As my car snaked up a Powys hillside at a requested five miles per hour, flanked by high hedges that bent over the winding single track lane, it felt like I was leaving reality behind and was on my way to somewhere magical.
When I emerged from the other end of the foliage tunnel, I got my first glimpse of Rhydoldog House, the period property that used to belong to Laura Ashley's family but was bought and transformed by internationally-renowned Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church to turn into a wellbeing retreat called The Dreaming. And it looked magnificent.
Nestled into the base of a wooded hillside that includes rock formations so special that they have a protection order on them, the house has been built in a location that instantly enchanted. Despite being only two miles from the small town of Rhayader I felt like I had entered another world or dimension.
READ MORE: Charlotte Church's Dream Build renovation is complete and the transformation is incredible
The transition from a house mostly stripped out and left untouched for 10 years by the previous owner, who bought it from the Ashley family, into this centre of nourishment for the soul and spirit by Charlotte and her team was the subject of a two series programme on Discovery+ and the Really channel called Charlotte Church's Dream Build.
But the television programme cannot do the house or the location justice - both are utterly mesmerising in appearance and atmosphere; it's a very special place indeed and I could feel it the moment I stepped out of my car.
The house was enveloped by a mesmerising landscape that was completely captivating, accompanied by birdsong, none of which this city girl recognised. At the front of the house there was an astonishing panoramic view that swept down the land, continuing through woodland and fields, to the interlocking mountains on the horizon, with a forever changing sky above it - it was the Welsh rural landscape at its absolute finest.
At the rear the enchanting woodland that cloaks the hillside is constantly calling, wanting to be explored and adored for its waterfalls, robust rock formations, abundance of birds and wildlife, and crowds of tall trees.
If you're staying for The Nurturer Retreat that runs from a Tuesday afternoon to Friday morning there's a chance that Charlotte will be at the property and I was lucky enough to be staying when the charismatic, creative driving force behind The Dreaming was in attendance.
When Charlotte is at The Dreaming she leads most of the activities which are called 'offerings' because they are offered and not forced on you - Charlotte explained during the welcome talk for my group of eight people that the retreat is all about what you want and need to get out of your stay.
You can do all the offerings or you can just sit in the garden and explore the land on your own, just take a walkie talkie with you so you don't lost within the 46 acres of land that cocoons the property, much of which is protected by SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status.
There's no network coverage at the site so phones, social media and news become the least important things in your life, although there is a landline number supplied with your booking confirmation to give to family for emergencies.
The offerings and the timings of meals were written on a large blackboard in the refectory as a helpful reminder of what was going on during my stay, with the clanging of a large gong in the hallway a gentle sound reminder that a meal or an offering was about to occur, and it was very welcome as very quickly I lost all track of time.
The total love and deep connection Charlotte has for the land that the house sits within was evident as she explained her core reason for going through the financial and emotional challenge of creating The Dreaming - to share its nourishing, nurturing, and healing location with others.
It's a sentiment most homeowners would not embrace, happily buying and keeping this unique house and its magical land to themselves, but it's obvious that Charlotte is a kind and caring soul that feels very deeply the desire to share the nourishing qualities of the land with others.
When Charlotte isn't at The Dreaming external practitioners visit to deliver the various offerings which are in constant development and run to a shifting timetable, so no two stays at The Dreaming are likely to be the same.
Food nourishment came via chef Zac, who conjures up organic vegetarian and vegan meals with obvious care and consideration, much of it using produce grown on site, that were wonderfully tasty and satisfying. Any dietary restrictions you can flag up on your booking form before you visit.
Sharing a meal with strangers on the first day, getting to know each other over a hearty meal, is such a natural thing to do, a community ethos that is maybe becoming a rare thing. And these strangers soon became supportive friends as we journeyed through this wonderful experience together.
There's no need to panic if you think you can't go three days without a brew - there is organic tea and coffee with organic dairy milk and vegan milk on offer throughout your stay, just visit the refectory or the drink stations found on the first and second floors. I snuck in some potential contraband - Yorkshire Tea - but that was not a problem, it's only alcohol that is not found on-site.
A group of extraordinarily friendly volunteers who live on site were on hand to help with anything and everything, including serving the meals, delivering some of the offerings, and generally running the property side of the site.
After the feast, the first evening was dedicated to sound therapy in the healing room. We lay on yoga mats as gongs, bells and birdsong built up from simple rainfall to a stirring cacophony, which then subsided and left me with the oddest but most wonderful of feelings. It felt like the sounds had resonated through my body right down to a cellular level and I felt rejuvenated and yet totally relaxed, with all my anxieties floating away on the waves of sound.
Gong therapy is said to help the brain reach deep relaxation and help to ease stress, but the main aspect of this session that was the most special for me was the surprise that Charlotte starts to sing with the sounds. Her voice is completely and comprehensively intertwined with the layers of sounds and you leave the experience feeling blessed you could be part of it.
We all slept well that night until we were woken by Charlotte's beautiful voice drifting through the corridors of The Dreaming as a soft wake-up call - you definitely don't get that at the Premier Inn.
It was a gentle call to join her at the campfire, if you wanted to, for a celestial blessing followed by a silent disco. With a set of headphones in hand we were sent off to find our own special spot within the land and to enjoy dancing freely and with no inhibitions as if no-one was watching, because no-one was.
Charlotte's transformation of the Welsh Georgian mansion, that seems to attract incredible Welsh women to own it, into The Dreaming was a 'back to bricks' project. The empty rooms were stripped back and then brought to wonderful life with music and song, love and joy intertwined into their very fabric.
From the refectory and lounge known as 'the cwtch' to the healing room and print room that pays homage to Laura Ashley via its more classic country décor, the ground floor is a collection of beautiful spaces full of tactile texture, natural materials and cascades of light.
The Dreaming has seven bedrooms across the two upper floors and each has been given a theme, using layers of natural materials, enriching colours and tones, and pools of statement lighting ensuring that each space has its own atmosphere and personality. See inside the rooms at The Dreaming, including what they looked like before, here.
I stayed in the 'womb room', a dark north facing room that Charlotte's interior design creativity used as a positive, using layers of deep pinks on the walls and soft furnishings, accented with a midnight blue ceiling that made the room feel cocooning and embracing.
During the filming of the Discovery+ programme the building team were not convinced by Charlotte's idea of a shower design that pays homage to the shape of a vagina, but I can report back it was a practical as well as unique space with no shower curtain required, find out more about the womb room and vagina shower here.
On day two Charlotte had to leave The Dreaming at tea time to re-engage with her hectic schedule outside this sanctuary, but before she left we all gathered in the woodland under the mesmerising rock formations to have a sing - well, we are in Wales after all.
Again there was no pressure to participate and those who wanted to then dispersed into the landscape to hum and sing on our own whilst wandering down sunlight dappled paths that meandered through the trees and across bridges over sparkling waterfalls. It felt almost spiritual, like we were giving something back to the land that nourishes us (the land might not have actually wanted my singing, but I did it anyway).
The session ended with everyone gathering next to a waterfall to sing Amazing Grace, and we can all now boast that we have sung live with Charlotte Church, who throughout her time there was so chilled and friendly, happily mingling and sitting and chatting in the garden and the cwtch.
My stay coincided with the longest day of the year, and we marked the summer solstice by gathering around the campfire together, followed by wandering down to Woodhenge, a ring of carved tree slabs that encircle the waterfall that flows into the Pool of One Hundred Reflections.
Here, accompanied by musical bells and drums, we threw flowers into the water one-by-one in solitude, accompanied only by our own thoughts.
One thing to note is that if you are always a target for midges then pack a strong insect repellent as they come out at dusk en masse. There was a natural repellent you can use at the house which was pretty effective for most guests.
The next morning the offering was 'The Big Walk', a chance to explore the enchanting woodland and rocks that cling to the hillside behind the house, a truly intriguing place that I was very excited to explore.
A gentle stroll through landscaped National Trust formal gardens this is not - in places the wooded hillside is steep and there's only a rope or steps carved into the land by woodsman Bubbsy to help you, but surrounded by such an encouraging group of people, I made it to the top, eventually. And the effort was completely worth it, with the view totally jaw-dropping and enough to bring you to tears.
Half way up the path there's a waterfall bathing platform to help to cool you down, and although not gushing with water at the time of my visit due to the lack of recent rain, there was enough of nature's champagne to help us all feel refreshed.
That afternoon was spent with totally engaging Dr Kate Tomas, a world renowned psychic, educator and spiritual mentor who guided us through a session of deep meditation and relaxation, using techniques that we can now embed into our everyday lives.
Time is a meaningless concept at The Dreaming and before we wanted it to be over, it was time to return to the noisy, hectic world that swirls around us outside this idyllic island of peace - but not before one more session of sitting on the sun-drenched terrace totally drifting off into the view again.
There was a last wander through the garden, designed by Chelsea Flower Show medallist Juliet Sargeant and now developed and cared for by Paul Price, known as 'Paul the plant'. I tried to soak up and store the joyful feeling of being enveloped by layers of colours, delicious scents and the sound of an abundance of birds and insects.
Added to the garden memories are the way the house hugs you with light and warmth as soon as you enter and never lets go, and the captivating and unique land that cocoons it all - a truly special combination that has created lifelong memories of The Dreaming that I will cherish.
My advice to anyone thinking about staying at The Dreaming is to treat yourself to some peace, and when you're there dive into everything on offer with an open mind, enthusiasm and a willingness to embrace it all.
Some offerings took me way out of my comfort zone but once I realised I was not going to be judged or laughed at and fully embraced the offerings, what I got back in return was a nourishment of my soul and a feeling of being rested and yet revived, with some wellbeing knowledge to take home that could even be life-changing.
The Dreaming has two retreats to choose from with The Journeyer running from Friday 3pm to Monday 10am and The Nurturer running from Tuesday 3pm to Friday 10am. All meals and wellbeing offerings are included in the price including snacks and a range of teas and coffee.
Prices start from £450 per person per bed per retreat with a 'pay what you can' space on every retreat. Near future developments include a fully-accessible bedroom and bathroom scheduled for the end of 2023. For further information contact The Dreaming directly via the website here.
For more dream homes, renovation stories, interiors advice and property celebrity interviews, competitions and discounts too, get your copy of the Amazing Welsh Homes glossy magazine – last few remaining copies available for a special price of £2.99. Buy the magazine here.
