Glanmor Isaf – a Feather Down farm, Gwynedd
Glanmor Isaf Farm, Talybont, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
We loved stepping down a gear and enjoyed spending quality time together as a family, with the kids not once switching on their games consoles all weekend. They enjoyed the simple pleasures of a rope-and-tyre swing, petting the animals and making new friends with the other kids holidaying there.
On a sunny weekend in April the Barker family set off from Manchester and within two hours arrived at Glanmor Isaf Farm, an organic sheep and cattle farm in North Wales. We parked up in the yard and were met by Owen Pritchard the farmer's son who gave us a quick guided tour around the farm and introduced us to all the resident animals, as well as the facilities. The six safari-style tents are pitched up in a secluded and quiet part of the farm around the orchard which is traffic free, so the first step was to transport all our bags and belongings to the tent in brightly coloured wheelbarrows.
The Tents
Glamping, camping for softies, call it what you will - these safari-style tents are a brilliant concept whether yours is a family of hardened or first-time campers. Yes, they have a canvas roof and walls, but this is camping with a difference. Because they're more like basic cottages, you don't have to relinquish the comforts of home. Raised off the ground and with varnished wooded floors, the tents all have a big living area with a kitchen island, running cold water, a flushing toilet, a wood-burning stove AND proper beds with pillows and duvets. You hire the bed linen and make up your own beds as one of the first tasks on arrival, stripping them when you leave. The tents do not have any electricity, so oil lamps and candles are provided, together with a rustic-looking cool box in which to store all your perishables or simply chill the beer. The lid is pretty heavy as it's fully insulated, so care must be taken with kids around. My favorite luxury was the quirky hand-grinder for fresh coffee, with beans available to purchase from the honesty shop - known as the Farm Larder - for making up a cafetière.
The Feather Down farms experience is all about stepping down a gear and enjoying life in the slow lane, but you need to be prepared when getting to grips with the wood burning stove, as it took me an hour to make myself a cup of tea.
One of the highlights for the kids was being able to say they had slept in a cupboard! This was basically a fully enclosed cabin bed suitable for two kids (or one adult - yes I really needed to have a go!). We ended up drawing straws and making a rota so everyone could experience the novelty of the cupboard bed. The other bedroom had bunk beds and plenty of floor space to put up a cot if needed. High chairs, cots and playpens could all be provided for an extra cost.
The immaculate shower block was very close and convenient to all the surrounding tents at the farm and housed two wet rooms and a shower, as well as a sink and wall-mounted hairdryer.
The Farm Larder adjoining the shower block was really handy to be able to get your basic groceries on site, and sample some of the local produce. It was also fully stocked with wine, beer and homemade cakes. The kids found it a novelty to be able to help themselves to a packet of chocolates and write it on their tab, which we settled with the farmer on the last day.
The Farm Animals
It's not surprising that our kids loved the farm animals so much, as the Pritchard family are warm, friendly people who passionately share their knowledge and experiences of farm life. We were lucky enough to witness a lamb being born - totally amazing and a first for all members of our family (lambing time throughout April). Watching the farmer, David, and his son Owen work the sheepdogs in the adjacent field was fascinating.
The two bottle-fed lambs kept in the petting enclosure were very much the star attractions and the kids also loved feeding food scraps to the two pet pigs -each animal was dutifully named by my girls (aged 8 and 10). The hens were kept in an enclosure within the orchard and were incredibly tame. The joy of finding a freshly laid egg was etched on the kids' faces as they came bounding into the tent every morning shouting: "look Mum... it's still warm!"
As well as the animals for entertainment, the kids had a lot of fun messing about with the rope-and-tyre swing. Alfie (3) was also content playing in the sandpit and happily kicked a ball around the field with a playmate.
Holiday Extras
At Feather Down farms you're given the handy option of arriving with a meal already prepared for you - choose from a tasty Glanmor sausage casserole or a lasagne. Pizza night happens on a Sunday, where you can purchase all the ingredients needed from the Farm Larder, from the freshly made dough to the mozzarella topping. All you need to do is prepare your pizza to your taste and hand it over to Owen, who does the hard work of setting up the bread oven located on site before cooking it to perfection. Bike hire - from adult frames with baby seats to kid's bikes - is also available on the farm.
Farm Location and Local Attractions
The beauty of Glanmor Isaf's location is obvious. There are miles of coastline to explore within walking distance, and the sandy beaches of Anglesey are just a short journey across the Menai Suspension Bridge. There are numerous nature reserves dotted about the area as it is a rich habitat for birdlife. As well as Penrhyn Castle, viewed across the fields, there are other historic attractions to explore nearby, including Conwy Castle, with its quaint walled city on the Conwy Estuary. Glanmor Isaf is literally on the doorstep of Snowdonia National Park, which offers breathtaking scenery, great drives, various mountain railways (including the Snowdon Mountain Railway), and much more.