Setting

Caer Llan

Our group will have exclusive use of Caer Llan, a large manor house set in 25 acres of gardens, fields and woods in the lower Wye Valley with stunning views of Monmouthshire's peaceful countryside. This fairytale-like estate, down the road from historic Tintern Abbey, has many secluded places to relax, reflect and write and even has its own natural soundtrack of chirping birds and bleating lambs.

Caer Llan's workspaces and meeting rooms all get excellent natural light. The reception hall and common room have inviting open fireplaces while the conservatory has spectacular views across the Vale of Usk, and the cozy board room has comfy chairs and bay window looking out on the Tudor lawn.

Outside, you will enjoy Caer Llan's idyllic grounds and gardens. The large patio and picturesque outdoor pool have stunning views overlooking the valley's roaming fields and distant mountains. A labyrinth of paths, lawns and terraces surround the main house. The mature gardens contain many unusual trees and shrubs, while concealing endless interesting niches found only by more adventurous explorers. The adjoining 8 acre woods has its own ecosystem of plants and wildlife.

The weather tends to be cooler and damper in South Wales than the typical muggy Mid-Atlantic summer, but it's always refreshing. You'll want to pack your "Mackintoshes" and "Wellies" just in case.

Accommodation

All 14 spacious bedrooms have private (en suite) bathrooms, televisions and tea making facilities. You can choose from a single or double room package. Or, if you and your friends are interested in sharing a triple or quad to save some money, contact us. All rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to get your first choice!

Dining

Breakfast will start with tea & coffee, fresh juices and cereals, toast & preserves, followed by a full Welsh breakfast using locally produced sausages, bacon and free range eggs. You will enjoy tasty lunches and three course dinners. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Caer Llan in History

Because of Caer Llan's prime location atop a ridge with clear views to the "marauding West," the property has been occupied since Neolithic times. In 1404 the Battle of Craig-y-dorth ("Hill of the Loaf") saw Owain Glyndwr force King Henry IVth's men back to the Monmouth town walls, though the exact details of the skirmish are sparse. The Caer Llan ridge is only 5 minutes from Craig-y-Dorth and Glyndwr may have used Caer Llan as his campsite, giving his followers a place to rest, feed and have their wounds dressed. Click here to read more.

The main house at Caer Llan's is believed to have been built around the turn of the 19th century. And in 1988, the eco-friendly Berm House was added; its use of solar-power and a rooftop garden make it nearly carbon neutral. Caer Llan provides an ideal venue for Vision, Valley & Revelation: A Getaway for Poets & Writers in Wales. Who knows. Maybe we'll be blessed by the voices of those early warrior bards.

Remember, Caer Llan is a Retreat Centre not a Resort

Your comfortable room will be made up with fresh sheets, blankets and towels. Caer Llan doesn't have maid service so if you haven't made a bed in a while, better practice ahead of time.

There are small televisions in the bedrooms and the main house has wi-fi access in some of the common areas. There is a computer available to get online for a nominal fee. Cell phone reception may be limited so if you have an international phone or Blackberry, you may not get a strong signal. Leaving your phone at home? There is a pay phone for incoming and outgoing calls (we'll give you the number later). Remember, this is a get-away. You will be far from the distractions of your regular life. And that must appeal to you if you've read this far.

About Wales

Croeso i Cymru! / Welcome to Wales!

While Wales is often thought of as one entity with the rest of Britain, it is different in landscape, culture, tradition and language. Many people in Wales are bilingual, speaking both Welsh and English, but all take pride in their country's history which consists mainly of fighting to retain their independence. Wales was invaded by Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Normans and finally the English.

Remember Owain Glyndwr (Owen Glendower) who led the Welsh forces in the rebellion in Henry IV, Part 1?

Shakespeare didn’t much like him, but he’s a hero to the Welsh and is considered the father of Welsh nationalism. After leading an independent Wales for a dozen years or so, he was defeated in 1412 and disappeared. While his final years are a mystery, I thought I spotted him a few years back operating an amusement ride at Barry Island Pleasure Park near Cardiff, but I can’t verify it.

In 2000, celebrations were held all over Wales to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Glyndwr rising and he has been voted 23rd in a poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. What would George Washington say about those numbers?

This history of constant struggling against invaders left Wales with more castles per square mile than any other European country. What I realized on a recent trip is that these castles were built to conquer the Welsh (duh!), but they love them anyway. And they are magnificent! Today, tourists from England (but virtually none from the States) continue the invasion.

Consider visiting one of these nearby castles, all different and hauntingly beautiful.

   • Caerphilly Castle — "one of the great medieval castles of western Europe"
   • Cardiff Castle — restored by the 3rd Marquess of Bute in the 19th c.
   • Chepstow Castle — one of William the Conqueror's first castles
   • Raglan Castle — a beautiful 15th c. castle "unlike any other in Wales"
      (see photo below, from the Raglan Village site)

Stuff to Do

For those wishing to explore the local area, activities and entertainments within easy reach include "hill walking," golf, biking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, ropes courses, pony trekking and swimming. There are also medieval castles, coal and iron mines, vintage steam railways, as well as museums and an old-style cinema.

Hay-on-Wye, the legendary "the town of books," is only an hour away and is an enjoyable place to spend a few hours.

Walking

Have you ever heard of Americans going on a "walking vacation?" Well "walking holidays" are actually pretty common in the UK and the area around Caer Llan offers a number of terrific walking and hiking spots.
   • Wye Valley - the birthplace of British tourism, The Wye Valley and its scintillating natural scenery have been attracting visitors since the 18th Century.
   • Forest of Dean - one of England's few remaining ancient forests, the Forest of Dean is one of the most distinctive areas of Britain having a seductive charm and character that is uniquely its own.
   • Offa's Dyke Footpath - one of twelve designated National Trails. It is the only one to follow a man-made feature.
   • Brecon Beacons - the long ridges of the Black Mountains and the sheer splendor of the Brecon Beacons Central Massif make this a popular choice with walkers.

We will offer some optional excursions, but you are free to explore on your own. It’s easy to arrange for a bag lunch from the Caer Llan kitchen so you can take off after your morning writing. We will share more details about both with registered participants as the Getaway gets closer.

Wordsworth and Tintern Abbey

"William Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey has been described as a tourist poem in which the center of attraction, the famous ruined abbey, is out of sight "a few miles" downstream; a nature poem in which, after the opening paragraph, there are almost no images of nature; a political poem in which most of the speaker's political, social, and economic beliefs lie unexpressed between the lines; a religious poem in which what seems to be unmediated contact with a pantheistic deity. . ."

from "Tintern Abbey, Tourism and Romantic Landscape: Overview" on the The Norton Anthology of English Literature website

Now read 'The Poem'