The Cabins Conwy

History and nature seem to be the twin loves of Sue and David Chapman, a pair of creative archaeologists who bought an old church in Llangelynin, North Wales and work out of it as their studio. Built in 1840, the church overlooks a small meadow and out to the Carneddau mountains of Snowdonia National Park. It wasn’t long before they acquired the meadow, too, and set about re-wilding the former pasture with permaculture techniques. They planted willows – used to create pre-historic tools for universities and museums – and self-seeding alder trees. And then, in amongst the new semi-wilderness, they set about creating a tiny glamping haven.

Home to just two wooden cabins, Tal y Fan and Pen y Gaer, named after the mountains they look out upon, the place has been designed with sustainability in mind. Each is highly insulated with non-combustible Earthwool and paired with a ty bach (little house), with a composting toilet. Inside, the cabins have a double bed, bedside furniture, a table and chairs, while, next door a galley kitchen has a sink, hobs, fridge and all the kit and clobber you could need for cooking. There’s a campfire pit, too, for evenings outside – the site is located within Snowdonia’s designated Dark Sky Reserve so the stars (as well as sunsets behind the mountains) are superb.

“We see the site very much as a nature reserve”, Sue explains. In all there’s about three-and-a-half acres of re-wilded space to explore. A small handbook is provided in each cabin, which, alongside information on local walks, pubs and day trips, gives details of all the plants and wildlife on the site. There are bats, barn owls, buzzards, blackbirds, bees and butterflies (and that’s just the Bs), while seating spots and quiet meditation zones are secreted away among the trees. The River Henryd marks the boundary of the former meadow and, though it is little bigger than a stream, provides enough fish for a resident otter. The waters are ultimately bound for the River Conwy and, if you were to follow the Henryd all the way to its confluence you’d end up at the foot of Conwy Castle, three miles away. The excellently preserved medieval fort marks the historic entrance to the walled city of Conwy and is well worth a visit during your stay. From the quaint quay, home to a tiny red house that is reputably Britain’s smallest, to the pubs and cafés of the town centre, the place is full of charm.