About us
We are architect, smallholder, artist and crafters and live here at Wildernest in the farmhouse. We can stay happily for days without venturing out on the roads. We love the peace and slow life here, contact with nature and especially the ease of people. Our guests since we opened in 2011 have been wonderful and highly appreciative of the seclusion at Wildernest.
Having spent our lives working in cities and foreign parts Jude and I resolved to spend more time together, doing what we most enjoy. I continue as architect but pick clients who don’t ask difficult questions about budget or programme. Jude is a perpetual artist and gardener who happily cooks for love.
This is shortly after work started at Blaengors in 2008. Us with Izzy, Will and Jessie.
Jessie decided to have her wedding in the Long Barn, which suddenly changed our priorities. A TV director then governed our lives and our programme of work for about a year.
We moved into the farmhouse in 2010, and the Wildernest business started with the Airstream in 2011. The “children” are often here helping enormously, as a pretext for creating a venue for their weddings and the occasional Wilderfest.
Once we had completed converting the stone longhouse into cottages we had the urge to build something from scratch. A straw bale house sounded simple, but it turned out not that easy. It took us three years – about as long as building a station – but we were on our own.
Wildernest is now well established and attracts guests all year round. It is developing into a family business with a succession plan for Izzy and Frank to expand our form of sustainable tourism and a forest garden. Success will be measured in the multitude of birds.
“Ty-Twt has a carefully crafted timber interior that is comfortable and imaginatively designed.”
TRISH LORENZ, THE INDEPENDENT TRAVEL
“Its name (Cuddfan) means hiding place, and this barn conversion for two outside Aberaeron is just that.”
RHIANNON BATTEN, THE GUARDIAN TRAVEL
5-Star reviews, experience, high response rate & commitment. We have it all. That’s why we’re Airbnb Superhosts!
AIRBNB, SUPERHOST
“Thank you Hugh & Jude for this fantastic stay in Wales. Cuddfan is a little beautiful cottage. We felt at home surrounded by nature, little animals and quiet. We really enjoyed your breakfast and the marvellous dinners prepared by Jude. Thank you very much for the Welsh experience. We shall tell everyone in Italy… Grazie!”