Vale Farm – Our Farming Life
About The Farm
Vale Farm is a fully working livestock and arable farm set in the heart of Mid Wales, just outside the quiet hamlet of Lower Chapel near Brecon. Over the years, the farm has grown by combining several neighbouring holdings, and now covers 738 acres of streams, valleys, and gently rolling hills. It's a beautiful place to live and work, though not always an easy one to farm.At the very top of the land, you'll find the remains of a Roman hill fort and a trig point, sitting 1,400 feet above sea level. The views from here are something special.
Meet the Farmers
Vale Farm is run by Tom, a fourth-generation farmer with a lifelong passion for farming and a strong interest in regenerative practices. He’s been around animals and machinery since he could walk, and by 13 he was already in charge of the combine.
His dad, David, still helps out during the busiest times. Farming is very much in the blood.
A New Chapter in Wales
We made the move to Vale Farm in October 2023, leaving behind our previous home, Manor Farm in Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire. It was no small task. It took three weeks, sixty arctic lorries, four dogs, three children, a lifetime of machinery, and just about everything except the kitchen sink to get here. It was a bold decision, but we’ve always liked a challenge.
Since settling in, we've loved sharing this place with guests and giving them a glimpse into real farm life.
Animals and Daily Life
We keep a mixed flock of 400 breeding ewes, mainly Lleyn crossed with Romneys, along with two Romney rams named Delboy and Rodney and a few Texel rams. Lambing happens outdoors between April and May.
We also run a herd of 55 Simmental cows, headed up by two bulls, King Charles and Prince Charles. Don’t ask about the names.
Our smaller flock of 20 Jacob sheep belongs to our daughters, Megan, Lucie, and Sophie. They're affectionately known as the Naughty Sheep, because they’re always escaping. They look a bit like goats and are real characters.
Most days you’ll see Tom out in the fields or moving sheep around the farm, often with help from our working dogs, Ivy, Pippa and Sky. Max is technically a sheepdog but prefers not to work sheep, and Bonnie is our loyal house dog.
Vale Farm is both our home and our livelihood. It's a place where children grow up outdoors, the seasons shape the rhythm of life, and guests are welcomed into something real. If you're looking for a stay on a working farm, where you can slow down, connect with the land and see farming life up close, we’d love to welcome you.
