Picket Pods

The coast and countryside in this part of Wales is what can only be called pretty ruddy spectacular – and it's all easily accessed from Picket Pods. The shoreline’s a couple of miles from the site, so it’s all very straightforward to head out for a walk on the coast path, a scramble through the dunes at Merthyr Mawr (20 minutes’ drive), a horse ride through the shallows from Ogmore (15 minutes) or a surf session at Southerndown (15 minutes). A little further along the coast, Barry Island (half an hour) has tours for fans of the telly show Gavin & Stacey, along with a lush beach and a rather impressive funfair. The market town of Cowbridge (10 minutes) has a good selection of independent shops to browse; for bigger stores and lots of activities and attractions, Cardiff is about seven miles from here. If you’re sticking closer to your pod-based home, grab your clubs for a round at one of several golf courses nearby or delve into the history of the area with a stop at 12th-century Ogmore Castle (15 minutes).