Tucked away in the Monmouthshire countryside, with views towards the Brecon Beacons and 15 acres of woodland, orchard and wildflower meadows to explore, Dukes Barn feels a little like the sort of place you might stumble across at the end of a winding country lane and then not want to leave.
The 300-year-old tithe barn was renovated by WWOOF host Andy around 20 years ago and transformed into an award-winning contemporary home, later featured on the Welsh edition of Grand Designs.
But for all the impressive architecture, the real magic is outside.
There are woods to care for, apple trees to prune, meadows to manage and a woodland camp hidden among the trees, complete with open fires, handmade benches and plenty of reasons to stop for a hot drink.
A week in the woods…
Last November, Andy welcomed five WWOOFers to Dukes Barn for his first dedicated WWOOF week.
The group spent their days planting bluebell bulbs beneath the trees, building dead hedges, pruning the orchard, clearing brambles and creating a Norwegian-style wood stack.
They also worked with freshly cut hazel to make hurdles and benches for the woodland camp.
It was hands-on and a little physical, but not without its rewards.
A particular highlight was retreating to the camp for hot drinks and lunch cooked over the open fire. On a cold November day, there are few better places to be than gathered around the flames, surrounded by trees and warming up with something good to eat.
By late afternoon, the group would make their way back to the barn, help prepare dinner using locally sourced produce and settle in for the evening.
With log fires burning, stories being exchanged and a steam room, climbing wall and snooker table to make use of, it was not exactly a hardship.
Back for another round…
Following the success of the first week, Andy is opening Dukes Barn again from 9th-16th November, with space for up to five WWOOFers.
The plan is to arrive on Sunday afternoon, settle in and spend five of the following six days working together on the land.
The exact activities will depend on what is needed at the time, but expect a mixture of woodland care, orchard care, seasonal maintenance and further projects around the woodland camp.
It should suit people who enjoy being outdoors, do not mind getting stuck into some physical activities and like the idea of being part of a small, sociable group.
Meet Andy
Andy originally comes from Bristol but swapped a suited job in London for a very different life in rural Wales, taking on the renovation of Dukes Barn and making the surrounding land his home.
He is a keen rock climber, sailor and mountain biker, and also skippers sailing expeditions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.
So, alongside woodland activites and evenings by the fire, you can probably expect a good few stories of far-flung places and adventures at sea.
Getting there
Dukes Barn may feel wonderfully tucked away, but it is still relatively easy to reach.
There are good train links to Abergavenny, followed by a local taxi or, where possible, collection by Andy. By car, it is around an hour from Bristol and just over the Welsh border.
There is still some availability for the November week, and this is currently the only period when Andy is welcoming WWOOFers.
So, if a week of woodland activities, open fires, shared meals, good company and a rather spectacular barn sounds like your kind of November adventure, Dukes Barn might be calling.
