Written by Rob Lisle
"My wife and I have recently been on a bit of a pilgrimage to Machynlleth and 'Bron-yr-aur'. ( Sunday 16th. Oct 2005 ). As I looked upward along the steep road leading to the cottage, I decided that to to take notice of a sign at the bottom declaring the hill unsuitable for motor vehicles would have to be ignored, in the interests of avoiding resperatory failure.
This is a long steep hill. After 2-300yds or so, going around a right hander, the rough road/cart-track to the cottage is marked on a piece of slate next to a 'tree by a brook'... I would recommend a 4x4 or similar from this point. The track winds alongside the tree lined border of a field for a distance, and then under an arch of branches from both sides for 20 yds or so, down a shallow dip and then back up......and there it is...amazing.
I was expecting a derelict building, but as I was told later on that day, it has been rennovated for some while, and used as a private holiday home by a Reverend and his family. The tranquility is almost tangible, and a more peaceful escape from it all would be difficult to imagine.......well at least if it weren't for people such as myself turning up from time to time, which apparently cheeses the owner off to such a degree that he wrote to Robert Plant to inform him of how peaceful family afternoons have been 'sabotaged' by regular intrusions by Zep lovers asking about the 'Bron-yr-aur stomp'.
I peeped inside...no-one at home,.....took a photograph, then gingerly turned my very low car around and slowly negotiated the track back to the hill road. While in the area we drove down to 'Artists Valley' for a quick nose at Planty's farm 'Dol- goch'.
Now that is a beautiful approach along a beautifully wooded undulating road. The farm appears on the left after about half a mile or so. It sits up on a small hill and is immediately recognisable by its large Gothic style hardwood window on the front. Nobody at home......so in view of the zero chances of a cup of tea, I took a pretty bad photograph, then headed for Llangranog Bay, where Jimmy Page is rumoured to have bought a cottage.....but that's as much as I know."
Written by Rob Lisle
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your comments
Gwen Plant
Pilgrimage:Garth Celyn, Abergwyngregyn.Home of the Welsh Princes. Truly inspirational. A place where dreams are made. A stairway to heaven.
Mon Oct 19 09:30:36 2009
Peter McGlone from Liverpool
18.8.09.I walked it from the main road. The hill was very steep. It took me about half an hour to walk up. I am sorry I did not drive up in the car. You can drive up through a gate and leave your car nearby, as there is plenty of room. You would have to walk about ten-fifteen minutes to the cottage. I kept a distance to respect the owners privacy and took a couple of snaps from the wood.Very tranquil and in the middle of nowhere. Would not fancy the treck in winter with the steep hill. Spoke to a nearby resident who stated he knew Robert very well. He does have an estate nearby but is never there as he spends most of his time in America.
Mon Aug 24 09:17:15 2009
Paul Macfarlane, Aspen Colorado
Dolgoch is where Plant and Page's "No Quarter" video was shot just up and to to the left as you face the falls. Robert's farm is elsewhere but in the area and I visited it once-the same place seen in TSRTS and in the Pictures at 11 songbook.I also met Robert a few weeks ago i town and had a nice chat about the Welsh countryside and the ancient English Welsh and Scottish/Roman wars and some of the places i had been visiting.
Fri Aug 7 15:08:02 2009
Neal from New York City
Both Bron-Yr-Aur and Dolgoch are truly beautiful places. Prior to the Internet, such places were known of, but finding them was all but impossible. Like many others, I can't resist taking a peek at these places, but please, please be respectful. Keep your distance and stay off private property. For goodness sake, don't knock on doors or peek through windows.
Wed May 13 09:01:10 2009
Jeremy from Chicago
Hi everyone. I have been wanting to take the "pilgrimage" to Bron-Yr-Aur for awhile now and am trying to get some information (directions, tips, local pubs, best time to go, etc).I would also like to, somehow, get in contact with the owners of the land. Since it is private property, and I respect that completely, I'd like to write a letter to get their permission to come to the property. Also, to find out, if it is available for rent (doubtful, but worth finding out).
Thu May 8 18:10:40 2008
Private
Robert Plant does not own a Farm called Dolgoch - he does own a welsh estate, but it is very private and people should NOT go there, it is not a public place.
Mon Dec 17 08:20:52 2007
Mark Chorney from Denver, Colorado, USA
I visited Bron-yr-Aur on July 7, 2005 when I took a side trip away from my children's choir I was on tour with. I stayed at the White Lion Inn in Machynlleth and inquired about the cottage at the chamber of commerce in town. I was told that it is private property but was OK if I went up to have a look around. I walked all the way from town, up the hill, down the lane, and enjoyed the serenity of trees and fields of the deepest green I have ever beheld. I once lived on a farm in Pennsylvania that offered a very similar solitude. The farmhouse was also of rustic fieldstone and was once lived in by Jim Croce and visited by many celebrated musicians of his time. After I moved from there, the land was sold, split into small lots and developed. I never returned, but I hold the images in my heart and mind. Bron-yr-Aur very much reminded me of that lost home. I would like to thank the current owners for letting me come home, even as I beg your pardon for my intrusion, though there was not a soul around. Led Zeppelin lore aside, I feel that I got to walk right into the heart of Wales. It is difficult to speak of respect while walking uninvited onto someone else's property, but my advice to anyone making that trek is to tread lightly and take your trash with you. I picked up quite a bit as I left.
Wed Oct 31 09:03:35 2007
David O'Connor, Liverpool
Me and my friends make an annual pilgrimage to Bron Yr Aur every year. There has been nobody there every time we go except for Feb 2007 when a group of young men and women were staying there. They were very friendly and we had a nice chat to them. We are going back on October 27th '07....
Fri Oct 19 09:12:51 2007
Pauline Lucy Bowen
Bron yr aur is a beautiful cottage, which sadly is now changing with different windows and an extension which is a shame as it totally alters what it looks like. However Mr Plants welsh estate is private, and rightly so, and should remain this way.
Wed Sep 26 08:23:27 2007
Shannon Antos- Boulder, CO
Had a wonderful journey to Bron-Yr-aur and Plant's farm about 5 years ago. It was serene and amazing. Some of the most beautiful land ever seen. We were very respectful and kept a slight distance. You can can't help but feel inspiration out there. My band Congress of the Crow takes is very much inspired by the might Led Zep
Mon Nov 27 15:44:21 2006
Ruth Dale, Bron yr Aur!
May I take the opportunity to thank people for expressing their respect of what is indeed a private family home. Respectful visitors may indeed walk and see what is such a special place, and whilst it is disruptive we do understand how tranquil and unique it is.btw, still got no electric, or mains water or phone line!
Fri Nov 24 09:34:55 2006
Paula McMahon, Chester
I stumbled upon Mr Plant's residence in Artists' Valley last Thursday (23rd February, 2006). The drive was very hairy along the single track road with a big drop to the left and no barriers! I managed to hit a rock and got a flatty, with no spare in the car. I panicked as it is very isolated up there and our mobile phones never had a signal. We were saved by a beautiful German girl called Yana who gave me a lift to the nearest garage and back to get a tyre. Yana pointed out Mr Plant's lovely house and getting a flatty in this remote beautiful place didn't seem so bad!
Sun Feb 26 18:28:35 2006
Roger Beaman from Cambridgeshire
I'd like to echo Rob's comments about intrusion into what is a private property. Please respect the privacy of anyone staying at B-yr-A and take nothing from it except your memories. The numbers visiting the cottage sound as if they are getting out of hand. Apparently the slate signpost has 'walked' on many occasions, which is the bit of rock tourism we could all do without.
Mon Jan 16 22:47:42 2006
Have you ever made the trip to Bron yr Aur? What other pilgrimages can you make in Mid Wales? Add your comments below and we'll add them to the site!
Rob Lisle a Led Zeppelin fan from the Midlands made a 'pilgrimage' to Bron-yr-Aur cottage near Machynlleth. He wrote in to share his thoughts on the place that inspired some of the band's legendary music.
