Billed as ‘the antidote to modern living’, a new camping and wellness experience launches this July among the trees at Candleston Woods.
Called This Must Be The Place, the temporary campground will pop up for three weeks this summer, bringing a mix of 20 luxury bell tents and 14 campervan pitches to the site at Merthyr Mawr, Vale of Glamorgan.
The experience will focus on allowing people to disconnect from their devices and ‘rewild themselves’ in the forest, among the nearby dunes and on the beach. Campers can enjoy a two hour forest sauna, dawn sea swims, communal campfires, yoga, meditation and mindful walks.
Surrounded by trees, visitors will be able to relax and enjoy the calm and quiet of nature around them. The experience of forest bathing – mindfully spending time among trees, a practice known in Japan as shinrin yoku – has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health and wellbeing
A bar and restaurant will run from the woodland clubhouse, hosting Char, a wood-fired pizza kitchen. Guest chefs will also pop up throughout the three weeks, including recent Great British Menu competitor Simmie Vedi on Saturday 29 July and Professional Bake Off winner Minto’s Patisserie on Saturday 22 July who will be serving afternoon tea. The restaurant and chef pop-ups will also be available to book for non-residents.
This Must Be The Place is a collaboration between the Merthyr Mawr Estate and Gabrielle Kelly of Far.a.field retreats and Street Food Circus, which also runs the Forest Feastival food festival at Candleston Woods.
Gabi Kelly explained:
“Candleston Woods and Merthyr Mawr Warren are truly magical spaces. Our ambition is for people to leave the digital world behind and immerse themselves in nature for two days leaving refreshed and invigorated – it’s a fact that even just being in a woodland for just 20 mins can lower stress and cortisol levels.
“We’ve worked closely with the Merthyr Mawr Estate over the last few years to run our Forest Feastival street food events in the wood and we’re now combining all our knowledge of creative, experiential events, the best food and wild wellness to create a pop-up campsite in one of the most unique (secret) woodland locations along the Glamorgan heritage coastline.
“Campers can expect a welcoming atmosphere where they can do as much or as little as they want. It’s a chance to disconnect from your devices, reconnect with family and friends or indulge in the solitude and relaxation of slowing down in nature,” she said.
This Must Be The Place will run from 14 – 30 July in Candleston Woods, with bookings available for furnished or unfurnished 5m bell tents and camper van pitches. All pitches have access to hot showers, toilets and washing up facilities, in a newly built woodland cabin adjacent to the camp clubhouse.
Booking is online now (min two night stay) at thismustbetheplace.camp. Prices (based on two people sharing) are £149 per night for a furnished bell tent with breakfast included, £99 per night for an unfurnished bell tent without breakfast and £49 for camper pitches.
