Why we love glamping in South Wales

One of the most popular walks in South Wales is the Horseshoe Ridge Hike. It's a challenging upland mountain hike for the more experienced walkers, that takes you into the heart of the Brecon Beacons and gives you spectacular views from the summit of Pen Y Fan, the region’s highest peak at 866 metres above sea level. You’ll deserve a pint (or three) of local ale at a good pub at the end of your epic climb.

Also in the Brecon Beacons, and another one for the proper walking boots, is the Four Falls Walk near Ystradfellte. It's a day-long, well-marked trail through peaceful scenery that includes some of the most beautiful waterfalls in South Wales. Prepare to get down and dirty in some seriously slippy mud, especially in wet weather. It’s all part of the fun.

If you fancy a more relaxed stroll while you're glamping in South Wales, wander along the scenic Glamorgan Heritage Coast on an easy 9 mile trail that takes in rugged cliffs, nature reserves, and ancient churches. The Penmaen to Three Cliffs Bay walk is also a less demanding route. The breezy 2.5 mile saunter along long stretches of sandy beach is great for beginners or the more relaxed glamping in South Wales. If the route isn’t challenging enough, more experienced walkers (and show offs) can hop on a few optional rock scrambles.

There's great food everywhere you look in South Wales, whether you're stocking up, snacking, or treating yourselves to dinner out. Heading west towards Carmarthen gives you a great chance to stop at Wright's Food Emporium, where you can pick up a few things from the lovely deli or put in a delicious lunch stop. If you hit the coast anywhere near Aberystwyth, then try Medina, a shop/bakery/restaurant that bakes fresh bread, cakes, and pastries every day, onsite and makes the perfect, eco-friendly place to stock up for essentials while glamping in South Wales. You can also sit down to enjoy luscious local produce turned into an international menu of mouth watering dishes.

For fancier meals out, the Walnut Tree at Llanddewi Skirrid is a Michelin-starred fine dining establishment with an illustrious past, now an iconic part of the food landscape in South Wales. The owners run it with heart and soul and you’ll love the cosy open-fired bar and dining room hung with colourful art. If you're deep into your glamping in South Wales and on the lookout for Sunday lunch try the Felin Fach Griffin at Brecon. With Welsh beef and lamb, game from local estates, and cheeses from world-renowned dairies, the food is simple, but the quality speaks for itself. Menus change daily and seasonally and it's worth booking in advance, but you can also just drop in for a pint in the warm, cosy bar.

Still got room for dessert? Pointz Castle Ice cream is often voted the best dairy delight in Pembrokeshire, with a huge variety of home made ice cream flavours that will keep even the pickiest people sweet. If you're down that way, you can sit and watch all the goings on of a working dairy farm while you enjoy a cone.

Rest Bay at Porthcawl is one of the best loved South Wales beaches, with miles of fine quality golden sand, and plenty of rock pools to potter in. There’s a fantastic watersports centre if you like your glamping in South Wales with a bit of adrenaline, but plenty of space to plant your windbreaker and hide with a flask of tea. World-famous Rhossili Bay, a National Trust treasure, is famed as one of the best stretches of sand in the UK. One of the most popular places to visit in South Wales, the beach has over three miles of gorgeous sand and dramatic coastline, perfect for scenic hikes.

Broad Haven South Beach is a wide, sandy bay backed by dunes that leads from the National Trust-owned Bosherston Lakes. The beach has masses of soft sand that’s ripe for sandcastle building, and the low cliffs on the east side have a few small caves begging to be explored at low tide. Kids will also love the clean stream emptying out of the lily ponds, and there’s a great rock for jumping off at high tide - if you dare. Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire is small but perfectly formed, backed by dune and pine trees, with swathes of golden sand and crystal clear waters. This one has the ‘wow’ factor, often likened to a Caribbean beach and a big draw for many who go glamping in South Wales. It's truly unspoiled, which means no facilities, so pack a picnic.

The landscape of South Wales and the notoriously regular rain combine to make South Wales brilliant for waterfalls. Henrydn Falls, in the Brecon Beacons National Park, is one of the tallest waterfalls in South Wales, with a drop of an amazing 90 feet and a fantastic pool for wild swimming. It's also one of the easiest to access in the Brecon Beacons and you might recognise it as a filming location from the Dark Knight Rises. Meaning ‘Snow Waterfall’ in Welsh, Sgwd yr Eira is part of the Four Falls Walk, located north west of Merthyr around 40 minutes drive from Cardiff. The full route is around 7.5km, but you can always drop in at one or two of the various falls on shorter trails.

The powerful Aberdulais Falls running through the Dulais valley adds you history and scenery to your glamping in South Wales. The surging river has powered mills and engines through over 400 years of industrial innovation. Now owned by the National Trust, it's a truly awesome and noisy spectacle when the river is in full spate. Lastly, Melincourt Waterfalls is a spectacular 80-foot high waterfall on Melin Court Brook, a tributary of the River Neath. Enjoy a short stroll to these pretty falls from the little village of Resolven in the heart of the Vale of Neath, then amble back for coffee and cakes on a day of glamping in South Wales that perfectly showcases the landscape and flavours of the region.

Glamping in South Wales with Canopy & Stars

Glamping in South Wales with us is an exciting, eco-friendly way to get up close and personal with some of the UK’s wildest locations, while enjoying a bit of comfort and some special touches. Our eclectic range of glamping spaces each offer a unique experience - from shepherd’s huts and renovated vintage buses, to railway sleepers, and converted horseboxes.

Each of our glamping spaces also comes with its own memorable touches, from a cosy wood burning stove to an outdoor hot tub or alfresco dining area. You might also get involved anything from guided foraging to track down your tea, to a private yoga session in a peaceful forest location.

How we choose our places

With Canopy & Stars, you know that every place you go glamping in South Wales has been personally vetted by a member of our team. We meet all of our accommodation owners in person before making them part of our family, and work only with those who are committed to making their spaces something truly special for our guests.

We look for the basics of quality and comfort, but beyond that to character and creativity, choosing unforgettable spaces and locations that are off the beaten track in some of the UK’s most beautiful and remote countryside.

Whether you’re glamping in South Wales with friends and family, or reconnecting with a loved one on a romantic getaway, we’ve hand selected the most dazzling accommodation available, whether your space is set within a wild flower meadow, or on the edge of a sparkling lake.

About Canopy & Stars

Canopy & Stars is a small, independent travel company with big values, providing sustainable glamping breaks through ethical, sustainable business.

Our getaways are not only gorgeous, but 100% guilt free, as every decision we make as a company has a positive impact on the environment and the people we work with, whether we’re sharing our profits with our staff, or setting up a charitable trust to benefit global climate change organisations (and we’ve done both!)

Everyone in the Canopy & Stars family is treated fairly and kindly, from our staff to our accommodation owners. We don’t just talk the talk, we live by our values, making sustainable choices that keep the planet safe, and our guests smiling.

Take a look at our About us page to find out more about the work that we do. We’ll meet you there.