Wales is a stunning place to visit for a weekend break at a remote cottage in Snowdonia, week's seaside holiday down west or city break in the Welsh capital. But one of the latest, gorgeous holiday retreats attracting tourists, and some big celeb names, can be found just a stone's throw from Cardiff, tucked away in the Welsh hillside, complete with a huge vitality pool and outdoor dining area that can rival even the Love Island villa.
With views of the Rhondda Valleys to the north and south sees Pontyclun and beyond, Forest View self-catering cottage, run by Unique Country Retreats, is so perfectly tucked away in its position it'll feel like you're far away from home, especially with the Mediterranean-inspired interior - and exterior - design. It's owner describes it as 'on a different level' to his other properties.
The holiday property is owned and run by David Edwards, the brains behind the Pontypridd Bank transformation and nearby boutique hotel Lanelay Hall. Its sister accommodation, Hafod Lodge - which sleeps 24 people and is just five minutes from Lanelay - is equally as magnificent and oozes Spanish charm as well as ultimate luxury.
While Forest View in Ynysmaerdy, Pontyclun, is relatively fresh, having only opened its doors eight months ago, Hafod Lodge has been running for a whopping twenty years and is as popular now as it was then.
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Located in the grounds of the stunning Hensol Castle, Hafod Lodge is actually a listed building and is the "gatehouse to Hensol Castle," David tells us. "I bought it when I was 35 [years old] for £145,000." Now it is an incredibly popular 'staycation' venue that has been developed to boast features such as a swimming pool - with deck chairs around it to help you top up your tan (on a scorching Welsh summer day) - a hot tub, a bunk house, beautiful rustic features inside and stunning gardens outside - it's no wonder it's already pretty busy in 2023.
The Cardiff-born businessman started developing properties at a young age and bought his first house in the Valleys before progressing on to bigger properties and then commercial properties. He moved to Pontypridd 27 years ago when he met the "love of his life" from Llantrisant - where Forest View is situated.
"Hafod Lodge was one of the properties I bought because it was dilapadated. And it's the gatehouse to a castle. I bought it, we did it up, I lived in there for a while and then turned it into self-catering. It's never stopped since then really."
What David's self-catering accomodation hopes to offer is an experience like no other - "we do things different" - and a place in which people can create memories for life.
"People want to be blown away. People are looking for adventure, experiences and memories. People want memories. It's about making memories with your friends."
And while Hafod Lodge is gorgeous, its counterpart, Forest View - David explains - is on a "different level again".
Sleeping up to 18 people, the staycation retreat in the hillside above Talbot Green boasts not only clean white Meditarraneon decor that has been inspired by David's trips to Mallorca over the years, but a vitality pool (which remains at 38 degrees come rain or shine) and an outdoor wooden cabana under which you can cook on the outdoor stove, dine al fresco and marvel at the incredible views over the Welsh valleys.
"It's on top of a mountain, the views are unbelievable. It's like being in Italy," he says with pride. "It is fantastic.
"People don't understand what beauty we have in the Welsh valleys. They need to come here and explore it."
With his design of both Hafod Lodge and Forest View, David wants to transport his guests to the Med and encourage them to dive headfirst into "outdoor living. It's really important." Thats why he's added elements such as an outdoor barbecue, vitality pool and eating area.
"No-one's put a vitality pool in self-catering [accomodation] in south Wales," he reflects. "The inspiration [for the design and ethos] is about doing things which no else is doing. That's what I do. I build what people think I won't do, but I actually do it."
And if the building was enough to make you speechless and transport you to another world - the pictures do that alone - you can amp up your stay by having a private chef come and cook for you and even a butler and concierge service to tend to your needs.
With such a idyllic setting "on our doorstep", it's no wonder both properties get over 50 enquiries on a Monday morning - and that doesn't just include weekend stays for families, friends, birthday parties and hen dos.
These retreats play host to business and corporate events, yoga retreats and conferences - plus, if you've just got engaged and are in the market for a luxury venue for a small wedding, Forest View will happily oblige, David explains.
Its beauty has even caught the eye of some pretty big names from the world of sports - pro boxer Tyson Fury was Forest View's first guest - and has been used as a base and set for television shows and modelling shoots - impressive, right?
Wait til you hear about David's third venture, which is getting ready to open its doors on April 1. Forest Lodge - located next door to Forest View - will be the third retreat and, while we have no photos, from what we're told, it sounds like it's going to be a haven of luxury.
David says: "It's going to blow everyone away. It's like something you would see in Dubai."
Explaining its features, the business owner details a ten-metre vitality pool - "which pierces over the clifftop", a fountain and balcony.
"On the first floor, you've got a beautiful open balcony up to the master bedroom. And off that floor then, there's a fountain. And the fountain drops [water] into the vitality [and inifinity] pool.
"You'll walk along the vitality pool to the end and you're peering off the cliff. It's a one-off!"
As well as these beautiful water features, guests can enjoy the outdoor barbecue, outdoor kitchen, and a rather quirky addition: "We've got a big swing, ten people can sit on [it]. Very Instagrammable." Outside of the villa, he gushes over the 10-mile walk that goes into the forest that's right on the doorstep.
Keep your eyes peeled because this is just the start of a development project which David hopes will see a total of ten self-catering properties open by the middle of 2024.
In peak season - aka summer - the properties can cost £250 per person for a weekend stay that runs from Friday through to Monday.
For more information, see Unique Country Retreats' Facebook page or visit their respective Instagrams - Forest View and Hafod Lodge.
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