A Powys couple who own a treetop glamping site near Llandrindod Wells have launched an online directory for luxury accommodation.

Husband and wife John and Laura Lewis, who run Squirrels Nest at Llanbister, designed and launched Wanderlist, which offers listings for luxury holiday sites on August 17, to showcase rural retreats and spaces available across the UK.

The new business has been backed by NatWest’s Cardiff-based Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub.

In 2018, the couple, decided to diversify their income and launched their own holiday lets business, Squirrels Nest, on their 130-acre working sheep farm near Llanbister.

Mr Lewis, a carpenter with 15 years’ experience in the construction industry, built two luxury treehouses on their land, allowing them to operate their retreat, and they are now building a third treehouse on the site.

Mrs Lewis said: “When we launched our own holiday lettings business, we originally signed up to a popular glamping website but couldn’t get our heads around the 25 per cent commission, which is why we wanted to launch a directory of our own.

“The website is a friendly place where owners and their properties are given the care and attention that they deserve, these truly are amazing spaces that should be shouted about. With domestic tourism set for a boom thanks to the relaxing of lockdown rules just in time for the end of the summer, we hope that property owners will take advantage of commission-free exposure and holiday-hungry Brits will be inspired by their newfound appreciation of UK beauty spots.

County Times:

“Once the website is established, we hope to expand the business and the NatWest accelerator hub has allowed me to take a step back from both Squirrels Nest and Wanderlist, to look at our strategy and plan for future growth.”

Siwan Rees, NatWest Cymru's entrepreneurship development manager, said: “Laura is hugely passionate about Wanderlist and supporting people like herself who have had to diversify as business income from agriculture continues to fall. The couple put a great deal of determination and enthusiasm into getting Squirrels Nest off the ground and I’m sure they will replicate this for Wanderlist to ensure it is a great success."