🏡About Us

We are Mark and Rachael and we live here with our dog Bonnie, Our 2 cats Blue and Belle, 4 Angora goats, 3 pigs. 2 sheep and a variety of chickens and ducks.

We moved to our magical corner of Wales, after falling in love with the place on a wet and windy day in November 2020. We brought with us, our elderly dog and cat, sadly no longer with us, as well as a few hens and ducks. We were looking for a peaceful, slower pace of life and definitely think we have found it on our small holding in the beautiful Welsh countryside.

We love living here and sharing this beautiful place with our guests. We hope that this guidebook will provide you with all the information you need to make your stay with us perfect. Please ask if there is anything else you would like to know.

🐷How we Became Flying Pig Lets

The moving process was fraught with unforeseen problems and very complicated. The expression ‘Pigs might fly’ was often being banded about when speaking about the move and it stuck with us.

The removal company that we had lined up for the past few months let us down at the last minute so a rescue mission with our 7 kids and their partners was launched involving hiring several vans and lots of journeys!

We finally arrived in Llandovery car park and made our way up to the house. Our kids thought we were mad but decided that we would never get tired of the view and indeed it is what has kept us going.

We set about upgrading the holiday cottage first which had been a bunkhouse for walkers in its former life, in order to provide us with some income.

The house is called Rhiw yr Hwch which means ‘Hill of the Sow’ and there is a tumbledown pigsty on the land. We must get some pigs then was our first very naive thought, and so Albert, Rodney and Del Trotter arrived as tiny cute piglets and the name ‘Flying Pig Lets’ was born.

The Welsh countryside around Flying Pig Lets

📍Our Details

AddressRhiw yr Hwch
Cilycwm
Llandovery
Carmarthenshire
SA20 0HG

What 3 words:///bricks.outlooks.gates

Home phone01550 721863

Rachael07876 231 402

Mark07885 216 886

🛋️Home from Home

The Old Milking Parlour is a cosy 2 bedroomed cottage sleeping 4 plus an infant and another small child in 2 bedrooms. A king sized bedroom on the ground floor with a twin up in the eaves.

🛏️The Main Bedroom

The double bedroom has a really comfy kingsized bed, a wardrobe and chest of drawers. The window looks out onto a pretty view of the valley and the sun streams in from mid day onwards. The cot provided, fits comfortably alongside the bed. There is a hairdryer and hot water bottle in the drawers. Hair straighteners available too, just ask.

🛌The Twin Bedded Room

The upstairs bedroom is up a “hit and miss” staircase which is not a ladder, but has narrower treads and needs just a little care, especially on the top step. A handrail on one side helps you and a stairgate is fitted at the top for our younger guests. There is a chest of drawers in this room and lots of hanging space downstairs in the cupboard in the bathroom. The cot also fits between the beds along with a flop out mattress suitable for children.

📺The Open Plan Living Space

The small, welcoming hallway is perfect for storing coats and muddy boots. It leads you under a low beam (please mind your head) into the living, dining and kitchen area, with vaulted ceiling and original beams.

There is a table seating 4, which is perfect for family meals when the sun doesn’t shine.

It also doubles up as a work space.

📺The Living Room

Has a large comfy sofa with throws for snuggling up, an extra arm chair and Percy the Pig footstool.

There is a smart TV, with all the usual apps. A DVD player and lots of DVDs.

You will also find some board games for family fun.

We provide maps of our local area, a range of books including some on local history and leaflets for nearby attractions with lots of ideas for places to see.

There are takeaway menus in the drawer too.

🍳The Kitchen

The kitchen has a fridge, with an ice compartment, an oven and hob, microwave, all the usual small appliances and everything you need to prepare a lovely brunch or full supper.

We do not have a dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer in the cottage as we are not connected to mains water. Our water comes from a spring and although it has been very plentiful, we ask you to be mindful of our water consumption, especially in the summer months during hot, dry weather.

In one of the kitchen cupboards, you will find a variety of toys and games for babies and children. In the twin bedroom, there is a farmyard mat for playing with the farm animals provided.

🧺Welcome Hamper

We provide some treats on arrival as well as instant coffee and pods for the coffee machine, tea, sugar and milk for your first cuppa. Please let us know if you have any allergies. There will also be some store cupboard items, salt, pepper and oil and of course, eggs from our hens!

🛁The Bathroom

is on the ground floor, and has a large shower. We provide huge fluffy towels and gorgeous toiletries with aromatherapy shower steamers.

These are all made very locally to us by Myddfai which is a Welsh Social Enterprise company. They make a range of natural luxury fragrances, toiletries and gifts, while providing meaningful work experience for adults with learning difficulties and autism. “Luxury with Purpose” They smell amazing and we have received lots of compliments from our guests. We love the ethos of the company and their products can be bought from the ‘Myddfai’ shop in town.

⚠️ Our septic tank is only able to take toilet paper, so please put everything else in the bin provided and not down the toilet.

🌿The Courtyard

The patio doors from the living area lead out onto your own courtyard with seating for 6, perfect for alfresco dining and drinking in the views. There are cushions and throws in the hallway to take outside, and a barbeque and fire pit for evening star gazing. Please let us know if you would like to use them and we can provide you with logs, charcoal and marshmallows for toasting.

🐾Our Animals

We have a mad Cocker Spaniel called Bonnie who loves to say hello but will only be in the yard with us.

You will probably see our 2 cats Blue and Belle around too, who love to make friends.

🐐In The Field - The Angora Goats

Poppy, Rosie, Violet and her daughter Lilly who was born here, live in the goat house in the field. You are welcome to go and say hello to them, or wander down to the swing under the old oak tree. The view is amazing there, so why not take a glass of something to watch the sun go down. Please be careful to close the gate as the goats do love to escape when given half the chance! Of course the hedgerow in the lane is much tastier than in their field!

🐷The Pigs

Rodney, Del and Albert only visit the field on occasions as they are terrible rooters as you will see from their area and would dig it up in a day!

They are surrounded by an electric fence so please be careful. They sometimes also mistake fingers (or toes) for food and may nip you accidentally. They love visitors so please say hello to them.

⚠️ A Stream runs alongside the pig run with steep banks at the top so please accompany young children at all times.⚠️

🐔Hens and Cockerels

Some live in the field and luckily roost high up in the trees away from predators.

The rest of them live in the barn with a large run and access to our garden.

Our Bantam hens can be very broody and make excellent mums. We often let them sit on eggs and their chicks are the size of cotton wool balls and are very cute! They are quite shy especially when they have chicks, so please allow them their space and do not open their houses.

The hens give us plenty of beautiful eggs and we will provide you with some for your stay. The Bantam hens lay smaller eggs but strangely the yolks are the same size as the larger eggs with just a little less white!

If you would like more eggs, there is an honesty box just outside the gates.

🦆The Ducks

Our ducks live in the yard and are usually waddling around the lane too. They love people and have a tendency to follow you around chattering!

If you would like to feed the hens and ducks some corn, please just ask.

🐑Sheep

Our 2 sheep, Frank and Fleur, live in the field behind the cottage. They were last year’s bottle fed lambs, orphaned at our neighbours farm. We really loved rearing them and just couldn’t bear to part with them, so they ended up becoming part of the crew! They usually live with lots of our neighbour’s sheep and will come running to say hello if you call them.

They love a cuddle and an ear scratch and like the goats love barley rings so just ask if you would like to feed them.

🧚A Fairy Woodland

Up the lane, on the left and up a couple of stone steps, is a path leading you into a tiny magical woodland where fairies may live. Follow the stepping stones, and see how many signs of fairies can you find?

Ring the bell to let the fairies know you are there.

Have a go at the fairy scavenger hunt to see what you can spot.

Why not make a nature wand with your little one while you are here to try to conjure up the woodland fairies? Just find a suitable stick in the woodland, collect some flowers, feathers and leaves from the hedgerow and ask me for the fairy wand craft box to put your wand together!

🍽️Places to Eat and Drink

We are lucky to have lots of really great places in town!

The nearest places to the cottage are in Llandovery, just 3 miles and 10 minutes by car where there are numerous shops, cafes, pubs and takeaways. Most are very dog friendly too!

Our favourite places for coffee, cakes and lunch is Penygawse, a Victorian tea room with great barista made coffee and an outdoor seating at the front or back.

We often go to the Clock Cafe at the Craft Centre as it serves delicious Welsh breakfast, sandwiches, scones and homemade cakes. Welsh cakes in lots of flavours are a speciality here. The staff are very friendly and the food is great.

West End Cafe offers traditional breakfasts, all day food and also does takeaway food.

Tudors Cafe serves locally produced home made food and we have had a full breakfast here occasionally.

🍺Pubs Serving Food

In Llandovery, there are several good pubs serving food. Our recommendations are:

The Bear Inn. thebear.wales tel 01550721777

It is a family owned and really cosy inside often with a roaring fire. They serve cocktails and a good variety of wine and beers. The food is really diverse with locally sourced burgers, vegan and Thai on the menu. Dog friendly with treats too! Our favourite is the vegan burger.

The Whitehall tel 01550 721139

It has changed hands and has a new chef. It is a friendly 17th century traditional pub with real ales and a healthy selection of gins! Cosy log fires and a beer garden at the rear.

They serve seasonal pub classics using locally sourced ingredients and from Matthews, our great local butcher. We love the steamed mussels with white wine sauce and seafood linguine. Puddings are lovely too!

The Castle Hotel (castle-hotel-llandovery.co.uk, tel 01550 720343)

is a traditional Welsh coaching Inn where Nelson apparently stayed in 1802. Original rustic charm with roaring log fires, it serves gastro-pub food made with local produce. Afternoon teas and Sunday carvery available too.

The Kings Head kingsheadllandovery.co.uk tel 01550 720393

A welcoming 17th century traditional coaching Inn serving good, well priced food in a lively atmosphere. Great value steak nights with regular live music. Dog friendly too.

The Bluebell tel 01550 583117

does not currently serve food, but a cosy pub with a recently refurbished eclectic style of decor and open 11 to 11 everyday. Serving good beer and cocktails, it is dog friendly with a comfy outdoor seating area at the back.

🥡Takeaways

We have a great range of takeaways in town and all located along the High Street.

Miz Spice Indian Restaurant tel 01550 720022

The Mayflower Chinese Takeaway tel 01550 720012

Golden Wok Chinese takeaways tel 01550 720757

We prefer The Mayflower but others prefer The Golden Wok!

JTs Fish Bar jtsfishbar.co.uk tel 07308 451334 does great Fish and Chips, pizzas, burgers and other meals. You can eat in too.

Ozzys Kebabs and Pizzas tel 07488 505556 no frills but exactly what you would expect from a kebab shop.

Judy’s Ice Cream Parlour is an absolute must for Welsh ice cream in loads of flavours and milkshakes, coffees and lots more too! We highly recommend it.

Rural living means that it is best to check and book as some places are closed on certain days. You can always ask us!

🚗In The Car

There are so many wonderful places to eat and drink around the area.

Llangadog is 9 miles away and has:

Y Castell (ycastell.wales, tel 01550 777377) is a gorgeously revamped, dog-friendly village pub in Llangadog that does seriously good, upscale food without any of the stuffiness. It’s the perfect, cozy spot to tuck into a proper Welsh Sunday roast or grab a local pint by the log burner after a long walk in the Brecon Beacons.

Dough Diddley’s Pizza Tent (tel 07553 221926) near Llangadog is a fantastic seasonal popup that serves exceptional, wood-fired pizzas with perfectly charred crusts from a cozy festival-style tent. It’s an incredibly relaxed, "bring-your-own-wine" spot that’s a massive hit with locals and campers, though pre-ordering is essential as their fresh daily dough frequently sells out.

The town of Llandeilo is 10 miles away, around 25 minutes by car, and has lots of places to eat. Our favourites are:

Cellar 62 (cellar62.co.uk, tel 07793 717153) is a family owned cosy wine bar serving global and locally sourced food, tapas, fine wines and cocktails. We love the lively atmosphere, eclectic decor and the warm welcome.

The Cawdor Arms Hotel (thecawdor.com, tel 01558 823500) has a Georgian restaurant for a locally sourced Welsh steak or a Sunday roast.

Flows on Market Street (tel 01558 610529) is a cozy café and wine bar serving locally sourced brunch and evening tapas and pizza nights.

Pitchfork and Provision (pitchforkandprovision.wales, tel 07886 447276), tucked into the Castle Courtyard, is an independent artisan bakery and café famous for its incredible homemade sourdough and deli-style lunches.

The Plough Rhosmaen (ploughrhosmaen.com, tel 01558 823431) is situated this side of Llandeilo on the A40. It offers stunning views of the Tywi Valley. Its kitchen specializes in classic British and Welsh dishes prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, served in a relaxed dining atmosphere.

Other places we love!

The Black Lion, Abergorlech (blacklionabergorlech.co.uk, tel 01558 685271) is around 30 minutes away. It is a proper, picture-perfect country pub nestled right on the banks of the River Cothi. It's the ultimate cozy pitstop where you can grab a hearty home-cooked meal and a local pint, and it features a fantastic beer garden right by the water that's absolute bliss after a walk through the nearby Gorlech forest.

The Towy Bridge Inn (Facebook, tel 01550 760370), in Rhandirmwyn, is 35 minutes from the cottage. It is a much-loved, idyllic country pub hidden away right on the scenic banks of the River Towy. It's a must after a visit to Lyn Brianne Reservoir and Dam for a local real ale and lovely pub food. The owners are very welcoming to walkers with muddy boots and dogs with dirty paws, and you can relax either by its cozy bar or out on the beautiful covered riverside deck. You may even spot a Kingfisher if you are really lucky!

The International Welsh Rarebit Centre (Facebook, tel 01874 636843), in Defynnog, is a cozy cafe with a log burner in an old schoolhouse that serves different and seasonal takes on the traditional Welsh Rarebit and great cakes.

🛍️Places to Shop

Llandovery is fantastic for independent shopping, offering a slower-paced market town vibe with genuine Welsh heritage and artisan crafts.

🧶Independent Boutiques & Crafts

The Old Printing Office: A beautiful gift shop in a 1700s building stocking Welsh crafts, luxury chocolates, and clothing.

Davies & Co: A treasure trove for interior lovers with country-chic homeware and authentic Welsh blankets.

Bumblebees of Llandovery: A paradise for crafters specializing in natural-fibre yarns and handcrafted gifts.

Myddfai Trading Company: Ethically sourced toiletries and Welsh gifts supporting the local rural community.

Llandovery Craft Centre: A hub for local artists and makers to showcase their work.

The Antiques Centre & Black Lion Antiques: Two large shops perfect for a wander through history.

🥖Local Food & Produce

Mathews Butchers: High-quality traditional butcher known for local Welsh meats like Welsh Black beef.

La Patisserie: Perfect for fresh traditional baked goods and indulgent cakes.

Llechyd Da Health Food shop: Small but well-stocked with organic fruits, vegetables, and vegan ingredients.

Llandovery Town Market: Held on the first Saturday of the month with local food producers and growers.

🛒Supermarkets & Essentials

Co-Op: Small but well-stocked supermarket open daily.

The Nisa: Main convenience store in the town centre open from early till late.

Morris Isaacs Garage: Stocks daily essentials like milk and bread.

Goodfillers: For stationery, hardware, and cleaning products.

🗺️Places to Visit

🌳Nature & Parks

Lyn Brianne Reservoir and Dam: Spectacular scenery and remote peace, perfect for star gazing and wildlife spotting.

Gwenffrd-Dinas Bird Reserve: An RSPB reserve with boardwalks through a celtic rainforest and ancient woodlands.

Cwm Rhaedor: Peaceful forest with mountain bike trails and footpaths overlooking the Tywi valley.

National Botanical Garden of Wales: Home to the world's largest single span glasshouse and the British Bird Of Prey Centre.

🏰History & Heritage

Dinefwr Park: Consists of 800 acres of parkland with a 9th-century castle and restored manor house.

Dolaucothi Gold Mines: The only Roman gold mines in Britain with underground guided tours.

Careg Cennan Castle: Spectacular 13th-century hilltop castle with 360-degree views of the Black Mountains.

Aberglasney: Restored historic gardens featuring the only surviving cloister garden in the UK.

🎡Family Adventures

Dan y Ogaf Showcaves: Underground caverns, a Dinosaur Park, and a farm—perfect for families.

Cantref Adventure Farm: Indoor soft play, tractor rides, and outdoor activities for children.

The Red Kite Feeding Centre: Watch up to 200 red kites gather for daily feedings at 3pm.

Magic of Life Butterfly House: A tropical paradise where butterflies fly freely among exotic plants.

🏙️Towns & Culture

Brecon: Historic market town with an 11th-century cathedral and a lovely canal towpath.

Aberystwyth: A lively university town with a long Victorian promenade and a funicular railway.

Heart of Wales Line: One of Britain's most beautiful train journeys, winding through remote countryside.

🏖️Coastal Escapes

Pendine Sands: Famous 7-mile stretch of firm sand on the Carmarthenshire coast.

Tenby: Prettiest seaside town in Wales with a colourful harbour and medieval streets.

New Quay: Pretty harbour town on the Ceredigion coast, famous for dolphin spotting boat trips.