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Gardd Afon/River Garden

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· Machynlleth, Wales

20 acres hosted by Gosia M.

2 lodging sites

Dog-friendly, off-grid yurt glamping on a riverside smallholding in Mid-Wales

Gardd Afon, or River Garden, is as tranquil as it sounds – and a lovely place to stay with two yurts pitched up in a smallholding in the Twymyn Valley. It’s far from any main roads and sits on the banks of a river in the Welsh countryside. There are chickens, goats, pigs and cattle at home here and there’s plenty of visiting wildlife too. Situated a little over midway between the English border and the Welsh coast, Gardd Afon, is a handy place to stop off for a night or two but staying longer is encouraged. It’ll give you more time to look out for owls and herons, more time to swim in the river, more time to walk in the surrounding hills and more time to share stories around the campfire.

The glamping site is off grid, sustainable and encourages a slower pace of life. You enter it as you cross a little wooden bridge towards your yurt. One (Gardd Afon) sits in a riverside paddock, the other (Yellow Door Yurt) in pasture near a willow woodland. Both are pretty private, with their own compost loo and shower just outside and both have log burners which keep things cosy even in the winter. They are set up with everything you need whether you come as a couple, with the dog or as a family of four. They are colourfully, eclectically decorated with throws, rugs and painted latticework. Gardd Afon has a kitchen inside, Yellow Door Yurt has one outside on the deck.

You can buy a veg box from your hosts, if you order in advance, and cooking what’s been grown here is about as sustainable as it gets. But if you do want a meal elsewhere, there’s a pub a 15-minute walk away in the village of Llanbrynmair. Glyndŵr’s Way, a long-distance National Trail, passes by the village offering sustainable exploration too – but if you’re keen to see further afield in Mid-Wales, the yurts are still a good base. Waterfalls, woodlands and the source of the River Severn are less than ten miles away in Hadfen Forest. The market town of Machynlleth and the edge of Snowdonia National Park are a little further and the beautiful beach at Aberdyfi is only half an hour’s drive.

Activities

Biking

Hiking

Off-roading (OHV)

Wildlife watching

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Swimming hole

Field

100%

2 Ratings · 2 reviews

Austin M.recommends

August 4, 2024

Drws Melyn Iwrt/ Yellow Doors Yurt

Camping with friends

I loved the area! Felt very secluded and Gosia was extremely nice and welcoming. If you’re looking for a get away from the hustle and bustle and just being in nature and seeing what Wales has to offer in the camping/hiking department, then this is it.

Keith M.recommends

April 7, 2023

Gardd Afon Yurt

This was our first go in a Yurt so nothing to compare it against. But it was clean, well stocked, very private as only one on the owners land. Kids loved it and would recommend.

Location

Machynlleth, Wales, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Gosia M.

Joined in March 2023

From the host

Our land is a 20acre small holding with the river Twymyn running through it. On the land we have a productive market garden, young orchard, pastures, wetland and native woodland. We raise chickens, turkeys, cattle, pigs and goats. There’s a lovely swimming spot in the river and walks around available.

Nearby attractions

You are welcome to explore the smallholding around Gardd Afon yurts and there are plenty of opportunities for walking further too. There’s a route along local footpaths, for example, to the nearby village of Llanbrynmair (less than a mile) where there’s a shop and a pub. And, on the other side of the village, you can join Glyndŵr’s Way National Trail. Hafren Forest (eight miles) is about a 15-minute drive and a popular spot for walking. You’ll find waterfalls and the source of the River Severn within the trees. It’s close to Clywedog Reservoir too, which is a scenic spot with a couple of walking trails, good birdwatching and the chance to go fly fishing. Machynlleth (11 miles) is the closest town to site and sits close to the the southern edge of Snowdonia National Park and all its adventures. The town itself is said to have been an ancient capital of Wales with some interesting historic buildings to discover. Pass through it and cross the bottom of the national park to reach the closest beach at Aberdyfi/Aberdovey (21 miles). It’s a good one: sandy and backed by a pretty village with plenty of facilities. RSPB Ynyis-hir is nearby with three miles of walks through a protected landscape of oak woodlands and salt marshes on the Dyfi Estuary. If you’re visiting with kids, you might like to go to King Arthur’s Labyrinth (15 miles), where legends are told on an underground adventure through caves.

Food and drink

Gardd Afon is a market garden as well as a glamping site and you can order a veg box in advance of your stay which will include produce grown here on site. For other basics, there’s a shop in the village (under a mile away). The village, Llanbrynmair, also offers a place to eat out if you don’t want to cook: The Wynnstay Arms Hotel which offers pub grub and a friendly welcome. The next nearest options are seven miles in either direction along he nearby main road: The Aleppo Merchant Inn in Carno or The Penrhos Arms in Cemmaes. Machynlleth (11 miles) has plenty of options including an award-winning vegetarian restaurant, Ty Medi, and a high street full of independent shops where it’s easy to pick up supplies for your own cooking.

Things to do nearby

More camping spots nearby

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Hipcamp acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.