Friendly B&B hits all the right notes

king-size bed, two singles, plus a sofa bed) had been recently, and tastefully, furnished. It contained everything you need for a comfortable stay and the en suite was pretty plush.

When the sun is out, guests can take advantage of the lovely garden, which has tables and chairs, sunbeds, a barbecue and a shaded arbor. Come nightfall, a tree is lit by solar light bulbs.

But even in unfavourable weather the garden has a trick up its sleeve, for there’s a hot tub and a red cedar some corn and take the flour home (another ‘show and tell’).

Created as part of the restoration, The Bakers’ Table café uses flour from the mill in its home-made bread and was named Best Café in the 2015 National Tourism Awards fro Wales.

Further up the Ellywe, we found the dramatic 30ft waterfall and pond known as Pwyll-y-Wrach (meaning ‘Witches Pond’) where, legend has it, suspected broomstick botherers would be dunked.

Also within walking distance is the 13th-century Bronllys Castle, built on an earlier motte. A narrow staircase took us to the top of the round tower for views over Talgarth and the Black Mountains beyond.

Talgarth is midway between the towns of Hay-on-Wye and Brecon and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, which means there is no shortage of things to keep you occupied in the vicinity.

Opportunities exist for most outdoor activities including walking, climbing, cycling, mountain-biking, pot-holing, horse riding, gliding, hang-gliding, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing.

Hay, of course, is famous for its second-hand book shops and its literary/arts festival (late May early June) while the cathedral town of Brecon has a popular Jazz Festival in August.

Brecon is also the starting point for the Taff Trail and the northernmost point of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, where you can enjoy a leisurely cruise or a gentle towpath walk.

Talgarth itself is one of the national park’s five designated cycle hubs with the five routes – suitable for both beginners and the more experienced – all starting within 50 metres of Old Radnor Barn.

The town also has a Walking Festival, this year over the Spring Bank Holiday, with 29 organised walks, graded “easy’’ to “strenuous’’, with a focus on the Black Mountains on its doorstep.

On our return home, the children used the magnetic letters on our fridge to spell out “best holiday ever’’, which, considering we were only away one night, speaks volumes for Talgarth, Old Radnor Barn in particular, and perhaps the rejuvenated B&B industry as a whole.