In the shadow of the heather-clad hills of the Clwydian Range, the silhouette of two dome-roofed geo lodges echo the contours of the surrounding landscape. But in the light of day, these modern constructions look a little like something from another world. “I wanted to offer something different, something that wasn’t already in the area,” says glamping site owner and local girl, Rebecca Evans. And with Tŷ Famau Geo Lodges, she’s certainly achieved that.
The two domed lodges on site have been customised to provide something you won’t find anywhere else. It’s the type of family glamping that Rebecca, her husband and three children would love to find on their own camping holidays. They have cleverly added dividing walls to create bedrooms and bathrooms inside their charming semi-spheres. It means that when bedtime comes for younger campers, the adults can stay up to watch the stars appear above the hills through the huge picture windows.
Each dome has been fitted and kitted out to offer everything you need for a self-catering holiday. And with water, gas and electricity all connected, they’ve landed at the high-end of modern glamping where the living is as easy as you want it to be – hot tub and all. But there are rustic touches too; a firepit with tripod and Dutch oven cooking pot outside, a Croeso mat to welcome you in and the amber glow from the wood-burning stove.
While the domes are new, Rebecca is not. Her family has been on this land for three generations and her husband grew up in these hills too. They’ll offer you advice on where to buy the best local produce, which pathways to follow to their favourite pub and how long it’s been since the last red kite sighting. Walking and mountain biking are the best ways to explore this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can head for the heights of Moel Famau, the 278-metre peak of the Clwydian Range which is easily reached via a wide, popular path. The views west from the carpark are impressive enough, let alone from the hilltop itself, where the crumbled base of an old tower built in 1810 reveals views of Snowdonia, Liverpool and the Wirral on clear days. For a flatter stroll, try Loggerheads Country Park not far from the foot of the Moel Famau. The town of Llangollen is just ten miles away, too, with its horse-drawn boat rides and steam trains.