Blackberry picking and campfires as September arrives
August 28, 2020
Giant blackberries fill the hedgerows and jewel-like damsons hang in the trees which means we find ourselves in September. Phew! What a season it’s been so far. Despite – or perhaps because of – all the turmoil in the world, Penhein has become a real oasis in the outdoors over the past few months. We re-opened on 13th July with lots of new changes in place to allow everyone to feel safe, and ever since then we’ve been fully booked! It’s been an amazing summer seeing so many guests coming to relax and escape, enjoying space, freedom and fresh air at Penhein.
Safety has of course been the priority at Penhein and we worked hard to achieve Good To Go status from the government, meaning the glampsite is COVID-secure. We’ve invested in a new shower shack so that each tent now has its own dedicated bath or shower and everyone can remain socially distanced during their stay. This adds to other measures we’ve introduced like a revised cleaning schedule, a flexible MasterCancel policy and a Welcome App for a contactless check-in.
After months of cooking for ourselves at home, it’s no wonder our catering options have been so popular this summer. Guests can order hot, homemade meals that are delivered ready-to-eat from the Kate at brilliant Blackberry Catering. With a minimum spend of just £100 during your stay you can also add bespoke breakfasts, BBQ boxes, antipasti boards and more. And we’ve been busy keeping the Penhein Pantry stocked up with goodies like our own natural honey and artisan ice cream from local Brooke’s Dairy which has been flying off the shelves.
Spending time outdoors amongst nature has been absolutely crucial for everyone this season particularly. As well as plenty of cooking over the campfire and long walks, we’ve had a bumper year for our activities like Junior Bushcraft, as well as introducing new experiences like calming Forest Bathing. Catherine, one of our first guests to take the course, gave us some lovely feedback, deeming it a ‘truly uplifting and relaxing experience’. And it’s been wonderful to see people making the most of the activities on our doorstep, with the Wye Valley getting a glowing write-up in the iNews.
Whilst it’s been an undoubtedly challenging time, it also feels like we’ve all developed a new-found appreciation for the simple things in life – spending time with family and friends, noticing the changing seasons, taking the time to exercise and eat well – all things we champion at Penhein. We hope that we’ll continue to see plenty more guests coming to enjoy the space and beauty of our glampsite this autumn as the leaves turn golden.