I visited Brongwyn holidays from Ireland for my two children (aged 11 and 14)to participate in a course of one to one intensive swimming lessons provided at the facility by external teachers. (More about this later!)
Brongwyn is a a secluded holiday centre in south west Wales, a few miles from the market town of Cardigan, off the main Fishguard-Aberystwyth road.
The property includes a caravan and camping facility along with a cluster of lovely stone cottages, where we stayed.
There is also an indoor pool with gym and beauty salon / treatment room upstairs.
I was slightly apprehensive on the (very!) narrow approach road that we may be too far from civilisation, but any concerns I had disappeared with the warm welcome we received from the proprietors, Anna and Graham Giles.
We were shown to our cottage, the ground floor of a converted stone dairy building, complete with beams and thick stone walls. Beds freshly made with lovely linens, piles of fluffy white towels and that just-cleaned from top to bottom air that anyone who uses self-catering accommodation regularly is always so relieved to find. A welcoming card and bottle of wine from the owners was a much appreciated gesture! Their attention to detail is very impressive, there are folders in the sitting room with information on the cottage, including instructions for all the appliances, local attraction information and detailed intineraries for walkers, to whom this part of Wales is particularly attractive.
An on-site bistro, the delightfully named 'Quackers', offers an imaginative and varied menu featuring organic local produce both for adults and children - not a chip in sight! Annette Wallace is a charming hostess/chef/waitress! Both the food (and drink) are excellent. This is a small venture in a small holiday park, so do make allowances - everything is freshly bought and cooked to order. Be prepared to book and if you can, order in advance. It makes life easier and it is definitely worth it! We can highly recommend the decadent chocolate fountain we treated ourselves to on our last evening at Brongwyn, Annette uses only the very best Belgian chocolate and provides delicious fresh fruit for dipping, as well as the obligarory marshmallows - it has to be experienced, but leave plenty of room!
The accommodation at Brongwyn is nestled among lovely grounds - a combination of beautifully maintained planting, traditional cottage garden and woodland. There are play areas for children, including a more robust swing set and climbing frame that my two larger darlings made plenty of use of during their stay. The gardens for the exclusive use of guests staying in the cottages are dotted with lovely garden furntiture and even barbecues for guests to use. There is also a laundry room with washers and dryers available.
My children particularly enjoyed the pool - it's one-depth water so very safe for children. Swimming without Stress, run by Ian and Cheryl Cross, offer one to one lessons at Brongwyn, for anyone wishing to learn to swim or improve their swimming. My son has progressed from a shivering clinging limpet to having a confidence in water I never expected him to posess and his sister has improved her strokes to the extent that she's enjoying swimming more than she ever has before. The teachers use the Alexander Technique and Shaw method - the whole process is very relaxed and very, very, effective. Have a look at their website: [--]
The nearest beach to Brongwyn at Mwnt is very nearby and picture-postcard scenic, though there's quite a steep descent to the sand. In general the whole surrounding area can be a challenge if you have any mobliity problems. I have slight walking difficulties after an injury and did not attempt the steps to the beach, but I was able to manage the uneven terrain and few steps around Brongwyn without any difficulty. The proprietors have a full and very detailed access statement on their website.
All in all, I can only recommend Brongwyn in the highest terms as a perfect venue for a family holiday. Forget about being miles from the shops - not strictly true, the small shop at the petrol station in the village stocks the basics - fill up the fridge, eat at Quackers, invest in a trashy novel and relax - it's quite addictive once you get the hang of it!