubicle, offering a refreshing, tranquil experience, blending with the natural surroundings.
Inside, you’ll find a super-king bed that converts into a comfortable lounge with a wood burner. The observatory portholes let you gaze at the starry skies from the warmth of your cosy space, so you can take full advantage of the Dark Skies Park.
For dining, the bespoke Pentagon pod provides a sheltered spot in your personal one-acre spot by the river, equipped with a twin-burner gas stove with a whistling kettle, and there’s also an upcycled washing drum firepit to warm up after watery Welsh adventures. For dining, a wood-fired mini pizza oven is available. Instead of a fridge, there’s a stream-cooled basket to keep your essentials chilled the natural way.
Read more
-
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM
- Check out: 10:30 AM
- Use of the wood-fired twin tubs are included in your stay
- This is an off-grid space with a mix of solar and electric power
- No Wifi
- The outdoor shower may not function in sub-zero temperatures
- Please bring a torch, walking boots, and swimwear
- The car park is a short walk down a steep gravelled path from the space
- Initial supply of firewood is provided with more available to purchase for £10 per bag or you can forage for wood around the site
- There's no electric refrigeration or cool boxes at this space - but you can cool sealed drinks in the river
- Phone signal available depending on the network
- Please bring a portable charger to charge your electronic device
Sleeping arrangements
- One king-size bed
Cooking
- Private covered outdoor kitchen with a gas cooker, kettle, and sink
- Cooking utensils, crockery and glassware provided
- Firepit BBQ
Washing
- Private compost loo a short walk from the pod
- Basic outdoor hot shower (may not function in very cold weather)
- Please bring toiletries
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen and towels provided
- The pod has heating and a log fire
- Solar lighting
Entertainment
- Outdoor wood-fired twin bath tubs
- Firepit area
-
Location
Getting there
Chillderness Escapes, Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, LD2 3SG
What3Words: ///ventures.rewriting.river - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the estate entrance so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
Public transport
The nearest train station is Llandrindod (8.5 miles), from here guests can book a 20-minute taxi to the space.
By car
To reach Chillderness Escapes, follow the W3W or your Sat Nav until you get onto road B4358. Follow the road until you come across a church and turn right at a carved wooden sign for Red Kite Barn. Follow the single-track road straight, ignoring any right turns.
When you reach a 5-bar wooden gate, continue straight. You will pass another Red Kite Barn sign and the road will soon turn into a track. After a de-forested area on your right, you’ll spot a curved red sign reading Wy y ddraig / Dragon’s Egg. Continue past it for about 50 meters, and you’ll see another 5-bar gate on the right with a sign for Red Kite Estate. Go through this gate and follow the track for about 100m, just before reaching a small vehicle bridge. Look for another wooden sign and a small parking area on your right.
From the parking area, it is a short walk to the space which involves crossing a narrow log bridge and navigating uneven ground, so flat, waterproof shoes or walking boots are recommended.
-
Food & Drink
At Chillderness Escapes
A few welcome treats are provided, such as milk, marshmallows and Welsh cakes
Local shop
The Post Office (4 miles) - doubles as the local village store and is the closest shop to the estate. A decent selection of choice for a small space, including local produce.
Tesco (8.5 miles) Llandrindod Wells.
Pubs & restaurants
The New Inn (4 miles) - a good, local ale pub with the owner's award-winning sausages featuring on the menu and in their ‘rare breeds’ butcher shop next door too.
White Hart Inn (9 miles) - an old high street pub with landlord playing guitar and singing the old hits late on a Saturday evening.
The Llanelwedd Arms Hotel (8 miles) - a traditional hotel, pub and restaurant that also serves excellent and authentic Thai food.
Triangle Inn (11 miles) - a cosy old drovers inn at the gateway to the Elan Valley.
The Felin Fach Griffin (24 miles) - a historic inn with menus that changes daily and seasonally. In the winter you might have venison from the nearby Welsh Venison Centre, or in summer Welsh lamb with peas sourced that morning from the neighbouring Alfie Dan's Market Garden.
-
Experiences
At Chillderness Escapes
Explore the 80 acres of woodland
Bring your binoculars and spot the local wildlife
Visit the 2,000 year old yew tree in the Llanafan Fawr churchyard which is approx. a 1-hour walk each way
Places to visit
Willow Globe (8 miles) - a wonderfully quirky mini-Globe made from planter willow trees, and beautifully intimate. It has a varied programme of Shakespeare plays and events.
Hay-on-Wye (27 miles) - a market town world renowned for books, bookshops and the Hay Festival which brings readers and writers together.
Strata Florida Abbey (34 miles) - explore they Abbey's magnificent arches and ruins, which is all that remains of a grand monastery from medieval times, dissolved by Henry VIII.
Outdoor & Active
Nearby wild swimming
Wolf’s Leap - offers a series of deep pools, about 10m across and 3m deep, at the outflow of a narrow slot gorge.
Elan Valley (17 miles) - a beautiful area of lakes, dams and reservoirs that provides a great opportunity for walking and cycling. It is home to the Red Kite Feeding Centre and is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it an ideal spot for stargazing.
Elan Wye Junction Pool (27 miles) - an idyllic spot that your hosts love and highly recommend. Pack a picnic and your swimming gear and embrace the refreshing water.
Llangorse Multi Activity Centre (30 miles) - offers a range of outdoor activities such as aerial zip lines, challenge courses and indoor activities like rock climbing and abseiling.
Brecon Beacons National Park (37 miles) - a stunning area of mountains, forests, and waterfalls that provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Henryhd Waterfall (48 miles) - visit the highest waterfall in South Wales.
-
Your Hosts
Meet Anjana and David
Anjana has been described as a "force of nature" and David (who is proudly Welsh) is a barrister-turned-builder and back again; they met in Paris 40 years ago and bonded over a shared love of architecture and all things Francophile, particularly lunch.
20 years ago, they cut their construction teeth on the Curved House, which featured on Grand Designs. Their children are now grown and full members of the Chillderness team – it's a family affair!
Over the years, they have built a selection of uniquely designed range of isolated places to stay in Wales and France, rooted in those passions, as well as their strong values around upcycling and sustainability.
Wildlife & Environment
Anjana and David use geothermal heat pumps, a borehole, solar power and compostable toilets onsite. Their land is undergoing a rewilding project, with Carneddau ponies introduced to graze freely, and continue to protect the biodiversity that lives on their 81 acres, including the red kites, countless other bird species, hares, foxes, badgers and more!
-
Reviews
Our guests say...
Lisa, Canopy & Stars
The moon conker is a lovely little dream. The setting is so quiet and unspoilt with every attempt made to keep the area as natural as possible whilst having structures built on it. The staff made sure that the space was perfectly set with free tea and coffee and some lovely little surprise treats. I loved having to cross the river to the compost loo as it added to the sense of adventure. I was very lucky that the stars were out in full glory and the bathing experience (once I'd actually managed to fill the bath enough) was pure magic. I felt very grateful to have such luxury combined with nature's wonder. Some of the local pigs came to say hello too which was really fun.
29/08/2022Abi
Reviews
Nestled into the hillside the Moon Conker is a great base for your wild escape. Light the fire, heat up the water and sink into your twin hot baths on the banks of the river. It's out of this world!
13/10/2023Lisa, Canopy & Stars
The moon conker is a lovely little dream. The setting is so quiet and unspoilt with every attempt made to keep the area as natural as possible whilst having structures built on it. The staff made sure that the space was perfectly set with free tea and coffee and some lovely little surprise treats. I loved having to cross the river to the compost loo as it added to the sense of adventure. I was very lucky that the stars were out in full glory and the bathing experience (once I'd actually managed to fill the bath enough) was pure magic. I felt very grateful to have such luxury combined with nature's wonder. Some of the local pigs came to say hello too which was really fun.
29/08/2022Abi
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Nestled into the hillside the Moon Conker is a great base for your wild escape. Light the fire, heat up the water and sink into your twin hot baths on the banks of the river. It's out of this world!
13/10/2023