More Than a Cabin – The Story Behind The Hive Away

If you've ever stayed at The Hiveaway, you'll know it's about more than just a place to sleep.

Every cabin, every path and every little detail has a story behind it, because almost everything you see has been built, planted, painted or polished by us. When people ask who looks after the cabins, the answer is simple – we do.

From building the cabins themselves to mowing the grass, changing over between guests, fixing the odd squeaky hinge and making sure the hot tub is just right before you arrive, we're involved in every part of the experience. It's hard work, but it's also one of the reasons The Hiveaway feels so personal to us.

One of our favourite parts of the job is changeover day. If we can get up to the cabin early enough, we're often treated to one of the best sights in West Wales: the morning mist rolling gently down the Teifi Valley, following the course of the River Teifi as the sun begins to rise. Before the next guests arrive, there's a brief moment when everything is perfectly still. It's one of those views that reminds us why we chose this special place and why we love sharing it with others.

How it all began

We moved from Surrey to Wales in 2018 as newlyweds, with our first child on the way. Having spent many holidays exploring this beautiful area and camping along the Welsh coast, we'd long dreamed of running a café or B&B.

That dream started to feel more real when Nick’s parents moved to a smallholding here in West Wales, giving us the perfect opportunity to create something of our own. What began as conversations around the kitchen table slowly turned into plans, sketches, and eventually a very hands-on project to bring a glamping business to life.

This part of Wales has so much to offer, and we wanted to share it with others. So we designed and built The Hive Away—a place where guests can experience the beauty of the area while staying somewhere truly memorable.

It wasn't quite the opening we'd planned...

When we opened The Hiveaway in 2020, we were excited to welcome our very first guests. Instead, lockdown arrived just as we were getting started, and suddenly we couldn't open our doors. At the time, it felt like a huge setback. Looking back, though, it gave us an opportunity we never would have planned.

Over the following couple of months, we stayed in the cabin ourselves on and off, living there just as our guests would. It didn't take long before we started spotting little things that could make the experience even better. A hook would be useful here. An extra shelf there. A different kitchen utensil. Somewhere better to leave your keys. The sort of small details that you only notice when you're actually living in the space.

Many of those ideas are still part of the cabins today. Guests probably don't think twice about them, but they all help make your stay that little bit easier and more comfortable. Even now, we're constantly making small improvements and asking ourselves how we can make the experience even better. Last winter we improved the firepit area at The Skep so there is somewhere dry to sit and then in June we added the woodfired sauna!

Every booking still makes us smile

People often assume that after a few years the excitement fades when a booking comes through. The truth is, it really doesn't. Every booking notification still brings a smile to our faces, and more often than not one of us announces it to the other before we both do a little celebratory dance around the kitchen.

It might sound a bit silly, but every booking represents someone choosing to spend their valuable time with us. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, escaping for a romantic weekend, taking a well-earned break or simply looking for a few peaceful days away from everyday life, we're genuinely grateful that you've chosen The Hiveaway.

We know how precious time away can be, and we never take that trust for granted.

Thank you for being part of our journey

The Hiveaway has grown from an idea into something we're incredibly proud of, but it still feels very much like our project. It's been built with our own hands, it's cared for by us, and every guest who stays here becomes part of its story.

Whether you've already visited or are hoping to stay one day, thank you for following our journey and supporting our small family business. We hope we'll have the pleasure of welcoming you to our little corner of the Teifi Valley before too long.

And if we're doing your changeover on a misty morning, we'll probably spend a minute admiring the view before making sure everything is just right for your arrival.