Situated in four acres of beautiful woodland and water meadow, in the heart of the Welsh/ English borders countryside, sits Dolbedwyn House and it really is as cosy as its afterthought tipi site suggests.
Emma, the lady of Dolbedwyn is as warm and inviting as her home and, as she shows you around, you will learn very quickly never to underestimate a woman’s touch, especially when it comes to glamping. Walking along the woody, earthy man-made path, you can’t fail to absorb all the feminine finesse oozing from the site. It is a woodland retreat like no other, a camping oxymoron: rugged, earthy daintiness; muddy, organised plots; rustic, frilly communal areas; and axes lying next to hammocks.
Tucking into a piece of Emma’s home-made double-chocolate fudge cake and sipping a cup of tea, you won’t know what to do next; run through the neighbouring fields laughing like a seven-year-old with a new toy, chop down some firewood like a true forester, or just laze in a hammock humming ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ for a couple of hours. Emma will also introduce you to the real Lady of Dolbedwyn: Hattie the pig, who’s as big as she is beautiful, and loved by kids of all ages.
Now, when it came to the tipis, Emma had to make a choice. Instead of sticking to the traditional, white, Indian tipi, Cosy Under Canvas’ tipis are based on the Scandinavian Sami design, and have been fitted with 21st-century fabrics and construction techniques in order to combat whatever the Welsh weather throws at them. But never mind the external details, the cosiness of Cosy Under Canvas can be found inside the tipis. Dazzling white, fluffy sheepskin rugs, a hand-carved chest of drawers filled with goodies, a wood-burning stove to warm your tootsies on, and a beautifully alluring bed.
Should you decide to venture out of cosy-camping central, then you will no doubt stumble into the literary haven of Hay-on-Wye – the host town for the annual Guardian Literary Festival. Think Reader’s Corner crossed with the Tate Modern – every building looks like it belongs in a gallery, and every second door you pass will be the entrance to a bookworm’s paradise. And if you prefer the more active side of living, Hay also happens to be situated within the 520 square miles of the Brecon Beacons National Park. That’s 520 square miles of uninterrupted, unspoilt, and truly outstanding natural beauty.
There is one fault to this camping gem, and that’s leaving. You may even be tempted to run home, pack up all your stuff, quit your job, and start soul searching from the depths of one of Emma’s hammocks.
