The Tiny House

There’s something cool about Carmarthenshire which people are starting to wake up to. And, thanks to stylish new glamping bolthole, The Tiny House, you can too. While the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast attract outdoor lovers in huge numbers, Carmarthenshire, which sits between the two, offers a quieter base that’s within day-tripping reach of both. It’s a land of rural scenery, river valleys and romantic castles that time could have forgotten. But there are modern marvels too – award-winning eateries, world-class botanic gardens and a growing number of independent businesses which celebrate the culture and heritage of South West Wales. The Tiny House, in the Towy Valley, is one of them.

This little camping cabin is situated on Glantowy Farm, where the Edwards family have offered park-up spaces for caravans for over a decade. On the edge of the village of Llanarthney, it’s surrounded by stunning rural scenery with views of Paxton’s Tower, a Georgian hilltop folly, and direct access for fishing on the River Towy. The Tiny House is the first and only glamping accommodation here and, although it shares facilities with the few visiting caravans, it feels suitably secluded. On arrival, you let yourself in to find a space that’s not only straight out of a magazine but temptingly Instagrammable too.

With timber cladding and wagon wheels, The Tiny House owes something to the tradition of the shepherd’s hut but has a contemporary feel that’s all of its own. There’s an asymmetric roof over the raised double bed, modern-retro fabric in the snug seating area below and carefully-chosen, well-designed homeware tucked around the place. The kitchenette is equipped for simple cooking and has a hot and cold water supply to its baby Belfast sink. There’s a small log burner to warm the place and, somehow, a full-sized two-seater Chesterfield sofa too. You’ll probably have the idea by now that this stylish tiny house is made for two and just right for a cool couple’s getaway.

There’s more; Llanarthney is a village that punches well above its weight in terms of eateries and entertainment. It’s a matter of just a minute’s walk to top-notch deli-winery-cafeé, Wright’s Food Emporium, and a short drive to well-respected restaurant, Y Polyn. The National Botanic Garden of Wales, featuring the world’s largest single-span glasshouse and the British Bird of Prey Centre, is on the edge of town and it’s not much further to Dryslywn, Dinefwr or Carreg Cennen castles. The mountains and the beaches may call you further afield but, if you’re here to relax, you might be content to stomp across fields to the ever-visible, Paxton’s Tower. From its hilltop location you’ll see the Towy Valley spreading out beneath you – with The Tiny House somewhere down there in the centre of it all.