Sleep Here: Fforest Farm, Cardigan, Wales
With its multiple outposts in and around Cardigan, Fforest is a great base for a few days exploring Pembrokeshire. It’s modern self-catering, with oodles of traditional Welsh charm balanced out with contemporary flair that makes it so inviting. We spent two nights camping in south Pembrokeshire, then spent a couple nights at Fforest Farm to explore Cardigan and do some nice walks near the Blue Lagoon.
Fforest is made up of three separate locations in north Pembrokeshire. Fforest Farm, where we stayed, is six or so minutes out of Cardigan itself, and has an array of accommodation options, from bell tents to geodesic domes, four-person Crog Lofts, and a farmhouse, all spread out over 200 acres of lush Welsh countryside. It’s also got its own little pub, Y Bwthyn, a shop selling all the essentials like butter and gin, and a cedar barrel sauna. On certain nights, they do special dinners, should you be not in the mood to cook.
Butlin’s style self-catering this is not. Everything about Fforest feels wholesome and lovingly curated, with local touches throughout. There’s a large Rob Ryan paper-cutting in our Crag Loft, cut wildflowers in a dinky vase on the table outside, locally roasted coffee left out for morning, and beautiful Welsh Wool blankets that are handwoven nearby.
The whole place feels gloriously leisurely. The four of us picked our beds in our Crag Loft (us up top in the double, them in the bunk bed), dumped our bags, and headed down to the onsite pub (very small, very charming) to order G&Ts, to drink outside on the reclined wooden chairs admiring the views. Later, we cooked in our outdoor kitchen and ate by candlelight, before retiring to our slouchy sofas inside, all toasty thanks to modern underfloor heating throughout.
The next morning after breakfast outside, we headed into Cardigan to explore. There, you should make a beeline for CRWST for coffee or a second breakfast, Bowen's for fish and chips, and Pizzatipi, the riverside pizza spot ran by the Fforest team that’s a cool evening hangout which wouldn’t feel a spot out of place in East London. Cardigan Bay is beautiful but the best beach in the area in my opinion is at Mwnt — a National Trust run site where you can walk up the hill, spot dolphins, and swim.
Fforest was gorgeous late summer, but I’ve no doubt it would be an equally great spot to hunker down in the depths of winter too. It’s somewhere to go to switch off and feel connected with nature, without having to sacrifice the comfort of a hot shower, comfy sofa, and the joy of great pizza five minutes away when you can’t be arsed to fire up the stove.
Fforest Farm, Cardigan — self-catering rates from £160
A gin and tonic taste better with views like these. Order one from Fforest’s on-site pub, Y Bwthyn, and make sure to ask for their own Boy Ashore gin.
Fforest Farm has different types of accommodation to choose from. The geodesic domes have sunken Japanese style Onsen baths — the ultimate option if you’re looking for a little R&R.
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