Wales Guidebook

11 BEST Glamping Sites in West Wales [Hot Tubs, Beaches, etc]

KW
Kieren Windsor

Kieren is the founder of Wales Guidebook. A Welshman born and bred, he has lived and travelled across Wales and now his full-time passion is sharing his favourite experiences and travel tips.

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Filled with incredible coastlines, inspiring valleys, and charming towns and villages, West Wales packs many diverse experiences in such a small area. Regardless of where you find yourself in this part of the country, you will be surrounded by picturesque scenes, making West Wales a haven of nature perfect for hikes and camping. 

One of the best ways to connect with the Welsh countryside of Pembrokeshire and beyond is to try glamping. Glamping provides the camping experience while offering home comforts to enhance your trip. With the desirable views in West Wales, it's no surprise that there are a vast array of glamping locations. Here are some of the best to help you decide where you should go. 

Best Glamping in West Wales

  • Best Overall: Apple Glamping is a great option if you're looking for the wow factor. With accommodation in literal yachts, train carriages, or an Air Bus, it's an option that will spark the imagination. 
  • Best For Families: Wild Wellingtons is an excellent option for multiple families to come together, thanks to the dedicated play areas, ample space, and fun meadow to explore. 
  • Best With a Hot Tub: Machlud Ar Y Dwr is a fantastic, romantic lakeside glamping pod with luxurious hot tubs perfect for soaking up your surroundings. 

1. Stargaze Camping

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  • Two Geodomes designed for stargazing
  • Two Shepard huts great for groups
  • Adult-only, peaceful location in a meadow

Offering both shepherd huts and luxury Geodomes, Stargaze Camping is located among a luscious wildflower meadow of ox-eye daisies and other fauna in the heart of Pembrokeshire, pitching you directly with nature.

The location is tranquil and strictly adult-only, making it perfect for those who need to get away and retune their minds and bodies. Each pitch has ample space for you to roam and enjoy, and their reasonably new Geodomes also come equipped with a wood-fired hot tub. 

Named after two famous constellations, Taurus and Orion, the geodomes are perfect for star gazing, with a panoramic ceiling window giving you a mesmerizing view of the night sky, which you can watch roll by from the comfort of your bed.

For a more homely stay, their two shepherd huts have more amenities, such as a kitchen area with a stove, toilets, and private decking areas with a fire pit. 

With the Preseli Hills looming over the pitch, Stargaze Camping is close to Nolton and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, giving you day trip options if you fancy getting out and about.


2. Parc Maerdy 

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  • Idyllic pods with lake views 
  • Wonderful options for couples
  • Close to waterside activities and views 

Ideal for couples looking to get away, Parc Maerdy is a glamping site filled with multiple options and possibilities. Here, you can stay in their wonderfully crafted wooden pods or dwell in a massive, tipi-style tent. 

Regardless of the type of accommodation you choose, each property at Parc Maerdy offers a balcony with views of the nearby lake that peacefully ebbs and flows adjacent to your pods. There's also a great outdoor barbeque area and terrace to help you enjoy the soothing evening here. 

The nearby lake is perfect for a spot of fishing and swimming, yet you also have the option to head to the coast that's a stone-throws away at Llangrannog to try paddleboarding, surfing or kayaking. 

Make sure you come prepared when visiting Parc Maerdy, as they don't supply any bedding, and are also entirely self-catering, so make sure to have food with you too.


3. Beavers Retreat 

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  • 100% solar-powered glamping retreat 
  • Large and cosy geodomes
  • Built-in a woodland clearing

Beavers Retreat is a fantastic glamping location for all the family, offering regular and XL-sized domes and tall and spacious bell tents that can easily fit the entire group. The appeal of Beavers Retreat is the possibilities the space holds. Located in a woodland clearing surrounded by trees and wild foliage, there are opportunities to roast marshmallows, stargaze, fly kites, play games, barbeque, and much more. 

Each dome has fully stocked cooking facilities, ambient lighting, and bedding with each bed. There's also a bespoke outdoor area for each pitch, which is excellent for picnics. 

Beavers Retreat is entirely off-gird and operated by solar power, which is great for those looking for a green and switched-off holiday experience. If you don't want to step away from society for too long, Tenby is just five miles away, while Manorbier beach is even closer. There's also alpaca trekking on site for those wanting to try something different.


4. Apple Camping 

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  • Bonkers accommodation options 
  • Located opposite a working farm 
  • Near Tenby and beautiful beaches

If you're looking for something a bit different and sometimes odd, then Apple Camping is an excellent option for those wanting to stay in Pembrokeshire. The site is small but gives people exclusive access and has a lot of different types of quirky accommodations that will surely blow your mind. 

You can choose to stay in their sonar submarine, UFO, train carriage, and even an Airbus. There are also the more standard Yurts and tents if you prepare, although the other options are much more unique and are one of a kind in the UK. 

You can enjoy the private jet life in the Jetstar, which comes with its own cockpit, stay in an igloo that's styled on the famous Pingu character, or sleep in a gin-themed yacht called Tonic.

Apple Camping is next to a working farm, making it a great place to watch country life pass you by. Tenby is also just 5 miles away, giving you access to a great harbour and blue-flagged beaches. 

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  • Stunning lake view directly from your pod 
  • Amazing location for a romantic getaway 
  • Secluded and classy modern hot tubs

Machlud Ar Y Dwr oozes romance thanks to its stunning lakeside glamping pods designed with a luxurious and futuristic look. The adjacent hot tub that bubbles away next to each pod also creates a sense of class, making it a perfect getaway for date nights in the countryside. 

Each pod has a decking area with tables, chairs, barbeque, and fairy lights to help you enjoy this enchanting space at night.

The pods are thoughtfully designed and tinted with splashes of baby blue to create a comforting environment. Inside, you can cook, bathe, or snuggle up with a film on the equipped smart TV. 

The pods are very close to New Quay, a bustling town filled with great activities to try, and have many famous walks and hiking routes passing through, such as the Dylan Thomas Trails and Ceredigion Coast Path. 


6. Little Welsh Wood 

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  • Camping directly in woodlands 
  • Dog and family-friendly
  • More stripped-back and natural camping experience

Offering multiple pitches across an ancient beech woodland that spills into various grassy meadows, Little Welsh Wood has many options no matter what type of camping experience you're after. Here, you can stay traditional and pitch your own tent or opt for one of their three glamping options. 

Here you can say in their botanical Bell Tent, decorated with evergreen leaves and dotted in the heart of the woodland, or stay in their geodome found in an adjacent meadow. Both offer comfortable beds, linen provided, and plenty of space, although the geodome offers a dining area to allow for fun woodland banquets. 

Little Welsh Wood is a bit more rustic and stripped back than some other options, with many of their toilet and cooking facilities being shared. If you're not put off by that, Little Welsh Wood is a fantastic place to glamp, as it has a fun and wild feel, especially as you can explore the woodland area right from your doorstep. 

Preseli Mountains are nearby, offering an intermediate hiking experience, or you can travel to Ramsey Island from here and get a chance to find some beautiful and rare puffins.


7. The Little Retreat

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  • Walled-off retreat on castle grounds 
  • Outdoor focus with outside kitchen area and bath
  • 360 views of the night sky from your pod

If you're after a highly secluded and private getaway, then the Little Retreat is a great option. Located within the garden walls of the old castle grounds of Lawrenny Village, you have a space that is entirely yours and isolated from the world but only a five-minute walk from shops, cafes, and the beautiful estuary of the area. 

The Little Retreat offers stunning stargazing tents that provide 360 views of the night sky, allowing you a taste of astronomy just before you doze off to sleep. The space also has a firepit, outdoor bathtub, and outside kitchen area, making it a great place to soak up any summer sunshine. The tents sleep four people and even accommodate dogs, allowing you to bring the entire family for a peaceful and fun time. 

Located in the heart of the Cleddau Woodlands, a national trust site in itself, you won't have to amble far from the accommodation to find beautiful scenery and quaint towns and villages. 


8. Wild Wellingtons 

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  • Lots of spaces and features for children to enjoy
  • A spacious, off-grid glamping site
  • Very close to beaches and the seaside

Wild Wellingtons offer a glamping space with enough features and spaces to take up your entire holiday or equally be used as a place to help you branch out and explore the wonderful nearby Pembrokeshire coastline. 

Wild Wellingtons is an ideal place for families, as the site has many features that children will enjoy. Not only does it have plenty of space or them to roam and explore, but there are designated play areas, a sports field, a firepit for marshmallow roastings, and a pizza oven for the entire family to create some culinary delights. 

The accommodation on offer at Wild Wellingstons consists of spacious geodomes that are furnished to a high standard and come with fridges, wet rooms, dishwashers, and more, all while being entirely off-grid. There's also a shepherd's hut that can house more people and comes with a soft and comfortable double bed. 

Wild Wellingtons comes alive when you book all three glamping pitches as a large family group. Here, you have the whole site to yourself and can bond and have fun as a large cohort easily. Plus, if you eventually get bored of the site, you can venture just 5 minutes away to the local beaches and coast, making Wild Wellingtons a great place for families looking for fun.


9. Watermeadows Glamping

  • Close to a lot of attractions in Pembrokeshire
  • Offer heated and cosy geodomes
  • Eco-friendly glamping site

Watermeadows offer an eco-friendly glamping experience near Tenby, tucked among a peaceful view of rolling hills and green valleys. Here you can stay in beautiful bell tents or fully heated geodomes, and camp with the usual creature comforts you'll get at home. 

In their biggest geodome, The Drey, you'll be able to get cosy with an internal log burner while gazing out the massive panoramic window. Watermeadows also offers a medley of Bell tents of various sizes with comfortable beds and furniture.

Watermeadows glamping is an excellent place for those who want to explore the Pembrokeshire area more. From the local village of Broadmoor, you can hop on a bus to Tenby to visit, or the exciting Folly Farm Adventure Park, that's pretty close too. Other attractions like Pembroke Castle, Saundersfoot Beach and Oakwood Theme Park are also under 10 miles away, meaning there's a lot to explore here.


10. Haven Pods 

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  • Floating pods on the waterfront 
  • Situated in a beautiful Marina 
  • Local amenities and restaurant on site

Pembrokeshire is a great place for those looking to stay on the coast, but what if you wanted to stay literally on the water? Haven Pods offer that experience as their pods float peacefully in the calm waters of the Upper Basin.

Located directly on the marina of Neyland Yacht Haven, you'll have great views of the boats around you and the seaside beyond. On these pods, you'll have your own private terrace to enjoy evening meals under the stars. 

Haven Pods are focused on providing an eco-friendly experience. The accommodation was built from ethically sourced balau and cedar wood, with the pods sitting on recycled pontoons. The pods come with a double bed, lounge sofa, small kitchenette, a cool bar for drinks, and central heating if you need it. There's also a restaurant and cafe on-site, making this a great location to stay.


11. Top of the Woods

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  • Offers an activity package to get you back into nature
  • Multiple accommodation option types 
  • Brilliant outdoor and indoor communal space

If you're looking for a glamping experience to get you back in with nature, then Top of the Woods is a great place to stay, either near the Pembrokeshire Coastline or Cardigan Bay

Here, you can stay in the Geodomes, with massive windows that are perfect for stargazing or their spacious and wild-feeling safari lodges. The domes come with luxury-feeling wooden flooring and wood-burning stoves, while the safari huts also offer bespoke furniture and private toilets and showers.

There's also a large communal space known as the Dutch and Banquet barn, where you can prepare food and dine with fellow campers, making this a fantastic, collective experience.

When staying at Top of the Woods, you can book their all-inclusive 'Find Your Wild' option. As well as the accommodation, this package gives you access to wild gin tasting, a wild river trek, paddleboarding, coastal foraging, and coasteering. These activities can help you have a wild and nature-centric stay. 

Published: 30 January 2023 · Last updated: 4 July 2023