Sitting in the hot tub, looking out at the fiery sunset reflecting off the sea, the setting was perfect, our weekend break in Aberystwyth had begun.
I’ve been to Wales many times and the beauty of the countryside never disappoints. I’ll be honest though, it was a very long drive to Aberystwyth from our home in Leeds, after work on a Friday. As we arrived I was thinking ‘unpack the car, quick snack and then get to bed’, I was exhausted.
Everything changed when we pulled up at the site and backed into our parking spot right next to our pod. The view was spectacular! From our terrace outside the pod we could see right out across the valley to the sea and the sun was setting, the sky looked like it was on fire. It was beautiful, I immediately felt re-energised!
All the pods are recently refurbished and set out to have maximum privacy, but to also enjoy the most amazing views of the landscape. Our home for the weekend was ready for us, the hot tub was at the perfect temperature, all we had to do was unpack and light the fire pit grill.
We were in one of the smaller pods, dog friendly, sleeping two adults. The site also has larger pods for four adults, also with dog friendly options. Our hot tub was wood fired, so we were able to top up the temperature as required with the starter pack of small logs provided.
I think there is everything here that you need for comfortable short stay year-round, the heating had been left on for us so the pod was toasty, which would be great in the winter months. We’d been lucky with the weather though, we had to turn the heating off!
Inside, as well as a shower room and kitchenette, the pods have a super comfy double bed, with a cosy white cotton duvet set, a lush velvet sofa, and a breakfast table and chairs next to the TV.
For those who prefer to eat outside, on the large terrace area we had a pub style table with benches and two comfy chairs for around the fire pit, as well as the hot tub, and there was still plenty of room to put the blankets down for the dogs.
My son really enjoys stargazing, and we were keen to see the sky at night in this location as the area of Aberystwyth has so little light pollution. We had everything crossed for a clear night and we weren’t disappointed – were lucky enough to be there to see the Northern Lights and in this spot it was spectacular! *
We spent the perfect evening in the hot tub enjoying the Northern Lights and toasting marshmallows on the fire. After a great night sleep, we woke up ready for the day ahead. There’s something so special about waking up in a snug little wooden hut, surrounded by nature and cocooned in comfort. It really is the perfect retreat that offers all the joys of camping with none of the hassles.
After coffee and breakfast outside, watching the countryside come to life, we headed off into Aberystwyth town centre to do some exploring.
In terms of seaside towns Aberystwyth has everything you want; a beautiful long promenade, a pier, dog friendly sections of beach and some gorgeous multicoloured houses on the seafront, giving big Balamory vibes!
The bay is bookended by Constitution Hill at the north end and with Aberystwyth Castle to the south. We parked towards the north end of the town, where the adventurous can take a hike up Constitution Hill. If you don’t fancy the walk, you can take the Aberystwyth Cliff railway, the longest electric funicular cliff railway in Britain.
If you know my family, you’ll know there was no real choice here, of course we were walking up the hill! It was well worth the effort though. At the top there’s a fab ice-cream parlour/bar/restaurant ‘Y Consti’ where you can quench your thirst and enjoy a spot of lunch looking out over the bay. There are vegan and veggie options, and they even sell dog ice cream, Utterly Mutterly! The dogs loved it! It was a really sunny day, so it was nice and refreshing for them. There’s even a super-cute little bowling alley and crazy golf park behind the restaurant so there’s plenty up there to make the walk worthwhile.
The town centre itself has lots of lovely shops, plenty of independent shops, bars and restaurants and twice a month there’s a farmers’ market, selling lots of local goods and produce.
Back at the glamping site, we made the most of the beautiful day playing frisbee and tennis (equipment provided) on the lawn and cooking dinner on the firepit. Perfect.
We found Aberystwyth to be an idyllic spot for a wholesome family weekend break and the Wigwam pods made the ideal base, particular for dog owners, as there’s so much green space around. Sitting in that hot tub looking out to see was an amazing experience and the little extra touches in the pod like the twinkly lights made everything seem a little bit magical. I’d definitely recommend them.
If you’re looking for a break in North Wales, you can check them out here.
Thanks for reading!
*Disclaimer, the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed as part of your stay!
Images supplied by Sally Bendall @girlaboutleeds. Plus some images supplied.
