The Old Exchange Abercraf · Brecon Beacons
Abercraf · Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

The Old Exchange

A lovingly restored barn-style retreat for two, tucked into a sleepy village where the Swansea Valley meets the Brecon Beacons.

4.97 from 185 guest reviews · a Guest Favourite on Airbnb

Open windows at The Old Exchange framing a view of the wooded hillside above Abercraf
4.97 Average rating on Airbnb
185+ Guest reviews, 97% five-star
Top 5% Guest Favourite — most-loved homes on Airbnb
Superhost Hosted by Gemma for 4 years
Croeso · Welcome

A place to slow right down

The Old Exchange was renovated by hand by its owners, Gemma & Adam, with the original rustic features kept firmly in place — exposed beams, reclaimed wooden floors and quirky touches like three-inch oak worktops and a hammock swing seat in the bedroom.

Outside the door: mountain walks, waterfalls, showcaves and cold-water swims. Or stay put — the newly refurbished Cotswold-stone patio is a proper sun trap, and there are quaint country pubs within walking distance for when the evening draws in.

Read the renovation story →
Vaulted living room with original timber beams, paper lantern and reclaimed barn doors Morning coffee and a pastry on the balcony, looking out over the forested valley
The Space

Every corner, considered

One king bedroom, one beautiful bathroom, and a living space made for lazy mornings — yours entirely, with room for two.

Bedroom at The Old Exchange with a king-size bed, paper lantern and hanging hammock swing chair

The bedroom

A king-size bed with crisp linen, dressing tables either side, a farm-style wardrobe — and the hammock swing seat everyone falls in love with.

Living room with deep green feature wall, inset fire and a white corner sofa

The living space

Original beams overhead, a cosy corner sofa by the fire, and a 42″ TV with Netflix and Apple TV for slow evenings in.

Dining table with fresh flowers in front of open French doors overlooking the village and forest

Kitchen & dining

A quirky separate kitchen with a Belfast sink and three-inch oak worktops, plus a table for two-to-four in front of the French doors.

Bathroom with glossy green tiles, a white basin on an antique carved washstand and a classical bust

The bathroom

Deep green tiles, an antique standing sink and a huge walk-in shower — guests say it’s “on par with a luxury hotel”.

Gravelled front patio with a bistro table and chairs overlooking the hillside

And outside

A private patio finished in Cotswold stone — morning coffee with valley views, golden afternoons in the sun trap. Free parking on the premises, and the whole of the Beacons beyond the gate.

See the full gallery →
Amenities

Everything you need, nothing you don’t

Sleep & comfort

  • King-size bed with quality linen
  • Hammock swing seat in the bedroom
  • Fresh towels for every guest
  • Farm-style wardrobe, iron & hairdryer
  • Cosy corner sofa by the fire

Kitchen & dining

  • Separate kitchen with Belfast sink
  • Three-inch solid oak worktops
  • Oven, microwave, hob & air fryer
  • Fridge, toaster & the essentials
  • Dining table for four by the French doors

Entertainment & wifi

  • Fast wifi throughout
  • 42″ HDTV with cable & satellite
  • Netflix and Apple TV included
  • Local art on every wall (and for sale)

Outside & practical

  • Private patio — a Cotswold-stone sun trap
  • Mountain and valley views
  • Free parking on the premises
  • Self check-in with lockbox
  • Smoke & carbon monoxide alarms

The full list of 41 amenities is on the Airbnb listing.

Guest Reviews

Loved by the people who stay

Rated 4.97 from 185 reviews on Airbnb — with five stars for cleanliness, accuracy, check-in and communication.

“The place had a cosy feel, was clean, and just felt that someone had really thought about every detail. Gemma gave great local recommendations — no research from us required.”

Marcus · May 2026 · Airbnb guest

“The place is exquisite, lovely decorated and looks even better in real life. Gemma is extremely responsive and friendly. We 100% recommend Gemma and this place.”

Emanuela · June 2026 · Airbnb guest

“The decor is fabulous, the bathroom was on par with a luxury hotel! The bedroom was lovely and the linen was of a high quality — had a really nice sleep.”

Andrew · June 2026 · Airbnb guest

“The cottage is cosy without feeling confined and really well decorated and thought out. We had a lovely few days and it was a great base for visiting lots of places.”

Abby · May 2026 · Airbnb guest

“Beautifully eclectic place to stay. Cracking location for some great walks and a base for those you need to travel a bit further to.”

Rebecca · April 2026 · Airbnb guest

“We had the best stay here. Super clean and so lovely — the perfect location for what we wanted to go and do. We would come back to stay longer.”

Abigail · June 2026 · Airbnb guest
Read all 185 reviews on Airbnb →
Your Host

Hosted by Gemma

An Airbnb Superhost with 4 years of hosting, a 100% response rate, and replies within an hour. Gemma’s hand-picked list of local walks, pubs and days out is waiting for you when you arrive — guests say no research is required. You’ll find the renovation and life at the retreat on Instagram at @theoldexchangewales.

The Area

Waterfalls, mountains and country pubs

Sunbeams breaking through trees on a woodland walking path near Abercraf

Walks from the door

Henrhyd Falls and the Sleeping Giant are walkable from the property — no car required.

Coffee and brownies on a picnic table beside the lake at Craig-y-Nos Country Park

Days out

Dan yr Ogof showcaves, Craig-y-Nos Country Park and Waterfall Country are minutes away.

Bright red crocosmia flowers in front of stone cottage rooftops in Abercraf

Village life

Quaint country pubs within walking distance, and coffee shops and butchers ten minutes away.

Plan your stay — things to do nearby →

Ready for a slow weekend in the Beacons?

Live availability, exact pricing and instant booking are all on the Airbnb listing.

Check availability on Airbnb

Bookings are handled securely through Airbnb.