Planning a family getaway to West Wales over the Easter holidays had us scouring the map for somewhere that ticked all the boxes — space, comfort, location, and most importantly, kid-friendly without feeling like a soft play centre exploded in the living room. That’s when we stumbled across this gem of a cottage in Lampeter Velfrey.
Nestled about 25 minutes from the sandy shores of Tenby and just 15 minutes from Folly Farm (a must-visit for families), this place couldn’t be better located. Narberth is just down the road too, so you’re never far from a supermarket run or a café treat.
With our growing family — and the mountain of “just in case” luggage that comes with travelling with kids — we took two cars. Despite neither being particularly big, we needed the extra boot space for all the essentials like the travel cot, toys, and a week’s worth of snacks. Thankfully, the property offers generous parking and loads of room to unload without feeling like you’re playing a round of car Tetris.
To get to the cottage, you cross a narrow-looking bridge — and while it looks tight, it comfortably handled both cars side by side. Worth noting for fellow low car owners: we scraped ever so slightly going over, and although the sound was wince-worthy, no damage was done. Still, one to take slow.
Now, the cottage itself? Beautiful. Spacious, full of character, and surprisingly modern inside. Think exposed beams, loads of natural light, and thoughtful details that make a difference when you’ve got little ones in tow.
There are two twin bedrooms (one with a magical walk-in wardrobe turned kids’ play zone — complete with dress-up outfits, books, toys and games), plus two double bedrooms, meaning it can easily sleep a larger family or even two. With 2.5 bathrooms — two showers, one big bath, and three loos — there were no queues or toothbrush traffic jams in the mornings.
The kitchen, dining room, and living space are generous in size, all well-finished, and perfectly equipped for group meals, lazy breakfasts, or post-adventure chill-outs. There’s central heating and fast Wi-Fi too, which came in handy for squeezing in a bit of work (and streaming the occasional CBeebies fix).
And that’s just the inside.
Step outside and you’ll find the real wow-factor: a huge private hot tub (usable even in the pouring rain — we tested it thoroughly), a trampoline, covered BBQ area, fire pit, swing ball, and even a makeshift bridge over a stream that leads to a large flat field perfect for football or frisbee.
The owners have truly thought of everything. From walking boots and wellies to beach buckets and spades — it’s all there. You can travel lighter without compromising on fun.
We stayed for a short three-night break (the minimum stay during low season), but in high season you’ll need to book for at least a week — and we can absolutely see why. This place is a rare find, and I’d be surprised if it’s ever empty during school holidays.
Despite the relentless rain and wind we had during our stay, the cottage was always warm and inviting. The weather didn’t stop us firing up the BBQ or jumping in the hot tub. In fact, it made us appreciate the cosy charm even more.
Would we stay again? Without a doubt. We’re already eyeing up dates for our next visit.
If you’re a family looking for a West Wales base that actually caters to the chaos of modern family life (and does it in style), this is your ideal pitstop.
Want the details? Drop me a message and I’ll gladly point you in the right direction.
