Category: news

Wow, what a year it’s been for all of us. Living through a pandemic wasn’t on my bucket list and I suspect that feeling is pretty unanimous. At last, we’re tentatively looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel, brought by spring, lockdowns and the vaccine program.

Here at Under the Oak we have been lucky so far to all have our health and of course, we have a beautiful place to stay home, but it’s not the same when you can’t share it with friends, family and guests and that is what we’ve missed so much.

Winter and lockdown has given us time to plan some changes and tweak the site to make your stay even more special. For guests in the safari tents, we have created a new parking area much closer to the accommodation – without spoiling the views of course. This will make the experience of arriving and leaving a much more relaxed affair. The main entrance to site has been widened, tarmacked and cleared to make this possible, which has been quite a mammoth task in itself.

We enjoyed converting Cynefin, our railway carriage last winter so much that we decided to take on one more this year. Cartref will open later in the year and we’re so excited to show her off. She’s already in her position and almost watertight. Keep an eye on our social media for updates on the conversion. The jury is out on the bold colour choice but we are loving it and we hope you will too.

As always, there are fences to fix, cows to chase, signs to paint, paths to maintain and moles to do battle with to keep the whole place looking it’s absolute best so we’ll be flat out now until we are given the go ahead to open our doors once more. Bookings are coming thick and fast now!

We cannot wait to see you all soon

Lydia and Richard x x x

Lockdown has been an up and down experience for us so far. At the beginning we were admittedly shell shocked as it came just before our first guests of the season were about to arrive. We had the unpleasant task of rearranging people’s stays as best we could for April, May and later on June.

The timing for us, and any seasonal businesses like ours literally couldn’t have been worse. We had just come through the winter when we have no income and live off the money made last season. We had also invested heavily in our new project – Cynefin – a beautifully restored railway carriage. We spent money on bits and bobs to get the tents in tip top condition. Then lockdown hit us – bam – and no money was coming in at all.

But enough of our woes. We’ve stayed healthy, we live in a beautiful place, and the sun has barely stopped shining so we know how lucky we are!

After the initial shock of our new situation had worn off, we started work on our epic to do list. Somehow, as we tick items off, more and more get added so it really is never ending. But we’ve had time to do some jobs that we’ve been meaning to get around to for a long time.

We have finally tarmacked the terrifyingly steep skiddy slope up to the glampsite. Anyone who has stayed with us will tell you that it was practically impossible to shuffle down without someone ending up on their bum. One of the joys of living on a mountain side.

We have repaired or replaced the screens around the hot tubs, which were flapping about a bit after taking a battering through the winter.

We have also been lucky to have the time to explore our mountain with the kids, and discover magical new places together. The coal tip high above us, turns out to be one of our favourite places! It has incredible 360 degree views and if you’re lucky you might even find a fossil there.

And down in the woods at the bottom of the farm, there’s a stream to navigate, trees to clamber up and the bluebells have been beautiful. It’s a bit of an old cliché but we really have embraced the simple things in life and felt grateful for all we have.

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Of course there has also been a fair amount of cow chasing, shouting and getting pooped on but that’s just normal farm life.

But most of our time has been taken up with trying to put the finishing touches to Cynefin. It’s all finished now and looking amazing. We hope you all love it as much as we do. It’s perfect for couples and has a kitchen, teeny shower room, gorgeous wood burner and an outdoor bathtub where you can wallow and take in the views of the valley below.

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We’re so frustrated not to be sharing this beautiful place with anyone at the moment but we’re hopeful of opening later in the summer and we’re getting ready for busy times ahead.

Until then, we hope all our glampers, friends and family are staying sane, and staying safe. x

It’s no secret that we love our safari tents at Under the Oak Glamping. And all our visitors love the comfort and cosiness they give you, along with the space to properly chill out, with friends, family or whoever you like!

We shut the tents up over the winter months, due to the fog, the mud and the cold but we still have a lot of people wanting to come and stay. So our thoughts have turned to what we can do next…

After a lot of research, heated discussions, pinterest and mind changes, we settled on a railway carriage. We really love the look of them and relish the challenge of fitting everything we need into a teeny space. Plenty of other people have done it but we want to do it even better! It may be small but there will be a wood burning stove, a shower, a flushing loo, a kitchen, electricity, and a full size bed, along with plenty of special little touches.

Cynefin is a very special Welsh word which perfectly matches our vision. It doesn’t have a direct translation into English but roughly speaking, it means a sense of place, where you feel at one with nature and your surroundings. We hope to capture that feeling for people staying in ‘Cynefin’.

We’ve found the perfect spot for Cynefin, tucked away in a corner so it’s super private, but still with our stunning views of the beautiful Welsh countryside, which every single visitor comments on. An outdoor bathtub will be expertly angled to make the most of the views as you unwind and the firepit is perfect for the adventurous outdoor chefs amongst you. It’s going to be so gorgeous, there’s a good chance you won’t want to leave!

At the moment it’s still very much a work in progress and that progress is sometimes hindered by rain and mud. But we’ll soon be opening up bookings for the season ahead so keep an eye on our social media for updates and announcements!

What a crazy start to the season it’s been! We’ve already welcomed countless couples, groups and families to our three amazing safari tents. And we’ve had nothing but awesome feedback from everyone, which makes all our hard work worthwhile!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already July and in just a few short weeks, the schools will be out and the kids will need to be catered for. It can be an expensive time for parents, with endless demands for entertainment, excitement and ice cream. With that in mind. We’ve put together a little list of some of our favourite cheap or totally free days out.

So pack up a picnic, and get set for summer!

The Beach

 

Everyone loves a day out at the beach and we’re lucky enough to have a choice of excellent ones to visit. Ogmore-by-sea is dog friendly, has loads of parking and a great mix of sand, pebbles, rock pools and big waves. Remember a handful of change for the car park and your day out is sorted.

Southerndown is also popular, and there’s a gorgeous walk behind the beach into the walled gardens, if you have had enough of the sandy stuff.

Barry Island and Porthcawl are great too but you will definitely need money for rides, ice cream, chips, arcades, beach toys… You get the gist.

St Fagan’s

St Fagan’s National Museum of History is completely free to get into, although there is a charge for the car park. It has a brand new visitor centre and some incredible historic buildings. These have been rescued from around the country and lovingly rebuilt in the grounds of St Fagans House. They have loads of events happening all year round so it’s worth checking on their website.

Cardiff Bay

 

Take a wander around the bars and restaurants and feel the buzz of Cardiff Bay. Y Senedd building is worth a visit and the Millenium Centre is one of the most iconic buildings in Cardiff. You can also walk across the barrage, which provides excellent views, picnic opportunities and sea air, as well as a good park for the kids.

Ystradfellte

Many of our guests have visited the waterfalls at Ystradfellte and they’ve been a massive hit. Choose your route depending on how energetic you’re feeling. The 4 falls walk at 3.8 miles is enough for us. It takes in the famous Sgwd yr Eira, a waterfall that you can walk behind! It’s an incredible experience but be careful, it is slippery and there are LOTS of steps. Not one for the pushchairs unfortunately.

The Mabinogion Adventure

If you’re staying at Under the Oak, you can follow the sign posts on a trail across the farm to a magical woodland area. It’s not a park – in fact it’s pretty wild but the kids will love exploring the meadow and the woods. They can add to our den, paddle in the stream and swing on the rope swings. Discover some colourful characters from the Mabinogion, on specially created smilestones which are hidden all around the clearing.

Wherever you adventure this summer, we’d love to see your pics so please tag us @bedwasglamping on twitter, or share on our facebook and Instagram.

We’ve been a bit quiet of late, and that’s because we’ve been absolutely flat out, getting our two shiny new tents ready for the season ahead. It’s been a lot of long stressful days and hard work but we’re so excited to be opening in less than two weeks.

The first new tent – Y Ddraenen Wen – is in a stunning spot on the water’s edge. Anyone who has visited us knows what an amazing view you have from Dan y Dderwen and this new spot is every bit as incredible. Inside, the tent is cosy and colourful, with all the home comforts you could need. Kitchen with hob and fridge. Comfy beds with warm duvets and big, squishy pillows. An unexpectedly large bathroom with flushing toilet, hot shower, plenty of towels and the best view in Bedwas!

Add to that a fabulous fire pit, wood fired hot tub for the grown ups, and a mud kitchen and sand pit to keep younger guests happy. You may just never want to leave.

We have named our other new tent ‘Dan y Ffawydden’ which means under the beech, because it is tucked under a massive and beautiful beech tree. This Safari tent is a little further from the water’s edge, nestled in the corner of a nearby field. The view is slightly different but equally awesome.

This tent is a  bigger version of the other two and is great for families or groups to spread out. There’s plenty of outside space for games and running about. It also has its own mud kitchen and sand pit. And there’s a rumour that some elves and fairies live nearby. Kids can discover their secret little doorway if they look carefully!

It’s impossible for us to choose our favourite tent – we love them all and we’re looking forward to sharing them with our guests very soon. We think we’ve created something a bit special so why not come and stay and see for yourself?

Bring on the summer!

 

We are very busy at Under the Oak, getting the site ready for opening in spring. We have many exciting plans for the year ahead, with our two new tents opening.

Today, we are excited to announce, our new mini moon package. For those couples who maybe don’r have time for a full-blown honeymoon, or maybe they’re postponing for a bit. After the stress and excitement of building up to the big day, what better way to unwind?

Your safari tent will be decorated ready for your arrival and a luxury hamper of goodies will be waiting for you. The hot tub will also be warmed up ready, a special little extra touch, which means you can make the most of this precious time together.

We look forward to celebrating with all you newly-weds in 2019!

2019 is here at last and we’d like to wish everyone who has followed our journey, visited us and supported us, a huge happy new year. Here’s hoping your year is filled with loveliness!

After an incredible 2018 we have decided to throw caution to the wind and put up another two beautiful safari tents.  Y Ddraenen Wen, which means hawthorn in Welsh, will sit across the pond from Dan y Dderwen and will be every bit as stunning. It will of course have its own hot tub, and a slightly different, but still stunning view.

Dan y Ffawydden means under the beech, because the third tent is nestled -you guessed it -under a huge beech tree just below the pond. This tent will sleep up to six so will be ideal for larger families or groups of friends to kick back and relax in our little piece of paradise on a Welsh hillside.

We can’t wait to get everything ready so we can share some photos with you all but in the mean time, you will soon be able to book a stay in the new tents. We’ll even be offering a discount for groups so why not round up a few cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents and plan a real family adventure this year. There’s nothing like a glamping holiday to bring everyone together. No telly, no tablets, no distractions. Just camp fires, food and footie, or if you prefer, just chilling in the hot tub with a good book and a glass of bubbles.

Sounds perfect? Then what are you waiting for?

 

For those of you who like to be super-duper organised, or just like to have something fabulous to look forward to, we have created our amazing early bird booking offer.

Book before November 30th using code earlybird19 and you will you receive a free luxury welcome hamper, worth £25 when you arrive. And as if that wasn’t temptation enough, we’ll also give you 10% off the cost of your stay.

So if you fancy getting away from it all without forgoing any of your home comforts, come and try one of our stunning safari tents. Dan y Dderwen has stunning views across the hills and valley below, while our brand new tent, Y Ddraenen Wen is perfectly positioned on the pond side.

Each tent has it’s own, bathroom, kitchen, firepit and wood fired hot tub and is perfect for couples and families alike. So get your dates booked quick – this offer won’t be hanging around for long!

 

 

 

Autumn has to be one of the most magical times to go glamping.  The trees and hedgerows are at their most spectacular, you can avoid the summer crowds and the chilly evenings are perfect for families and friends to gather around the campfire.

As the sun goes down on  a day of adventures, get everyone together to help with the fire. Of course, we provide plenty of firewood at Under the Oak Glamping, but kids will enjoy hunting around for twigs and kindling –  it’s all part of the fun!

Once your fire is roaring away, pull up a log , wrap up in a blanket and snuggle up with loved ones. Why not rustle up a fabulous feast together?  Our firepit is perfect for keeping warm or for barbecuing, whether you’re hungry meat-eaters or fancy something a little more adventurous!

One of our favourites is s’mores. Surely no one could resist the oozy, sticky, chocolatey yumminess? If you’ve never tried them then they’re really easy to make.

 

You’ll just need biscuits or crackers, chocolate and plenty of marshmallows. Toast your marshmallow on a stick to start with. Then layer it up with a good chunk of chocolate between 2 biscuits – digestives work well.

Once you’ve mastered the art of making s’mores you can experiment and invent your own amazing versions. We’d love to hear about them. Our fav has to be, using toffee waffles , marshmallow and sea salted chocolate. Yum!

Songs around the campfire is so much fun, and if someone can play guitar then why not bring that along too?

And when the stars come out, there’s no better place to be than wallowing in the wood fired hot tub. Spot some constellations or just enjoy the peace and quiet and the stunning view of the lights in the valley below.

Inside our safari tent, we have a cute little woodburner called ‘the chilly penguin’, which really belts out the heat. It gets the tent warm and cosy in no time. So forget those nippy and uncomfortable camping trips of the past – this is glamping and autumn is really the perfect time to get out and explore!

 

 

 

 

Under the Oak Glamping has proved very popular with couples. It’s not surprising really – everything about the safari tent says romance. The incredible Welsh box bed is always a hit.  The love tub- our cosy, wood fired hot tub – is perfectly quiet so you can sit back and watch the sun go down and the stars come out. Some people like to take a stroll with the dogs, others prefer to chill on the veranda with a few drinks and admire the fabulous panoramic view of the South Wales hills stretching down to the sea in the distance.

If you’ve come for a getaway with your significant other, we’ve come up with a few ideas of places you might want to visit, things you might want to see while you’re staying with us…

Waterfall Country, Pontneddfechan

There are several trails you can follow to take in these amazing falls so take your pick, depending how energetic you’re feeling! A must see is Sgwd-yr-Eira where you can walk right behind the waterfall. It’s a beautiful and unique experience and many of our visitors have raved about their day out exploring the falls. Find more info here…

http://www.breconbeacons.org/waterfall-country-walking-trails

 

Cardiff Bay

Whether you want to eat, drink or wander, Cardiff Bay has it all. One hundred years ago the docklands were the hub of the world’s coal industry, transporting millions of tonnes of coal across the globe. The docks were left to decay after the decline of the coal industry, but have now been reborn into a popular tourist attraction. Y Senedd, the national assembly building, and the striking Millenium Centre are both at the centre of the bay and Mermaid Quay has shops and restaurants from French to Turkish to Indian cuisine and many more. Perfect for a day or night out!

 

Pen y Fan

If walking is your thing then this is the day out for you. Pen y Fan is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At 886 metres above sea-level, it is also the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. The twin summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du at 873 m were formerly referred to as Cadair Arthur or ‘Arthur’s Seat’. Choose your route, depending on your ability! The circular walk is dog friendly and takes around 2.5 hours. For the fitter and more adventurous, the horseshoe ridge route takes around 5 hours.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brecon-beacons/trails/pen-y-fan-and-corn-du-circular-walk

 

Castell Coch

We are a spoilt for choice when it comes to castles in Wales. But Castell Coch is a little different from your average ruin. While resting on ancient foundations, Castell Coch  is relatively modern. The ‘eccentric genius’ William Burges was given free rein by his paymaster, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd marquess of Bute, to create a rural retreat to complement the opulence of his main residence, Cardiff Castle. He didn’t hold back. Dazzling ceilings, over-the-top furnishings and furniture were liberally applied.

 

Taff Valley Quad Bike and Activity Centre

Once you’ve relaxed and unwound at Under the Oak, why not get the adrenaline pumping at Taff Valley? It’s not just quad bikes, although they are pretty awesome! They offer a massive range of outdoor  activities including archery, clay pigeon shooting, an assault course and laser shooting. Check out their website for more info..

http://www.adventurewales.co.uk/

This is just a small selection of things to do and places to go near Under the Oak Glamping. Have a look at the Visit Wales Website for more inspiration or give us a call. Tell us what kind of things you like to do and we’ll more than happy to suggest the perfect day out for you!