It’s all about Wales when you visit Hide at St Donats, where three cabans with incredible views are among a clutch of boltholes offering comfortable glamping. The focus is due, in part, to the location on the unspoilt Vale of Glamorgan coast. But it's also thanks to the commitment of owners, Paula and Tom, to Welsh landscape, culture and artistry.
This creative pair have created and curated their handful of hideaways with a sense of place and a cosiness that you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere else. It’s all about ‘cwtch’, for which there is no English translation – though, to give you an idea, various attempts define it as a ‘safe place’ or even ‘a hug’. Book a caban here and you might find cwtch in the Welsh wool blankets on the bed, emanating from the Welsh-made log burners or through the huge picture windows, which offer views out to sea. Each caban is nestled between trees and the coast and is both bedroom and living space for two. Outside, a small but well-equipped kitchen cabin provides a place to prepare and cook food and, a few steps further, there’s a shepherd’s hut with a shower and toilet that's just for you.
This is a rather grown-up getaway, perfect for those who love to take things slow on long walks or at leisurely lunches. Or for those who simply want to relax surrounded by nature. Paula and Tom have taken great care to make suggestions on how to make the most of a visit here and those who will enjoy it most are those who’ll take the time to listen. Do that and you may find yourself taking in jaw-dropping views from a coastal path that rivals Dorset’s Jurassic coast, exploring the past at the open-air National Museum of Welsh History, or simply listening to birdsong from the deck of your caban.
Hosted by Paula W.
Joined in May 2022Situated on the edge of the village of St Donats, the cabans at Hide are a walk of about 800 metres from the Wales Coast Path. Walkers have plenty of choice from the mile-and-a-bit stomp to nearest town, Llantwit Major, to the four-hour walk to Dunraven Bay (also known as Southerndown beach), one of the most popular beaches in the Vale of Glamorgan. Either way, if you run out of steam, you can bus back, as there are good connections along the coast via the 303 bus, which stops close to the gate to Hide at St Donats. Another pleasant town is Cowbridge, seven miles from the site. It’s home to lots of independent businesses and a small museum. And another museum that’s well worth a visit is St Fagans National Museum of Welsh History, a few miles outside Cardiff, which itself is just 23 miles from Hide at St Donats. Paula and Tom provide plenty more recommendations in their guest guides after booking and are happy to make suggestions on things to see and do.
You can walk from Hide at St Donats to three recommended pubs. There’s The Horse Shoe Inn a mile away in Marcross, The Plough and Harrow a mile further on and, in the other direction, The Old Swan in Llantwit Major. The town of Llantwit Major is the closest place to pick up supplies for cooking and picnics too, with a small supermarket and a butchers. Cowbridge, seven miles away, also has plenty of places to eat out, including Bar 44 for Spanish tapas and The Yard for good pizzas. If walking to Dunraven Bay, you might like to reward yourself with a meal at The Three Golden Cups, which offers good food and great views.
