AD | This experience was gifted to me by Dulas Glamping in exchange for a review. My review is honest and entirely my own.

My happy place is the outdoors, whether that’s in the countryside or by the sea. Growing up I got to do a lot of both. I’d visit the New Forest with my Grandparents and we would ride our bikes for miles. It’s a feeling I have not yet been able to replicate since becoming a wheelchair user. The countryside isn’t a particularly accessible place, which is why I am excited to share my experience with Dulas Glamping. 

Pippa from Dulas Glamping kindly gifted us our stay for a truly honest review. Dulas Glamping have an accessible glamping hut that offers the disabled community a unique experience in the Countryside, specifically the Welsh countryside. Time away in the countryside, feeding lambs, watching the sheep and the sunsets over the fields; there was no need to ask me twice. 

The drive from Cardiff to Dulas Glamping took us around 2 hours and 40 minutes. We also chose the scenic route which was outstanding. We arrived at the farm and followed the lane up to the Glamping Hut, also called Hafan y mynydd which translates to The Mountain Haven; a very fitting name.

Glamping Hut Grounds

I was skeptical as we drove through the gate to the hut as the surface beneath us looked like gravel however, it is compacted gravel which leaves a smooth surface easy to walk around on, no crazy bumps in my power chair, far easier than gravel for active chair users and other mobility aids too.

Tucked just underneath the hut before the ramp are bins including recycling. The ramp up to the hut was simple and not too long. I used my power chair and whilst I can self propel I would not consider myself an active chair user but it would certainly be easy for someone to push a wheelchair up the ramp. 

Surrounding the front of the hut is a small decking area, the perfect place to drink coffee and watch the world or sheep, in this case go by. There was also enough space for me to turn in my power chair. Below the hut was a small fenced garden like area. This is a space Dulas Glamping are working on and they are extremely receptive to ideas. It’s fenced to avoid any pets from getting underneath the hut, we took our two dogs so this was extremely helpful. It also has a fence to stop them getting to the sheep. Although both dogs loved watching them curiously. It’s an uneven terrain and on a slope, I wouldn’t personally use a wheelchair on it. I also don’t suggest it for anyone unsteady on their feet but it worked well for James and the dogs. I could even throw Penny her toys from the decking. 

The views were incredible, we were stood in front of the hut just staring out onto fields upon fields full of sheep and beautiful skies. When I asked Pippa is she ever gets bored of the view (which I couldn’t imagine) she told me that every day the view changed, it’s never quite the same and she never gets bored of the view.

Inside the Hut

The hut has a sliding door entrance that was easy to use. Bare in mind we’re glamping so there isn’t a lot of space but we were shocked by how much room there was. There’s a living area, kitchen area, bedroom and wet room. 

Kitchen

Before arrival Pippa checked our preferences on items such as bread, milk and any dietary requirements. This lead to a lovely welcome hamper in the kitchen when we arrived. Including my oat milk. 

The kitchen included a small fridge, microwave, trolley of dry goods such as: pasta, rice, herbs and spices. A counter top with sink and drying rack, induction hob and kettle. The counter was also height adjustable and suitable for me sitting in my wheelchair and James who’s 6”2.

Living Area

The living area had been prepared for our two dogs to join us. There were blankets over the seating area to protect them, a huge dog bed on the floor, another two dog beds in the bedroom as well as water bowls. Our dogs were just as spoilt as we were. 

The detail put into the living room is like nothing I’ve seen before. The seating area was made up by two arm chairs both of which were fully adjustable individually. This allowed you to lie back, put your feet up and even help get you from sitting to standing. One side of the chair went right up to the door of the bathroom whilst the other end was free. Whilst the sofa had space for a front transfer you could also do a left side transfer. The arm rests on both chairs can be put down to allow for easy transfers. The two in the middle allow you to cuddle up with your partner or in our case is the perfect size for a small/medium extremely needy dog. 

Behind the sofa there is also a small shelf trolley with essentials including a pen, a pack of cards, some saucepans for the kitchen and the guest book which I always love to read. 

Wet Room

I’ve forgotten what it’s like to go away without the fear of what the bathroom would look like and function. However, Dulas Glamping have clearly done their research. The wet room was spacious with a sliding farm house style door. Inside was a portable shower stall which I used to sit at the sink when washing my face and brushing my teeth as well as handrails next to it. The toilet had all the handrails, a few transfer options, was a raised toilet seat and have the function to wash and dry after you’ve finished. The shower has a fixed shower chair, a ceiling shower head, a smaller wall shower head and a hand held to. There’s also a stand to put your shower essentials on. Plus a shower wheelchair which allows you to use the toilet or the shower and has both push handles and self propel wheels, there is a chest harness to go with the chair. 

The Glamping Hut had exceeded all expectations I had and it continued to do so once I explored the bedroom. 

Bedroom

The bedroom can sleep up to five people although two of these spaces are more suited to children. The master bed is made up of two different electric adjustable beds to allow individual control on both sides. This allows you to raise your legs and upper body in the bed separately to the person next to you. Opposite the bed there’s another door that leads to the decking and provides the perfect view in the morning or when you need to rest. It allowed me to feel apart of the outside even when I needed a break and quite time inside. 

Since my stay I have seen that this bed was also able to be separated into two single beds as the visitors requested. 

On the other side of the bedroom was a single bed with the same adjustable features. Both the double and single bed also came with a table that could go over the bed and I don’t mean a beige piece of hospital plastic. These were gorgeous dark wood stain and black framing. We also used one of these as extra surface when making dinner. 

The last two beds are known as sensory pods. There are bunk beds that have been built into the walls with a farm house style sliding door. Inside there are colour changing lights and a remote to change the colours. Next to the beds is also a wicker basket filled with sensory toys and fidgets perfect for anyone who is neurodiverse.

The bedroom even came with an Amazon Alexa and instructions if you don’t know how to use one. It’s the perfect way to listen to music and set reminders or timers. I use an Alexa at home to remind of things all the times so this was an unexpected touch that made all the difference. 

The Farm

When visiting bare in mind that this is a working farm. If visiting in the spring/during lambing season there will also be the opportunity to feed the lambs and have some cuddles. We really loved learning about the lambs and the sheep on the farm. 

Whilst you can easily drive down the track from the hut, we decided to see how easy it would be to walk down with my power chair. It’s certainly not a smooth journey as it is a farming track. Like us you may also find yourself being stalked by a lamb that sprung right out of it’s field. Pippa had warned us about this and surprisingly all the lambs and sheep put themselves back in their fields ready for bed. 

My power chair coped well with the terrain and I think I would have done well in my E-Fix power add on if I also used my freewheel. Some mobility scooters would also manage the walk especially if you have something like a Tramper. Anyone with an electric trike for their manual chair would likely also find it relatively easy to navigate. I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone who uses a walker or rollator due to the terrain. 

Visting Dulas Glamping brought back so many happy memories for me and created new ones too. It reminded me that with the right people accessibility is possible. There’s no reason we can’t have an accessible countryside, space to breathe and being a part of nature is so important. Pippa and her family very clearly did their research and it paid off. They have done a fantastic job and we certainly can’t wait to visit again. We’re even considering it as a break after our wedding next year.

Keep your eyes peeled for a full review on the local places we visited and an easy read Dulas Glamping guide. It’s safe to say we didn’t want to leave neither did the dogs. Thank you Pippa and family for welcoming and introducing us to Dulas Glamping – Accessible Adaptive Glamping.

What do you love most about the countryside?