As part of our staycation series, we’ve been on the lookout for the best accommodation for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK. Ahead of Summer, we teamed up with Glamping Hideaways to review one of their venues and write about our experience.
Glamping Hideaways Review
Glamping Hideaways have a wide range of venues to choose from across the UK, from Scotland right down to Cornwall. All the locations are hand picked and quality checked by a team of in-house experts, to ensure you get the very best the UK has to offer. From last minute glamping, luxury for couples and hot tubs, to family staycations and dog friendly places, there is something to suit every lifestyle.
As we were already planning to spend a couple of weeks in North Wales, we browsed the accommodation on offer in the area to find our perfect Glamping escape. After viewing all details on the website and looking through the pictures, we decided on Brook Cottage Shepherds Huts for our review. This is situated in Gwynedd, which is the perfect location to explore the coast.
The Shepherds Huts
After confirming our booking, Glamping Hideaways provided us with everything we needed to find the venue and reach out to the owner of the Shepherds Huts to check in. Upon arrival, the keys were left on the kitchen worktop for us, making it super quick and hassle free to get ourselves settled in.
The Shepherds Huts are super relaxing inside, the decor brings inspiration from the outdoors. There are windows all along one side of the hut with views of the mountains and the animals on the surrounding farms. The unique huts combine comfort and style, with the charm and serene feeling of being at one with nature, without compromising creature comforts.
The huts have everything you need for a weekend glamping stay. The bed is super comfy, with an en suite bathroom and spacious kitchen area, stocked with all the necessities for cooking. Our favourite part of the accommodation was the built in log burner, it felt so cosy starting up the fire after a long day of walking and exploring the area. And of course it wouldn’t be a trip to Wales without some delicious welsh cakes.
Exploring the area
Brook Cottage Shepherds Huts are perfectly located for exploring the Llyn Peninsula’s beautiful coastline and just a short drive to some of the best walks in Snowdonia. As keen outdoor explorers, it’s the perfect balance of quiet time in the glamping huts and being just a short distance from more active pursuits.
We had a full agenda planned for our 3 night glamping holiday, but as the weather took a turn for the worse we had to get creative and look for things to do that wouldn’t get us too wet and cold. We had all our waterproof gear with us, so decided on a few low down walks in the area, which made a nice change from always being up in the mountains.
Day 1: Trefor Sea Stacks
On our first day, we didn’t check in until mid afternoon so we decided to make dinner and head to Trefor Sea Stacks on the Llŷn Peninsula for a sunset walk along the coast.
As we reached the top of the hill, just near the stacks, we suddenly got caught in a storm and had to quickly get back down as the wind and hale stones were so strong. Luckily, as we approached the path to the car park, we were treated to this beautiful double rainbow at the bottom.
During the Winter months along the coast you may encounter all kinds of marine wildlife, including dolphins, marine turtles and even whales sometimes. During Autumn, seals use the beach to rest, especially in mating season, so it’s important to give them the space they need.
Day 2: Forest Walk
On day two, the weather was forecast rain and wind again so we decided to head up to Gwydir Forest (also spelled Gwydyr) to have a walk through the forest and keep the rain at bay. The forest is based in Snowdonia, not far from the village of Betws-y-Coed.
We arrived at the car park (which is relatively small), and followed the National Trust trail through the trees. There are a few different routes you can take through the forest, including a mountain bike one. The trail we followed was an easy 8km walk on relatively even terrain.
The forest is a tranquil place to walk during a rainy day, the sound of the trees and rain is super relaxing and being deep in the woods keeps you dry. The forest is full of all kinds of different trees, including the Japanese Cedar. When you walk deeper into the forest there are lots of fallen trees covered in green moss like something out of a fairy tale.
Day 3: Aber Falls
We have explored Aber Falls a few times before, so we knew it was the perfect place to go after heavy rainfall. When it’s been raining for a few days, you’ll get to see the waterfall in all its glory. We took the usual route from the second car park and were lucky to have the area all to ourselves (with it being a week day). The route from the car park takes around two hours in total, one hour there and one hour back.
Aber Falls is the perfect place for exploring on a rainy day and it’s suitable for all abilities. It’s a great place for families with its designated pushchair route. The best time to visit the area is from Autumn through to Spring, as this is when the waterfall is at its best, however it can be a nice place for a dip on a hot Summer’s day too, especially after the uphill walk.
Benefits of a glamping holiday
Glamping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with the added benefit of your creature comforts. Glamping Hideaways offer a vast portfolio of accommodation in some of the most beautiful areas in the UK. Luxury glamping provides the perfect place to spend a summer with friends and family, relaxing, wild swimming, barbecuing, pampering, enjoying an outdoor film and firepit night, and much more!
For families, it’s the perfect way to spend some quality time together and it takes away some of the stress out of a Summer Holiday. For those who love camping, but want to spend less time planning and more time enjoying the outdoors, it’s a great option. Glamping is so much less time-consuming than regular camping as everything you need is usually there, so it’s virtually prep-free.
Glamping offers so many health benefits, immersing yourself in the outdoors and enjoying the natural beauty has been proven to reduce stress levels. The air is cleaner and can boost your mental and physical wellbeing and help produce those endorphins.
Find more inspiration for your next UK staycation at glampinghideaways.co.uk
