We were desperate for a rest, and we love nothing more than spending time outdoors. So we headed to Emlyn’s Coppice for a woodland glamping experience, which was just gorgeous! Here’s our review of Emlyn’s Coppice
Sometimes, it is so lovely to get away from the stresses of everyday life. Nestled in the heart of a beautiful woodland, this glamping site promised us a peaceful and relaxing escape. Woodland and coastal walks are nearby, with wood-fired hot tubs to enjoy while gazing at the stars. Here’s our review of Emlyn’s Coppice Woodland Glamping near Talacre, Wales.
Our review of Emlyn’s Coppice Woodland Glamping
The location is great
Despite being nestled in the countryside and feeling a million miles from anywhere. Emlyn’s Coppice is conveniently located just six miles from the A55. This main road runs through North Wales and is only three miles from the centre of Prestatyn, which offers access to beaches, leisure facilities, and all the amenities of a small town. We live in Wirral, so getting here in under an hour was easy.
Location: Llanasa Rd, Gwespyr, Holywell CH8 9LU
On the grounds of a 19th-century Gothic revival former Catholic School
Emlyn’s Coppice is a glamping site situated on the beautiful grounds of School House. A 19th-century Gothic revival former Catholic School. The site is named after the school’s most famous pupil, Emlyn Williams (1905 – 1987), who was an actor, writer, and director. Williams appeared in 41 films and teleplays during his career and wrote 20 screenplays and 20 plays. Including his most renowned work, the semi-autobiographical “The Corn is Green”.
Interestingly, the current proprietor of the glamping site, Nic Breeze (professionally known as Harrison Breeze), is also a former actor and director. He has run a successful pantomime company for many years and has appeared on screen in popular shows such as Hollyoaks, Brookside, Peaky Blinders, and Our Girl. Breeze is also a professional solo vocalist and occasionally performs with a tribute band, playing Benny from ABBA. It’s like coming full circle with another talented artist taking the lead now!
We loved the glamping pods
At Emlyn’s Coppice, the pods have a full ensuite shower room, kitchen facilities, underfloor heating, a private hot tub, and even a wood-burning stove (Offa & Ayr). So you can appreciate the outdoors without worrying about using a muddy field for the toilet!
We stayed in Orme
This pod is named after Llandudno’s famous landmark, the Great Orme. Which is visible from the nearby coastal footpaths. We loved the decor of the pod, which has a lovely “Beach hut” twist with woollen throws on the bed, seaside-inspired artwork, and a beautiful piece of private woodland right outside the door.
Orme pod features a full-size double bed and a full-size single bed that doubles up as a sofa during the day, and they can provide a camp bed on request for the fourth bunk. We visited during a rainy December weekend and stayed in this pod as a couple. We loved the extra space for sitting, eating and watching films together.
For dining, there is a 4-person breakfast bar with recycled wood stools indoors and a traditional picnic table near your firepit/grill outdoors. When you’re ready to go outside, you’ll find your private wood-fired hot tub for relaxed evenings under the stars. Breaks in Orme pod start on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, with a minimum stay of 2 nights.
Is there parking on site?
Yes there is parking on site but not next to the pods themselves. A gravel car park is next to the driveway entrance, accommodating 3 to 4 cars. It’s a very short walk along the woodland path to the pods. Just take a torch with you for access at night.
Wood-fired hot tubs
This was our first glamping experience with a wood-fired hot tub, and we were pleasantly surprised. These hot tubs don’t have bubble jets. They are designed to be peaceful and quiet, without any noise disturbance to the wildlife or your fellow glampers.
We loved that it was a tranquil and relaxing place for everyone to enjoy. Surrounded by the soothing scent of wood smoke while listening to the sounds of nature and admiring the stars above.
We suggest that if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the hot tub (I mean, why wouldn’t you), take a couple of bags of extra firewood and kindling. They provide one free bag of firewood and kindling.
What’s nearby
The Bells of St Mary’s Pub & Restaurant is just a 35-minute walk from the glamping site, where you can enjoy a drink, delicious carvery or stone-baked pizzas. The staff were lovely, and we liked the atmosphere here. We walked here from the site using the All Trails app. It was an easy walk that took us over a field of grazing sheep and down through a pretty village. You could easily extend this walk to Talacre Beach too. Just be prepared for the uphill walk back to your pod!
Talacre Beach
It’s also close to Talacre Beach. The beach and dunes vicinity have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to rare species, including Natterjack Toads.
Additionally, the nearby Dee estuary serves as a sanctuary for wintering birds such as little terns, skylarks, meadow pipits, and warblers, all observed in the area.
The Point of Ayr lighthouse is Talacre’s most prominent attraction, dating back to 1776. Although decommissioned in 1884, the lighthouse stands tall as an impressive monument, 18 meters above the sandy shores.
Location: Talacre, Holywell CH8 9RP
Cycling routes
This location sits on the National Cycle Route 5. Additionally, several byways lead directly into the countryside. Route 5 is a lengthy route that passes through stunning British countryside, historic towns, and cities. The route is divided into sections and spans from Reading to North Wales.
Castles, the Welsh Mountain Zoo and much more!
When you think of Wales, one of the first things that comes to mind is its castles. There are a variety of castles nearby, ranging from traditional medieval fortresses like Conwy Castle and Rhuddlan Castle to the more elegant Gwrych Castle, which was the home of the 2020 edition of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
You can explore the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay within a half-hour drive from this location. Spanning over 37 acres of mountainous terrain, the zoo is home to more than 140 species of animals. Another great option is to visit Llandudno and the Great Orme Tramway.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
The pods have many things for a camping trip, such as a two-burner gas stove, a frying pan, general kitchen utensils, and sun loungers. You can check out your chosen pod’s page for a detailed list of what’s included.
A bath towel per person is provided, but if you plan on using the hot tub a lot or heading to the beach, it might be worth packing some extra towels. They don’t provide condiments like salt, pepper, or cooking oil, so remember to bring them with your food. They do provide dishwashing liquid for washing up, though.
We recommend bringing insect repellent during the summer months. The area is sparsely lit to encourage wildlife, so we suggest using a torch or a torch-enabled smartphone to get around at night.
Lastly, they provide indoor/outdoor dining chairs for some pods and a picnic table for others; if you want something comfier, consider bringing some camp chairs.
We hope you enjoyed our review of Emlyn’s Coppice! This is the perfect spot for some time out in nature, with cosy home comforts and a little luxury. We loved our stay here and won’t hesitate to visit again.
