To say that The Canvas Hamlet Anglesey provides visitors with a luxury glamping experience is something of an understatement. A mile from the beach, on the estate of Carreglwyd House, a Grade II-listed Georgian building constructed in 1634, this Canvas Hamlet site is a rarity. Though entirely temporary and around for just a couple of months this summer, the place is, as the name suggests, a veritable settlement of under-canvas dwellings and amenities, with comfortable bell tent accommodation, a floating restaurant and more activities than a small town might have, let alone a tiny hamlet.
Just over 50 different bell tents make up the accommodation offering, each kitted out with memory foam mattresses, carpets, a mirror and warm fairy and battery-powered lighting. Some are designed for couples, while the family bells are suited for four, with space for a fifth child to stay for free if you don't mind bringing your own bedding (and choosing who has to sleep on the floor). Guests don't have private bathroom facilities but you're certainly still well supplied – there’s a luxury shower for every five tents, along with eco loos dotted around and you can hire a hot tub by the hour if you want some extra luxury. There’s even a dedicated pamper tent with mirrors, hair straighteners and dryers for those who want to fix themselves up before a night out on the hamlet.
The floating restaurant is certainly one of the most stand-out features, on the edge of the estate's small lake, with a wooden platform that sticks out into the water and houses tables under tipis. If it's busy or you're looking for a quicker fix, a couple of street-food-style vendors also visit the site, so you might find stone-baked pizzas one evening or the truck serving authentic Mexican tacos the next. And, if you genuinely want a night out, there's a silent disco on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, giving the place an almost-festival feel. In fact, with all the activities, including axe-throwing, den building, bushcraft and yoga, a stay here is a very credible alternative to visiting a family festival. Albeit a festival that still doesn't disturb those who prefer a good nights sleep and a quiet day out on the coast.
Near the most northerly point in Wales, it's just a mile from the Canvas Hamlet to the beach (a 20-minute walk if you follow the nearest footpath). Dunes give way to the pebbles of Porth Trwyn, overlooked by little more than a couple of small cottages, and, when the tide's out, there are rocky areas and pools where you can hunt for crabs. Head a little further up the coastal path, meanwhile, or hop in the car, and Church Bay Beach is also on the doorstep, with a café a hundred yards or so from the waters edge and tables across the road that overlook the sea. It's just one of numerous little bays and inlets that shape the rugged Anglesey coastline, usually backed by a couple of white-washed cottages or a cute hamlet of the not-so-canvas kind.
