After a year of restrictions that forced everyone to stay at home, Ed and Aldona began to see how lucky they were in having a little corner of countryside to call their own. Set among orchards and arable fields, and host to small ponds and woodlands, their farm in the Wye Valley is not only wonderfully green and secluded but it's also close to what counts as 'action' in this sleepy part of the world. It's only minutes from canoeing and swimming in the River Wye, not much further to the Forest of Dean and has footpaths leading off to enchanting trails in Chase Woods and Penyard Park. Thankfully, instead of keeping this special location to themselves, they decided to share it by setting up a camping and glamping site — which they christened Ryeford Ponds.
Now you'll find a couple of furnished bell tents, a shepherd's hut and two woodland camping pitches in the private glamping paddock they've created. It's conveniently close to the A40 but found a quarter of a mile down a farm track and hidden in a natural dip, so you're still well away from the outer world. There are no crowds here and there's plenty of space but the visiting wildlife means you're never quite alone. Dragonflies make their homes around the ponds, resident owls are ever present (though more likely to be heard than seen) and there are plenty of opportunities to spot squirrels, ducks and deer. Children, in particular, will love the wild nature of the site's six acres where they can hunt for frogs, hide in long grass or run amongst the willow trees.
Given the slopes and nooks of the landscape, the bell tents are raised on flat wooden decks, while, inside, they feature proper beds, rugs and matting. Campfires are allowed in fire pits, campfire cooking is encouraged and grills are provided. For convenience, there's also a communal summer kitchen for exclusive use of bell tent guests while the shepherd's hut has its own outdoor kitchen. For a real treat, the whole site can be booked for exclusive stays of up to five families together (though, please note, no stag and hen parties are allowed).
Down in the dell of the glamping meadow it's easy to almost forget about the outside world but we'd suggest you don't as the nearby attractions are well worth exploring. Ed and Aldona’s favourite trail crosses nearby Pontshill Marsh, follows the lane and then leads to a scenic, circular walk around Penyard Park. By car, meanwhile, it takes less than 10 minutes to drive to the renowned Wye Valley town of Ross-on-Wye, where there are shops and pubs and independent cafés but also an outpost of The River Wye Canoe Hire company, who can get you set up with a canoe for the day and drop you upstream so that you need only drift back to town in the sun.
Ryeford Ponds is a 15-minute drive from Pedal A Bike Away (01594 729000) cycle centre, where you can hire bikes for the whole family and take full advantage of all the cycle routes that the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have to offer. If you prefer to explore on foot, there are lots of great spots for gentle walks and picnics in the area, Cannop Ponds and Beechenhurst are both a little over a 15-minute drive away. Both have great views but Beechenhurst has the additional perk of a large playground and nice café. The Norman medieval castle, Goodrich Castle (0370 333 1181), is also 15 minutes away if you fancy taking in more of the area’s history. As well as being one of the best preserved medieval castles in England, Goodrich also offers dramatic views across the Wye, where you might spot fisherman below or people paddling in canoes. You can hire your own vessel in nearby Ross-on-Wye with Ross-on-Wye Canoe Hire (01600 890470). It's easy and you needn't paddle too hard, since you only need to go downstream and they'll arrange collection at the other end.
Ross on Wye (10 minutes in the car) is the place to go for most things, with supermarkets and decent restaurants mostly set up and back from the River Wye but with a pub and café down closer to the riverside. Caffe Eleganza (01989 764254) is great for coffee, savory dishes and sweet treats like homemade cakes, milkshakes and smoothies, while Truffles Deli (01989 762336) has good paninis and tailormade salads – the outdoor courtyard is nicely tucked away from the High Street noise. Also on the High Street, try the lovely local Italian, Avellino (01989 769222).