Dragonfly Woodland Camping

“Same, same but different.” It’s a phrase that anyone who’s been travelling in South East Asia will be familiar with; Dragonfly Woodland Camping’s owner, Jacob, among them. Fresh back from travels in Asia and Australia, he decided to follow (almost) in his mum’s footsteps to launch a campsite on the idyllic Pembrokeshire farm they live on. Mum Nicola, you see, is behind the similarly-named Dragonfly Camping. Highly-rated by Hipcamp customers, her site is glamping-only while Jacob’s new venture is very much back-to-basics camping or “wild camping with perks”, as he puts it. One family, one farm, two different approaches to staying in the great outdoors. Like we said: same, same but not quite the same.

Book a pitch at Dragonfly Woodland Camping and, as well as a place to pitch your tent among the trees, you’ll get a hand-crafted shelter, a picnic bench and a fire pit with log seating. You’ll get use of the eco-friendly facilities with biodegradable washing-up liquid and shower gel thrown in. And you’ll have access to the hand-crafted timber and stretched canvas communal under-cover area where wet weather is more likely to bring on a table tennis tournament than put a dampener on things.

The influence of Jacob’s time spent travelling can be seen in the sociable spaces and laid-back feel of the site but his background as a renewable energy and engineering graduate is also evident. Structures are well-designed and the only power on site is solar. The provided wood for campfires is sustainably sourced from the farm though you’ll be expected to split it yourself and may want to send the kids out to collect tinder and kindling. And, if you need to brush up on your bushcraft, don’t fear as lessons are available on site.

While you could easily spend a few days just relaxing on site, you’ll want to get out and explore the area too. If you’ve got a kayak, strap it to the roof and drive two minutes downhill to Cresswell Quay where you can launch in to the peaceful waters of the Daugleddau Estuary. If you like to walk, stroll half hour to Lawrenny Village fuel up at the quayside tearooms and then wander in to the National Trust-owned Cleddau Woodlands. And don’t forget this is Pembrokeshire so some of Wales’ best beaches and the Wales Coast Path are also within reach.