Meet your hosts
After a few years of city living, Fiona hankered for a more rural, sustainable lifestyle. She found Nant yr Onnen in 2000 after two years of looking at more than 200 places. She knew the moment she turned up the lane - even in the late October drizzle! - that it was the place she had been searching for. She made an offer the next morning without even seeing inside the buildings. The 200 year old stone cottage with its stream and little waterfalls, ancient oak, ash, birch and willow trees, and apple trees planted by families long ago was enough to convince her it would become her home and also eventually the home of The Cabin.
Design
The Cabin was one of Fiona's first projects. She worked out the design, inspired in part by the Roundhouse on the cliffs at Druidstone in Pembrokeshire, and supervised local carpenters to construct it. Fiona and her daughters decorated it, and it became a favourite place for visitors who wanted a bit of privacy and silence. The design with its large windows makes the most of the stunning views, while the interior is inspired by Fiona's love of India.
Environmental policy
Fiona has always tried to be careful about their environmental footprint. She explored several options for generating her own electricity and happily discovered that she was in an ideal location for a micro hydro generator, which generates a steady 3kW for about half the year. Fiona has shunned central heating with its noisy pumps in favour of wood burning stoves in all buildings, and is very fortunate to have a constant supply of wood from the management of trees within her own land. Their water comes from a spring in the hill above the cottage and is stored in an old milk tanker. The compost loo was inspired by one which was built by some friends.
Wildlife
Nant yr Onnen is a wonderful place for wildlife. From the Cabin itself it's possible to see redkites, cuckoos, woodpeckers, nuthatches, buzzards, henharriers, goshawks and sparrowhawks, while finches, tits and wrens are plentiful. The land surrounding Nant yr Onnen is a nature reserve with ancient oak forests as well as mountain streams and waterfalls all close by.