The petite, rural feel of Spring Rock is part of its appeal. There’s nothing grand or in-your-face here. The fishing lake, stocked with ghost, mirror, common and koi carp, is restricted to a maximum of six anglers, providing plenty of room on the banks and prime, undisturbed water, while the caravan and camping park on the adjoining field is similarly exclusive. In total there are just eight electrical pitches, four of which are hard standings suitable for caravans and mobile homes. The rest of the field is available for traditional tenting folk to use, with ample grassy space to push your pegs and pop up canvas. Bordered by a mature hedgerow and odd trees, there’s plenty of shelter to be found if needed and good shower and toilet facilities in a central block.
Arguably the best spots on the campsite, however, are secured by the two pre-built timber pods – miniature fishermen’s lodges that overlook the lake. Though unfurnished, the huts have full electricity (with sockets for blowing up your air-bed), heating, lighting and a small fridge in the corner, ideal for putting beers on chill while you wait for hungry carp to nibble. There’s something almost toy-like about their cosy shape and once inside you could easily lounge for an hour or two gazing out of the door to where the water gives way to a backdrop of trees, hill and sky.
If you don’t want the fish to soak up all your time though, there’s wildlife of other kinds to discover. This region of Mid-Wales is growing famous for the number of red kites and osprey living wild across the landscape and any walk along the local trails enlivens hedgerows into a burst of flittering birdlife. Fledglings dart amongst the thicket well before you spot the wingspan of hovering birds of prey overhead but if you’re patient they’ll be swooping around somewhere. Radnor Forest, to the east, is worth exploring for similar reasons, or search out more urban scenes like Llandrindod Wells, a pleasant, 19th-century spa town with an open air market every Friday.
Cwtch is a Welsh word that translates as a cuddle or hugs… but anyone Welsh will tell you it means something a little bit more than that, its a safe place and comfort which exactly why we named our very first camping pod at Spring Rock “ The Cwtch” The Cwtch is a 10.1m² wooden camping pod set in the scenic location that is Springrock. It comes complete with wifi, bed linen, duvets and pillows, a heater, electricity, kettle, microwave, toaster and fridge. There is a DVD player and tv within the pod meaning that after a good day exploring and an evening sat underneath of the starry skies you are able to cwtch up warm in bed and doze off to your favourite film or indeed forgo all modern technology and revel in the sounds of nature that surround you.The Severn Arms (01597 851224) is the local's local, two miles away in Penybont, but for more choice head to nearby Llandrindod Wells, where there's a clutch of different eateries in the centre. A little further, in Builth Wells, the Strand Café (01982 552652) does good breakfasts, lunches and teas, while The Fountain Inn (01982 553920) is a decent boozer with a good choice of ales and an adjoining café.