Peaceful Secluded One Bedroom Chalet – Sleeps 4, Large Garden, Pets Welcome

We started this venture to turn an unused annex into a viable prospect to use the building, as encouraged by local government. However, after three years we have come to realise that the greatest bonus of hosting is the wonderful people we have met who have shared our property with us, many becoming returning friends.

I am Sunderland born, a northern guy with attitude to match (!)..with my working life mainly in aviation as an aircraft technician, and I spent a decade in France working for Airbus. I am now in my 70's, as is my wife Pat, and frankly Chestnut Lodge takes up most of our time, fortunately Pat is the gardener while I try to keep up with the maintenance of the place. We are constantly seeking ways to improve things here, adding amenities, garden development, (grass cutting can take two days), painting and such, this is a big place and it takes hard work to keep up with it all.

Chestnut Lodge sits between two villages close to Bridgend Town centre and we spotted it online when we lived in France and preparing to return to the U.K. and loved the location as seen on Google Earth. We chose this spot because it is secluded, (many locals have remarked that they didn't know we were here), but we have access to a fish & chip shop, 4 pubs, 4 social clubs, 6 Chinese/Indian restaurants/takeaways, and shops galore. We also have a railway station 5 minutes walk and a country park 5 minutes drive for picnics, dog walking, cycling and walking etc.

We are 5 minutes from the M4 and have had guests arrive by bus, train, motorbike, car, van and taxi, sometimes with dogs, and once a cat, so access here is never a problem Huge car park with 24hr access is often of importance to some who are in the area for work, while the extensive gardens are loved by those with dogs or seeking a tranquil break, or kicking back with a beer after a busy day.