Nestled on forty seven glorious acres of ancient land, The Dreaming is a rural wonder which offers true serenity and blissful tranquility. Once a 15th century Cistercian monastery, this fabulous property passed through Georgian and Victorian aristrocratic families to the designer Laura Ashley and her family in the 20th century. Laura Ashley directed her multinational interior design company from The Dreaming and then, in 2020, the wonderful Charlotte Church, with the help of talented collaborators, reimagined, refurbished and reconfigured it. Today, The Dreaming is truly inspiring, beautifully presented and totally at one with its natural surroundings. Sleeping up to sixteen guests across eight exceptional bedroom suites, this phenomenal property is perfect for special occasions, family and friend get togethers or even corporate events. The house is sat within 47 acres, and is surrounded by magnificent gardens designed in collaboration with RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Juliet Sargeant. They are enchanting, stunning and simply wondrous. Sprinkled with waterfalls, natural plunge pools for wild swimming, lush forest, rocks, caves, scenic walking paths and a fabulous collection of flora and fauna, you will quickly fall in love with them. Lucky guests that manage to book The Dreaming relax in superb luxurious living and sleeping spaces brimming with creativity and natural materials, chill on sheepskin rugs with mugs of herbal tea amongst soft mosses, enjoy the roof top deck while watching the fascinating red kites soar above and star gaze under the second darkest night skies in the UK. Living in this beautiful land lost in time, The Dreaming is a private paradise for your rural getaway. It is beautifully chic, effortlessly stylish and offers totally luxurious spaces. You can hunker down with revered wildernesses on your doorstep and total tranquility. You just need to pack your walking boots, a good book or three and a few bottles of fizz.
The Dreaming enjoys a fabulous, picturesque location in the heart of Wales, near Rhayader. With its stunning natural landscape. Rhayader is situated near the Elan Valley, an area renowned for its reservoirs and breathtaking scenery. The Elan Valley reservoirs, Claerwen, Craig-goch, Pen-y-garreg and Caban Coch, offer excellent opportunities for walking, cycling and birdwatching. There are numerous hiking trails perfect for those that love the outdoors and those with a passion for photography. The Elan Valley's reservoirs and cascading waterfalls provide endless opportunities for capturing the beauty of nature. Nearby, is the quaint village of Llanwrthwl with its beautiful church and idyllic setting along the River Wye. Further south, you can visit the historic town of Builth Wells, known for its annual Royal Welsh Show and charming riverside walks. The River Wye, which flows through the region, offers a lot of aquatic fun. The stunning Welsh coastline is not too far away where you can explore the beautiful sandy beaches of Aberystwyth and Borth and perhaps walk part of the superb Wales Coast Path. If you can bring yourselves to leave The Dreaming and its magnificent grounds, there is much to be explored.
The Dreaming boasts exceptional living spaces including the superb Print Room, so named as this was where Laura Ashley created many of her globally renowned prints. It is a serene, beautifully decorated space, perfect for a quiet read and a pot of tea or planning your Welsh adventure. The Cwtch (Welsh for cuddle) is another fabulous space where charm and character comes in lavish abundance as well as a carefully curated selection of gorgeous furnishings. It is ideal for gatherings, dozes, listening to music from the impressive collection, playing board games or snuggling up. The Refectory sits at the heart of the house, decorated with dried flowers that hang from the rafters, exposed brickwork, a gorgeous fireplace and furnished with two enormous banqueting tables. The countryside views are simply astonishing. The Healing Room is another wonderful versatile space where you can practice yoga or just chill.
Each of the eight bedrooms enjoys its own unique decoration and its own luxury bathroom. One room enjoys a sumptuous kingsize bed while one offers three queens and the others two queen beds, though The Dreaming is let out for groups of up to sixteen guests. The Wanderer suite comes with natural materials and artefacts from Africa, Peru and Mexico, a heavenly room for explorers with a spacious seating area and beautifully dressed beds. The room overlooks the gorgeous Elemental garden and the sensational Nant Caethon Valley. Its ensuite bathroom boasts a shower, a bath where you can soak your stresses away and a delightful window seat to take in the view. The Womb faces north to the deep forests and offers handmade flowing fabrics that offer a swaddling feeling. This room is a superbly comfortable nest with a seating area and a playful ensuite with a pink tadelakt shower. The Mushroom is inspired by the wonders of mycelium, the fungal threads connecting the forest plants. It is beautifully crafted from rustic natural materials with dark antique furniture and warm neutral tones. Again, it offers a spacious seating area and hotel quality linens. It is south facing with gorgeous views of the Nant Caethon Valley and the Elemental garden. The smart ensuite boasts a walk-in shower and a bath with gorgeous scenic views. Another wonder, The Moon, is designed to honour the lunar goddesses. Its soft flowing white fabrics are incredibly relaxing and serene. The moon-shaped bath overlooks the captivating Moon Garden. Forest Spirits overlooks the ancient woodland, in keeping with its design and forest reverence in Japanese culture. With Japanese tatami flooring, a beautiful seating area, a sumptuous kingsize bed and an ensuite proudly presenting a black tadelakt shower and a porcelain lotus sink, it is a room that tantalises all of the senses.
It is clear to see that Charlotte Church honours and connects with nature here at The Dreaming. It is a place where you will be awakened spiritually, refreshed, reinvigorated and where you will make special lasting memories with your family or favourite friends. You will discover the vibrant energy of the land, the epic depths of the forests, the mythic fantasy of the waterfalls and pure beauty and peace. The gardens are not only totally astonishing in their beauty and design but they also serve some practical purposes. The Elemental Garden, seen from a number of the bedrooms, stretches out in front of the house over five acres. Two rolling rivers of flowers sweep across, mirroring the calming streams that pass through the estate. The Moon Garden offers a stunning collection of white flowers while the Physic Garden provides medicinal herbs for their apothecary, making teas, balms, tinctures, soaps, lotions and potions. The Rings of Rhydoldog are the market gardens dotted with polytunnels and burgeoning food forests. The Potting Shed is another wonderful attraction as is the Japanese Tea Houe on the edge of the forest. Throughout the grounds, you will discover free-range chickens, sheep, bees, native birds and other wildlife. Also, there are some gorgeous spots such as the Waterfall Shower with its wooden platform that allows you to immerse yourself in the torrent of the falls, The Court of the Holly King with its holly trees, Woodhenge with its posts and stones and the Pool of a Hundred Reflections. There are two natural plunge pools for wild swimming and a woodland den. There are some wonderful walks including the Waterfall Trail and the Red Walk with the best views of the Cambrian Mountains.
You will feel the tranquility fold around you as you relax in absolute peace and quiet at The Dreaming. Expansive valley views will entice your gaze and you will leave with magical memories.
As featured on 'Charlotte Church's Dream Build' TV show on Discovery + and Really
