If you fancy going glamping in mid Wales, you’re in for a treat. There’s an ever-growing list of cute and quirky structures and amazing activities, in some of our country’s most serene locations. This week, I chose to stay at Wigwam Holidays Hafren which is sheltered by ancient woodland and tucked away on the edge of a picturesque working farm in Powys.
Are you someone who enjoys the idea of camping, but doesn’t fancy the idea of sleeping in a small tent? Well, if you choose to go glamping in mid Wales, you can enjoy the gorgeous landscapes of the Cambrian Mountains while also trying out some dark sky stargazing!
Glamping is the ideal solution for those like me who enjoy spending time in the outdoors but would prefer something more comfortable than traditional camping, such as the extra sprinkling of comfort, convenience and luxury that this form of accommodation offers.
My Stay: The Wigwam Holidays Hafren site is a truly rural getaway in Powys which has six glamping pods in total and each pod is insulated and fully fitted with everything you need for a comfortable weekend break. This includes lighting and power sockets, heating, hot water, fridge, and en-suite facilities. There is also an outdoor picnic table, BBQ and ours featured a spacious Scandinavian wood-fired hot tub.
Getting there: I drove along the A470 from Cardiff passing through Rhayader, Llangurig, and Llanidloes which offers endless views across the green countryside, majestic mountain backdrops and impressive Llyn Clywedog Reservoir and Dam.
Things to Do:
Stargazing: One of the most magnificent sights in all of Wales is the night sky peppered with stars, distant planets and streaking meteors. Luckily for me, mid Wales has some of the largest expanses of dark sky in Europe making it a perfect destination for eager stargazers who wish to learn more about the unfamiliar constellations of the northern hemisphere from an experienced astronomer.
Less than 10% of the UK population are able to experience the true wonders of a dark sky which makes the site perfect for stargazing activities and guided workshops if astronomy is your thing.
I packed a flask, wrapped up warm and joined Allan Trow, founder and owner of Dark Sky Wales to discover the beauty of our night sky without even having to leave the glamping site. His powerful telescope offers the opportunity to gaze up at celestial wonders with just the naked eye and photograph some of the magnificent sights in the night sky.
Walks: From spectacular ridgelines and mountains to glistening reservoirs, rivers and lakes, the Cambrian Mountains has something for everyone.
With no official National Park status, the Cambrian Mountains Initiative is an organisation that promotes this part of Wales which includes the uplands of Pumlumon, Elenydd, Mallaen and Llanllwni/Brechfa.
I was lucky enough to be joined by it’s project manager Dafydd for a sunset walk up to the trig point of nearby Foel Fadian which sits at 1850ft. This relatively small hill is very accessible and offers incredible views stretching out along the majestic Dyfi Valley to Machynlleth and right across to the southern face of Cadair Idris.
Guided walks from the site are also offered by Helen Menhinick who can guide you through points of interest which cater for all levels of difficulty.
Elan Valley | Caban Coch to Craig Goch Walk
No trip to this part of mid Wales would be complete without a visit to The Elan Valley. Sitting in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains and just 3 miles from Rhayader, the site covers an area over 72 square miles, making up 1% of the whole of Wales. Visitors come from far and wide all year round to see the spectacular reservoirs and dams, which are ideal for walkers, wildlife enthusiasts, and cyclists. With the exception of Dol y Mynach all the dams are accessible by car and the four other dams: Craig Goch, Pen y Garreg, Garreg Ddu, and Caban Coch are best explored on foot or by bike. I suggest parking at the Visitor Centre which is a great starting point for your visit and a good place to start your four dam walk which still provide water for the City of Birmingham.
Day and night, this entire area lives and breathes adventure, with acres of incredible sights to be discovered. Whether you fancy mountain biking, woodland wanders or stargazing beneath some of Europe’s darkest skies, this Wigwam glamping experience has it all!
Check out the full vlog!
As always don't forget to be Adventure Smart!
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