A Gothic Journey. Volunteer in a Historic Countryside Home

Australia

5

Sarah and Dan have a beautiful vision for Brynmelyn. They are both lovely and made me feel welcome in their home. The work was varied; raking leaves, weeding, moving wood, cleaning and organising. The hours were respected and the rooms are comfortable. It is a peaceful stay and I enjoyed spending time with other volunteers, connecting with nature and reading. One thing I personally found a bit overwhelming was the amount of clutter in storage - the accumulation of belongings is inevitable and not a criticism of the hosts at all, just something to have in mind! Thank you for having me :)

6 mesi fa

Stati Uniti

5

The hours were well respected and you have the comfort of staying in your own room! I spent most of the volunteering hours doing yard work and some other days cleaning/ organizing the house. Had plenty of time to go into town and take some beautiful hikes. Beautiful property, energetic hosts, always something to do!

8 mesi fa

Stati Uniti

5

Staying at Sarah and Dan's the home was a great first volunteer experience. I felt at home in my cozy blue room and loved spending time in the living room with the cats or enjoying the home sun. We uncovered beautiful stone paths buried under thick dirt—it made us proud to leave it looking so nice.It's a large the home, so there's still plenty to do for the next volunteer who wants to help out and enjoy the charm of Hay-on-Wye. I'll definitely return soon with some friends I've already told about this wonderful host. And don't miss the delicious restaurants and cozy pu

8 mesi fa

Messico

5

The experience in Brynmelyn is something truly incredible, a very beautiful place in a charming town, full of history and endearing people, I highly recommend it for people who like country life, gardening, fresh air and beautiful mountain landscapes

11 mesi fa

Regno Unito

5

I would recommend this exchange for anyone wanting to experience a slower-paced life. I had a very peaceful stay here surrounded by charming countryside and lovely people. I also enjoyed learning about the history of the house, it's a stunning building! The work itself is great and you can choose whether indoor or outdoor work is better suited to you. The bedrooms are lovely and you have access to a hot shower every day, which makes for a very comfortable stay. You have to prepare your own food but you have plenty of space and time in the kitchen to do this. All in all, I would 100% go again!

11 mesi fa

Stati Uniti

4

Loved my time at Bryn Melyn! The hosts are good at providing tasks that align with your skills so I was assigned to help out laying new floors, which was an amazing learning experience and I got to leave a lasting mark on the house. The nearby town (Hay) is small but has plenty going on- lots of pubs with events and open mic night at the globe. It's a bit of a trek into town (~30mins) but nothing too terrible. The surrounding area has loads of hikes and public footpaths which are fun to explore. One challenge at Bryn Melyn was staying warm- it's a big house and not all rooms can be heated.

circa 2 mesi fa

Colombia

4

The whole experience was very positive. Lots of nature, bookshops, hikes, and respect for the working hours. It was great to connect with other volunteers!

4 mesi fa

Brasile

4

Thank you for the time there, it was amazing swimming at the river nearby and so much time in front of nature, hope you can keep a great work with the building

5 mesi fa

Nuova Zelanda

4

Sarah and Dan were lovely hosts, with lots of energy and personality. They make you feel welcomed and provide facilities for you to cook and clean your own stuff. One thing I would say about the experience is that it is quite isolated from the world, very nature-y and very small town quiet vibes so if you're looking for something that has access to a 'going out' scene or to meet loads of people, maybe not the place for you. But if you're looking for some down time, doing gardening work and general house work with well respected hours and privacy, this would be a nice experience.

6 mesi fa

Stati Uniti

4

Overall my experience in Hay was good! The work was as expected with indoor/outdoor tasks. The designated hours were well respected. Tasks were typically decided each morning and could often change throughout the day, so having a flexible attitude is necessary. Was a bit awkward at times using the shared spaces, but manageable. Fortunately got my own room, which was quite comfortable. The town itself is charming, about a 30 min walk from the house. Lots of cute book stores! Could feel a bit isolating if you're there alone, but having other volunteers to chat/explore with made it quite fun!

6 mesi fa

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