Maryann's blog: “Didn’t we have a lovely time, the day we went to Farmers'”

Last Tuesday, six of us took a day off and headed over the mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog, it was drizzly as we left (just for a change) but promised to clear away and as we passed Llandeilo the skies became clear and blue. The route we took along the A4069 was absolutely stunning, and worth the trip alone. Making our way over the mountains we saw baby lambs basking in the welcome sunshine, the beautiful mountain peaks clear and fortuitous.

We made our way to Hay on Wye for a couple of hours browsing the town and a quick lunch in Hay Castle’s recently revamped cafe which was tasty, and dog friendly. Hay on Wye is a lovely town and you could have easily spend a whole day there.

Then we made our way towards Builth Wells, high, high up in the mountains to the hamlet of Maesmynis and the highlight of the day.

Nancy Durham first came to Wright's a number of years ago. We started chatting and she introduced herself and her lavender hand creams and balms which once we had tried, we started stocking. We had a date in our diary for a visit when the Covid pandemic arrived so had put it on hold until now.

Nancy is a gregarious Canadian and was working as an international journalist in London when she met her husband Bill Newton -Smith, an Oxford philosopher who had acquired a beautiful little cottage high up on the Welsh mountain to escape to from his busy academic life. The lavender farm was born in 2003 when they were able to buy another field and experiment with growing a lavender hedge. On a bit of a whim, this turned into a lavender field and “Farmers'” was born. Bill very sadly passed away just over a year ago.

I can’t begin to describe the beauty of the place, the breathtaking views, the smell of lavender in the stilling room and throughout their timber workplace and offices (all organised meticulously), a little shop selling their soaps, creams, balms and wool wash alongside some stylish clothing, berets, wooden boards and even dog leads.

We had coffee, a delicious slice of cake and a tour of the lavender fields and wild swimming lake, then headed back to Llanarthne with a sense of well-being and calm.

Nancy and the Farmers' team are planning a week-long lavender festival in early August when the lavender will be blooming, but I would highly recommend a visit anytime of the year.