Twimas.
It’s an interesting time of year. It’s the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Every year, I envision the week to be cozy and festive. You want to spend time with your loved ones and relax with your family.
I imagine cozy days when my husband and I would watch movies by the fireplace, take family walks in the snow, and sip wine while our kids played happily (but quietly) with their new toys. Masu.
Of course, it doesn’t work out like this!
By the time December 26th approaches, we’ve seen every Christmas movie ever made. It never snows, and in fact it’s rarely very cold, so it’s not particularly festive outside. The house is full of Christmas clutter and we’re both driving each other crazy from spending so much time indoors.
Let’s be honest, we’re all counting down the days until we can go back to school/work/daycare, get back to normal, and start making healthy intentions for the new year!
Yes, Twixmas at home is never that great. So we made it a priority for our family to get out of the house right after Christmas.
This Christmas we went to Tenerife, but the year before that we went to Dylan Coastal Resort in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
That’s what I want to share with you today about a family trip to Dylan Coastal Resort.
Luxury Lodges at Dylan Coastal Resort and Milk Wood House Spa in Carmarthenshire, Wales
Dylan Coastal Resort is a collection of luxury self-catering lodges located at Loughm on the Taff Estuary on the border with the Brecon Beacons in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.
There are a variety of lodges and the luxurious spa is a big draw for those who want to stay here.
The resort underwent a major £20 million redevelopment a few years ago and this investment is felt in every detail.
We stayed at Glan y Mor, a spacious lodge with three double bedrooms, a private hot tub and unobstructed views of the estuary. It was idyllic!
It was one of the largest villas we’ve ever stayed in, so spacious and well-appointed it felt so big.
The large entrance and large utility room near the front door made stepping into the lodge feel like entering a peaceful retreat. In holiday homes, we often forget small details like where to hang a wet coat or store muddy boots, leaving the entryway area in disarray!
The main living area was an open plan social space that combined the kitchen, dining area and living space. It was spacious and modern, yet cozy, welcoming and a very practical space for a young family like ours.
It was just the kind of place with “fluffy robes” and fresh flowers
We had a large twin room and a good sized double room, both next to a large family bathroom.
On the other side of the lodge was a large master bedroom with a large private bathroom and balcony.
The one-story lodge was a dream. I always thought I didn’t want to live in a bungalow, but this made me reconsider!
There is a large deck outside that we didn’t get to use much because it was cold, but we got plenty of use out of the hot tub!
The hot tub was a huge bonus, especially with our three energetic kids. As soon as the words “I’m bored!” come out. If they escape from their lips, we put them directly in the hot tub for an hour. It quickly eliminates boredom and gets kids bored quickly.
What I liked most about this lodge were the large windows overlooking the estuary. The scenery changes dramatically as the day progresses and I could have sat here all day reading a book and watching the clouds roll across the sky.
The Milk Wood Spa
The Milk Wood Spa at Dylan Coastal Resort is a reason to visit this resort on your own.
Wow, what a spa. And what a swimming pool!
Milkwood Spa is so gorgeous and luxurious. You have to book a 2 hour time slot to visit the swimming pool and gym and we were actually really lucky to visit during Covid restrictions when it was very quiet.
We really enjoyed the huge swimming pool with floor to ceiling windows. There was also an indoor outdoor hydrotherapy infinity pool and it was so hot and magical sitting in the bubbles feeling the cool outdoor air on your skin.
Milk Wood Bar and Kitchen
There is also a beautiful Milkwood Bar & Kitchen above the spa. If we had visited without our young children, we would have definitely spent a long time here!
Unfortunately for us, dinner service didn’t start until too late for the kids, but we had a few drinks here after our daily afternoon swim.
Are children welcome at Dylan Coastal Resort?
Yes, children are welcome and our three kids loved it!
But I think this resort caters to adults first and welcomes children second.
It’s a luxurious and sophisticated resort, so there are no child entertainers around here! Parks, swimming pools, forests and nearby beaches will keep children entertained. But when the weather is cold and rainy, your kids may be looking for a little entertainment. So it’s worth remembering some local attractions for a few days out!
Things to do near Dylan Coastal Resort
If, like us, you decide to stay for a week, you’ll want to get out and explore the attractions around Dilan Coastal Resort. Honestly, if you’re just staying for the weekend, you don’t have to worry too much about planning activities. I would like to take a short walk to the estuary and enjoy the whole weekend at the resort!
Rawang Castle
Loughearn Castle is a short walk from Dylan Coastal Resort. It is located on the edge of the estuary and is well worth a walk to see the medieval ruins.
Dylan Thomas Boathouse Lighting Shed
Poet Dylan Thomas is Rowan’s most famous resident, and you can stroll to his former writing cabin. To be honest, there’s not a whole lot to see at Dylan Thomas His Boathouse, but it’s interesting to visit and well worth it considering it’s so close to the resort. It’s a very nice place and there’s also a tea room where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while enjoying the view.
Rowane, Taff Estuary and forest walks
While you’re there, take a walk through the forest to the Taf Estuary. Rowan village is also really beautiful.
tenby
Tenby is about a 35-minute drive from Dylan Coastal Resort, so it’s well worth a visit. Tenby is one of Wales’ most beautiful seaside towns, with a beautiful beach and lots of small shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants to explore.
Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands is a 15 minute drive away and is the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs. Seven miles of beaches stretch along the coast with golden sand and crashing waves. It’s more of a walking beach than a sunbathing beach, but it’s beautiful at any time of the year.
Pendine Sands has a rich history and was home to many land speed record attempts in the 1920s and 1930s, including the famous attempt by Malcolm Campbell, who reached 174.8mph in his Bluebird in 1924. It’s a place. There is a museum dedicated to this history, and visitors can still see the concrete starting ramp used by the speed record breaker.
The beach is also home to the ‘Pendine Sands Race Track’, which hosts several car and motorcycle events throughout the year and attracts many tourists.
Pendine Sands is easily accessible by car and there is a large car park next to the beach. Local buses also run from nearby towns and villages. Visitors should note that there are no lifeguards on the beach and that they should use caution when swimming and use caution at low tide.
Wiseman’s Bridge
It’s also a lovely beach, and there’s a popular pub on the beach, perfect for a hearty pub lunch. From here there is a coastal path and tunnel that leads down to Saundersfoot Beach, making it a pleasant walk. It is about a 30 minute drive from the resort.
Thundersfoot Beach
The absolute charm of the beach. Don’t be fooled by my photos of Thundersfoot Beach. It’s a really beautiful place. We visited on a rainy and gloomy day, but there was still a nice atmosphere. It was filled with families who gathered to enjoy walks and games of bat and ball. The children were building sandcastles and the dogs were running wild. It had a great atmosphere and I highly recommend you give it a try!
Other attractions include the National Botanical Gardens and Blue Lagoon Waterpark. We didn’t get to go to either location, but we’ll go next time!
Luxury Lodges at Dylan Coastal Resort Review
Overall, we loved our stay at the Luxury Lodge at Dylan Coastal Resort. It was lovely to have a relaxing and luxurious holiday that was also suitable for our young family. The spacious lodge, private hot tub, amazing swimming pool, and all the other luxury amenities made it a truly special experience. This area has plenty of activities for everyone.
We highly recommend this resort to:
- Couples looking for a romantic and relaxing weekend
- Weekend “Girls’ Trip to Enjoy Hot Springs
- big family
