Top 10 Tips for the Perfect Glamping Holiday
July 19, 2018
We’ve been welcoming guests to Penhein since 2014, and over the years we’ve learnt a thing or two about glamping. We aim to provide you with everything you’ll need from cooking utensils and spare blankets to our cheat’s kitchen (for when the BBQ’s not playing ball). Bring your sense of adventure, and follow these Top 10 Tips to ensure you get the very best out of your glamping experience:
1. Fun and Games
Penhein is a rural playground for kids of all ages (including big ones). We’ve laid on lots of games and activities to keep you busy – like our Treasure Hunt that takes you all over the farm, our new Adventure Playground and the 8-acre field that’s just a stone’s throw from the glampsite. We’ve got a big box of Outdoor Games for you to enjoy but feel free to make your own fun – gather up your gang for a game of rounders, chuck a rugby ball around, practice your penalty shoot-outs in our goal…the space is yours to use!
2. Eat Well
It’s a good idea to get organized before you arrive; make a meal plan for your stay and do an online shop ahead of time – most of the main supermarkets are close by and are used to delivering directly to us. This means you’ll have more time to focus on the fun part of the job – like barbequing over the outdoor fire pit or getting cosy and cooking pasta on your wood burning stove.
3. Roam Free on the Farm
We’re proud to be a working farm. You’re free to roam – why not follow our Nature Trails that help you explore the 450 acres of woodland and grassland at Penhein. Remember to keep to the country code; stick to the footpaths or fence line when possible and leave the gates as you find them. Find the 18th Century lime kilns on the farm, look out for cattle and sheep grazing, and spot the hens pecking happily around the house. Pick up half a dozen of our truly free range eggs for breakfast for just £1.50, subject to laying.
4. Go Wild and Learn a New Skill
Glamping is all about swapping creature comforts (well, ok not all of them!) for a more simple and outdoors-y life. Go the full Bear Gryll’s with a Bushcraft Course – great for kids and grown up’s alike. Ex-servicemen will teach you how to make shelters, build fires and live off the land. New for 2018 we offer Foraging Workshops with local expert, Adele Nozedar where you head out and scour the woods, meadows and watersides at Penhein for edible plants and herbs, before returning to base camp to cook up a feast with your findings.
5. Embrace the lack of WiFi and Electricity
There’s no electricity in our tents, nor WiFi anywhere on the site. Come prepared for a digital detox – this is your chance to take a break from your iPhone and email and properly switch off. Why not bring along something else instead; a box of paints, a notepad and pen, a good book? And you can find stacks of board games and playing cards in Petro, our communal tent. Be sure to bring a torch with you since there’s no external lights in the glampsite, and if you really do need an electric socket find one in the cheat’s kitchen, communal tent and the shower block (for hair dryers).
6. Prepare for the Elements
We might have enjoyed an unusually hot summer this year, but this is Wales remember! Weather conditions vary hugely and it’s best to be prepared; tick off wellies, thick socks, anoraks and a warm jumper. In summer, flip-flops or croc’s are ideal, and don’t forget a swimming towel for drying off your toes after a paddle in the stream. Don’t be afraid of getting muddy – splash through streams, trudge up hills, skip through the wild flower meadows safe in the knowledge that there’s a warm bath or hot shower waiting for you back at base camp. We’ve even got a Drying Room where you can hang your wet clothes and dry out wet walking boots.
7. Rest and Relax
Our glampsite boasts magnificent views of the River Severn and the Valley below. Green fields tumble down the valley and clusters of ancient wooded copses hug the hillside. It’s the perfect place to unwind – take gentle walks, sit amongst nature, or lie on a picnic rug and watch the clouds drift by overhead. At night, sleep deeply in a proper bed where the occasional owl hooting is the only sound to break the silence. For an extra treat, book a massage, reflexology, facial or pedicure with our on-site therapist and leave feeling revitalised.
8. Love Local
For some people it’s utter bliss not to have to get in the car or leave the glampsite. However, if you do fancy venturing out, there’s masses to explore in the local area. From cultural excursions – think historic castles, Roman Baths and the Coal Museum – to sporty activities like canoeing, mountain biking and Go Ape, there’s something for everyone. Dip in and out or try one of our specially tailored Day’s Out that put together itinerary’s for you, including pit stops along the way at our favourite local pubs and restaurants.
9. Brush up on your Astrology
Penhein is a star-gazing paradise. With no light pollution the clear night sky is studded with twinkly stars. Sit outside and enjoy it or watch from your pillow; the skylight in the top of our tents lets you quite literally sleep under the stars!
10. And finally…Don’t forget the marshmallows!
Do you prefer the tiny white ones or the big, plump pink ones? We say bring both! Marshmallows are essential – the small ones for sprinkling into hot chocolate and the big ones for toasting as you tell stories around the campfire– a right of passage for any happy glamper!