Weddings at Charity
Black Mountains, Herefordshire, UK
Filled to the rafters with character and style, Charity is an authentic stone farmhouse with a flair for wild abandon. Bohemian in spirit, this awe-inspiring mountainside location creates a remote elopement wedding venue like no other, where artistic English charm and traditional Welsh farmhouse design marry in a display of true romance.
Introduction
A big and beautiful celebration house hidden deep in the heather-clad hills of the Olchon Valley, yet still just three hours from London, Charity embodies the very essence of wild and free. The house is not currently licenced, so couples can choose between a beautiful church wedding, or celebrant-led ceremony at the house. Appealing to those with an eye for untamed refinement, exchange personalised vows on the croquet lawn under the watchful eye of the Black Mountains before dancing the night away beneath the rainbow reflections of the mirror ball in the barn.
Inside
Charity has six luxury bedrooms that can accommodate up to twelve guests, plus dogs and babies. With its eclectic farmhouse style, this unique mountain retreat is a perfect blend of rustic charm and colourful design. Roaring log fires, a well-equipped kitchen, snooker-cum-cocktail room and cinema barn ensure the wedding party entertainment for days on end. Book for a long weekend or take the house for a fortnight and settle in for a drawn-out celebration to remember.
Outside
Whether the peaks surrounding are dusted with snow or the rewilded meadow is a haze of swaying colour in the midsummer sun, statement destination wedding photographs are guaranteed at Charity. Twenty acres of rolling Herefordshire fields and woodland wrap around the house and its festoon-lit courtyard, offering plenty of opportunity for a ceremony hidden within the trees or intimate wedding breakfast high atop a hill. When guests have all dispersed home, sink into the hot tub beneath the rushing clouds and drink in the whirling afterglow.
The Facts
- CapacityUp to 100 wedding guests
- SleepsUp to 12 guests
Day hire options are available - Alternative group optionsUp to 30 or up to 50 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsOn the ground floor are three zip-and-link bedrooms (which can be set up as either super king-size doubles or twins), two with en suite shower rooms and one with an en suite wet room. On the first floor is the zip-and-link master bedroom (the perfect bridal suite) with en suite bathroom and separate shower, and two double bedrooms each with a bath in the room.
View bedrooms - FeaturesWood-fired hot tub, sauna, outdoor shower, outdoor pizza oven, table tennis, snooker room, cinema barn
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- PracticalitiesThere is ample space for eight cars; four beside the house and four in a designated space on the private lane just up from the house. We recommend taxis for larger parties. The venue is booked on a dry-hire basis, however, a full list of recommended suppliers will be sent on enquiry which will include details of a wedding planner should you wish to enlist expert assistance for your special day. For smaller parties, the barn can accommodate up to 30 guests, and for larger affairs of up to 100, a marquee will be required (limited to 50 guests between the months of October to April). Whilst the house does not currently hold a licence, there are several beautiful churches in the area - the closest being Llanveynoe or St Clydawg Church in Clodock.
- Homestay includesGuests staying in the house can enjoy a luxury welcome hamper, including spirits for the bar, a Sonos multiroom sound system, three barbecues, French linen, soft towels, logs and kindling to get you started...House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
The Black Mountains
Hugging the border of England and Wales, The Black Mountains offer a dramatic location for destination wedding photographs. Walk up into the hills for a backdrop of climatic skies and roaming ponies, or sink down to the valleys where dense woodland and sparkling rivers await.
Getting there
- On the Map This elopement celebration venue has a secluded mountain position in Herefordshire's Olchon Valley on the England-Wales border, not far from the Brecon Beacons.
- By Car Charity is three hours drive from London.
- By Train Abergavenny train station is around half an hour's drive away, with regular routes to London via Cardiff.
- By Air Cardiff and Bristol airports are both one and a half hours away by car.
From the owner
“Slowly transforming from a dilapidated cottage, for many years Charity was basic, draughty and cold. As children, we huddled around a fire waiting as our bathwater heated up, refilled from a metal bucket that hung over the grate. In 1989, taking early retirement from the design world, Dad bought the surrounding barns and began what he called ´The Grand Design´.”
Dad began his work at Charity by creating an annexe between the barn and the cottage, a radical scheme connecting medieval architecture through modernist design where oak joinery, stone walls and flagstone floors continued to be the defining features.
When my father died, the prospect of losing the house was unbearable. My siblings decided to sell, but I moved heaven and earth to be able to buy Charity.
The changes my Dad made over the years inspired me to make more. I now had the opportunity of looking at the house as a whole with a view to resolving the tensions between the old and new.
With the help of brilliant teams, this new Charity has taken me many years and taught me many new skills along the way. It has been a challenging process trying to maintain the soul whilst delivering ergonomic functionality. Of course, this has been very exciting too and immensely rewarding. I hope you find Charity and this valley as inspiring as we do.
Henry John
Guest Testimonials
Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google
I´d like to start by saying thank you! Our time at Charity was absolutely lovely. The property was breathtaking and the house was perfectly cozy. We´ve created the most magical memories here. Please send our thanks to the owner for offering up his beautiful place. We held a small ceremony on the back lawn and it was everything we´d hoped it would be. We lucked out with perfect weather on the day.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
25 of the best autumn getaways
The Times
November 2024Good manors
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2024Ways to improve your life—from our experts
The Times
October 2024The UK´s most relaxing riverside stays
The Times
October 2024At one with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024Healing waters
Condé Nast Traveller
September 202425 of the UK´s best lakeside stays
The Times
September 2024Highland fling
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024
Collections > Alternative Group Option > UK > Herefordshire > Black Mountains > Weddings at Charity
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
