Glamping at The Little Retreat, Pembrokeshire

Having had the most amazing week in Devon, the next leg of our Summer travels found us in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, glamping at The Little Retreat. We knew very little about The Little Retreat before our stay, nor had we ever visited Pembrokeshire but having read the description on the website, I had high hopes.

The Little Retreat is an escape; a place of restoration, reconnection and relaxation. It is a sanctuary; a magical, spiritual place steeped in history and alive with nature. It is beautiful, peaceful, enchanting and uplifting. This is more than just a place for us. It’s a tonic.

On arriving at The Little Retreat, despite being just a short drive from the bustling streets of Tenby, it really did feel as though we were suddenly in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the sounds and scents of nature, and the weight of the world just melted from our shoulders. Built on the old castle estate, just bursting with history, many stories of which we learned during our time at The Little Retreat, we were greeted by the owner who showed us to our home for the next few days and we were not disappointed.

Having enjoyed glamping weekends in the past, I thought I knew exactly what to expect and yet as we were showed to our tent I was completely blown away. Tucked away in our own private corner, with beautiful views across to a wild flower meadow, not only did we have a huge tent for the five of us, but an ourdoor kitchen, bath, shower and toilet, with running water, electricity and so many little luxuries which just blew our previous experiences out of the park.

Inside the tent was stunning, it felt as though we had stepped into a luxury chic hotel as opposed to a glamping tent and those extra touches really did make all the difference. With a huge double bed and three sofa beds for the children, a hanging rail, dressing table, soft furnishings and a telescope, it still felt incredibly spacious which is so important as a larger family wanting to make ourselves at home for the weekend.

Although our stay took place during the late July heatwave, the tent still felt light and airy and most importantly, cool. There is nothing worse than crowding into a tent in the stifling heat but never once did we feel it was too hot and at the same time, nor did we find it too cold. The tents are well made, completely wind and waterproof and yet totally breathable, and I honestly could not fault it whatsoever.

Everything about the tent oozed luxury, from the stylish colour palette to the quality of the pillows, the duvets and the bed linen. I loved how much thought had gone into both the decor and the practicalities and it made such a huge difference to our comfort during our stay.

The most exciting part for the children was the telescope, perfect for the Star Gazer tents and looking up at the stars in the evening. The telescope came with an easy to use manual as well as a recommended app for learning more about the constellations and the minute it went dark we made good use of it for each night of our stay. Stars are very special to our family as it’s a way the children talk about Joseph so being able to look up at his star all the way from South Wales was very moving and, as we celebrated his 15th birthday that month, it was a wonderful way of keeping him close during our Summer travels.

Outside, our kitchen was packed with everything we could ever need during our stay – a dining table and chairs, a microwave and grill, a kettle, a hob, a sink with hot and cold water, a fridge, and enough pots, pans, plates and cutlery to keep us going all week. Again, we literally could not fault the facilities, nor ask for more from a luxury glamping stay, and we enjoyed every single second of cooking and eating outside in the sunshine.

For me, it was the outdoor bath and shower which really stood out as the ultimate luxury and I can’t think of anything more relaxing than getting into a hot bath after a long day with the kids, opening up those beautiful wooden doors, and looking out across the meadow at the view. Every single fixture and fitting, every decorative item and practical feature, every single bit of the lay out was designed to absolute perfection. It was just beautiful!

Of all the things we have done together this year – all the days out and the places we’ve visited – the outdoor bath will hands down be one of the things they remember the most. The children have never been so keen for bath time, asking at least once, often twice a day to jump in, and as we sat enjoying the evening sun, the children giggling away in the bath together, those moments will most definitely be my favourite too.

Although there were other guests staying at The Little Retreat during our stay, when we were back at our tent each night it felt as though we were the only people on site. Each tent is clearly separated so it is completely private to those walking by, or even those staying next door, and we found everyone to be so respectful of each others space as well as keeping noise levels low in the evenings.

As much as we enjoyed spending our time at our tent together, The Little Retreat is a gorgeous place to explore and they have worked so hard to create the most picture perfect surroundings to spent time in. In the old walled gardens you will find the most beautiful flowers and greenery with a large covered space where yoga sessions take place and various other planned activities within their retreats.

There are also picnic benches for guest to enjoy and to one side of the gardens a small restaurant with a highly acclaimed chef and big plans for the coming year. The Little Retreat has so much scope for expansion with the owner bursting with ideas and ambition, and having spoke with her about those plans, I am very excited to return in the future to see them come into fruition.

For me one of the most important factors, especially when glamping, is feeling safe with the children whether they are sleeping beside me or running wild outside, and I most definitely did for the duration of our stay. It was lovely for the children to have a little more freedom than they would ordinarily, and I enjoyed seeing them exploring the grounds, making friends with the resident pets, and really growing in confidence.

Just a short walk from the main tents area, walking by the church in Lawrenny up across the car park or via a small opening in the old garden walls, you can walk up to the top of the old castle site where the views are incredible.

At the top of the site there is another covered area which is used for yoga and relaxation sessions as well as forest school activities ran locally. I love the use of natural wood and neutral colours so that every part of The Little Retreat blends perfectly into the landscape. It was so lovely and peaceful up there and the children enjoyed playing in and out of the wooded areas as Gaz and I sat back and enjoyed the views.

We have been lucky to visit some beautiful places over the years, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the most stunning Grecian coastlines, but the view here at The Little Retreat was unlike anything we have seen before with a panoramic picture-perfect view of the river below and Welsh countryside as far as you can see. Every night as we walked up the hill it still took my breath away and I felt a real sense of calm, even when the children were anything but!

Although we had some great days out whilst staying at The Little Retreat, with attractions such as Oakwood and The Dinosaur adventure park just a short drive away, as well as the most beautiful beaches to explore, we loved the quieter moments here on the hill, making daisy chains, playing games, being silly with the children, and just spending quality time together.

We had the most wonderful time at The Little Retreat and have come away with so many special memories of our time together in the sunshine, star-gazing after dark, sharing bubble baths, toasting marshmallows and just enjoying each others company after a very long and often difficult year at home. If you’re looking for somewhere to disconnect with the outside world and reconnect as a family, The Little Retreat offers exactly that. You can find out more by visiting www.littleretreats.co.uk where you can see the full range of accommodation, well-being classes and any upcoming retreats.