Pant yr Hwych - a Feather Down farm, Ceredigion
Llanwnnen, Lampeter, Ceredigion
Natalie, Danny, Joe, Toby and Lucia visited:
After a four hour drive, confusing our SatNav and ending up at the wrong Welsh farm, we eventually reached Pant yr Hwch at 7pm. We were welcomed by Ann and Martin, who had stoked the fire up for our arrival and greeted us with a most appreciated hot frothy coffee and home-made chocolate cookies.
Not only did the children squeal with excitement on seeing our abode, but I felt like I was in Calamity Jane's cabin (after the revamp!). There were two proper bedrooms; one with a pine double bed and feather duvet and a bunk room. There was much squabbling over who was to have the cupboard bed, a very cosy and twee double bed inside a cupboard; their very own ready-made den. A dining table that seats six, two very ‘easy to doze off in' deck chairs along with a kitchen with everything you need including running water and finally (to any mother of small children's relief) a "dunny" with a flush. The 'honesty' shop, a short walk away, not only had home-made or local produce (from bacon, eggs, butter, milk, cakes and alcohol). It also housed a kettle and coffee machine, perfect when waiting for the woodburner to heat up!
My "spirited" son, Toby was inside the cooler within five minutes (a fridge like box which kept food adequately cool by frozen hot water bottles) and my husband was stoking the fire ready for cooking dinner. Candles and oil lamps lit, made for a very cosy evening.
The children were up early with the morning alarm of the cockerel and pretty much entertained all week-end by Martin and Ann (a school teacher), who were fantastic answering questions and showing the children the farm. The children collected freshly laid eggs from our own chicken coop; fed the sheep and pigs; and picked home-grown peas and carrots. Lucia giggled with delight as she rode on the back of they very friendly pig, Lulu and all of them were free to roam and ramble...even my three couldn't cause much damage. When their little legs were tired, Martin taxied them around in the back of his tractor.
My son, Joe revelled in being the eldest and being given the responsibility of lighting the fire with his dad and cooking breakfast. Meanwhile the other children helped Ann build a den with twine and rushes.
One evening we opted for a pizza night with our neighbours. We all made our own pizzas which were cooked in the clay oven and there was a surprise pudding of Baked Alaska (ice-cream that didn't melt in the oven perplexed the children!). Other activities could be arranged such as ice-cream making sessions and craft activities, but we simply did not have the time.
The fact there was no electricity was soon forgotten and the children loved doing what children should be doing. My husband and I weren't required to supervise them constantly and enjoyed the pleasure of being able to read a book and having a glass of wine without interruption.
A quick word on our surroundings (begrudgingly we made the children venture away from the farm), nearby Aberaeron is a pretty Georgian village with pastel coloured houses and there are beaches 20 minutes drive away. We went rock pooling on Cei Bach, a lovely unspoilt and very quiet beach and Newquay, a more tourist resort with shops, ice-cream parlours and cafes.
With a quick strip down of the beds and a brush of the floor, we packed all our bags (and the children) into wheelbarrows, settled our bill in the Honesty shop, (picking up some homemade marmalade and elderflower cordial) and said a very sad farewell to Ann, Martin and the animals.
Yes, Feather Down's farms are considerably more expensive than traditional camping, but the two simply cannot be compared, it was more like staying in a luxurious log cabin. This holiday was ideal for families and as far as I am concerned it's the only way to camp with the kids.