For a fresh-air break where you can enjoy hills, woodland and coast in comfort, with or without the kids, head west to fforest in Wales
A holiday connecting with nature needn’t involve draughty canvas, muddy waterproofs and a 10-mile hike to find good coffee. Get the best of both worlds and head somewhere you can enjoy the beauty and stillness of nature knowing there are a few of modern life’s essentials to hand.
One holiday expert that manages this balancing act well is fforest. Surrounded by a nature reserve and set in its own 200 acres of rural bliss, the main site is minutes from the beautiful beaches of the west Wales coast – and that’s pretty much all you could ask for in terms of comfort.
You choose
The varied accommodation has options for couples, families or groups of friends. Or there’s the Onsen Dome, a rather special choice, where everything is designed with comfort in mind: solid wood floor, woodburning stove, made-to-measure furnishings, a gorgeous countryside view from the giant bay window and your very own Japanese-style bathhouse with soaking tub – a world away from everyone and everything. What’s great for keeping the adults happy isn’t always what the children want to do every day. That’s only natural. At fforest, they’ve everything covered, from relaxation to activity, creativity, solitude or community fun. Plus, throughout the year there are special events such as fun-packed breaks with the children (and the dog), romantic getaways, festivals of food and creativity or time for reflection or learning new skills.
Family fun
Easter, Whitsun, summer and halloween are the times when things are geared especially towards the children, with seasonal activities that everyone will enjoy, as well as guided walks, canoe trips through the Teifi gorge, home-cooked food, the huge camp firepit, film nights, a cedar barrel sauna in the woods and local ales in their tiny stone pub.
A new kind of holiday
Even festival-going families are catered for at fforest – with Gather, Wales’s smallest, most intimate festival, a family-friendly week of creative adventures in nature, music, arts, making, growing and simple pleasures. There are also workshops, talks and films, with fantastic food from both the fforest team and guest chefs. For this event, you can bring your own tent or campervan.
A very grown-up affair
For a proper child-free escape, as well as the Onsen Dome, there’s Ty Fforest Farmhouse (ideal for groups), the crog lofts, the garden shacs or the hill shacs. Or time your stay with one of fforest’s grown-up events: Feast, a celebration of local food and drink, in spring and winter, where you’ll tuck into eight courses served at long tables in the cedar barn. Glow, a creative weekend where women come together to learn and share skills, ideas and stories. Gran ffondo, a four-day retreat for cyclists, based at fforest. Spend days flying through wooded valleys, over hills and along the coast. At night, relax in the pub or around a fire to a great soundtrack, of course.
10% OFF THE QUIETER TIMES
The Simple Things readers can book a Shine Bed and Breakfast midweek stay for 2020 in any fforest accommodation with 10% off. Great for pre-school families, grown-ups, or for an active break exploring the beaches and coast path of Cardigan Bay. Check-in is at the fforest stone pub on Monday (for a two or four-night stay) or Wednesday for a two-night stay. Book using the code SIMPLE10 at coldatnight.co.uk
Terms & conditions The discount code can be applied to any Shine bed & breakfast holiday from 15 June to 24 July 2020 and 31 August to 18 September 2020 for stays at fforest, subject to availability. fforest’s standard cancellation policy applies. General T&Cs can be found on the fforest website coldatnight.co.uk
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
