Having put on a few pounds (or kilos) over the festive season, yesterday we set off to walk down through the orchard, into the woodland that lines the River Mynnidd. I have not been down on the tree lined riverbank walk for a while and had forgotten just how beautiful it is in Winter with its series of little waterfalls, soft bright green mosses, evergreen holly and multi-coloured fungi. Definitely a job for wellingtons as it is a little boggy in places. That is a job for the 2009 calendar - improving the access. We scampered up the bank half a mile further upstream where the so called "wicked witch" lives in a log cabin on the other side of the riverbank. Actually Stripe and Spot scampered and we lagged behind a little. Walking back through the meadows, chatting and revelling in the views out to the Brecon Beacons we decided that there is no place on this earth more beautiful than the 104 acres that make up the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/. We have more guests arriving this week in Barley Cottage and Wheatsheaf Cottage. Amanda has cleaned and polished them from top to bottom, made up the beds with fresh linens; Bob and I have stocked them up with firewood & lighting wood for the woodburners. I will just nip in to them today for a final check to make sure they are absolutely perfect.