Ynys Affalon is in the media (darling)

We’ve been delighted to see Ynys Affalon, one of our fantastic tree tents, in the media both here and abroad.

It featured in Geo Saison which circulates in Gemany, as well as the Observer this weekend!

And Ynys herself…

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

You can read the Observer article here, where we are named as being among Britain’s top 10 most peaceful retreats…and remote as we are we’re inclined to agree!

Flights of fancy on a wild Welsh weekend

"Sweeping views" and "awesome birds of prey" were highlights for Sankha Guha from The Independent.

Everything except the sky is green. There must be 10,000 shades of green.
— Sankha Guha, The Independent

It is as isolated as Angela Merkel would feel in Greece. From the barn there is literally no sight of human habitation. Later I discover the odd cottage hidden away within the woods and a sizeable farm just over the brow of the hill at the rear. But to all appearances, we are alone – magisterially commanding the sweeping views that stretch for miles around. Inside, the barn is equally eye-catching.

So it comes as no surprise that the interior of the barn is design-fabulous and about as un-rustic as a cottage in mid-Wales can be. The pool table, the wine cooler, the Bauhaus-inspired log burner, the Miele kitchen appliances, the Italian rocking sofa (yes, sofa), the stripped wooden floors and the three-metre-screen home cinema would not be out of place in a bachelor penthouse on the Isle of Dogs. Light floods into the colossal living room upstairs through substantial glass panels cut into the sides and the gable end – but instead of delivering a Manhattan-style skyline, the panorama serves as an ever present reminder of rural bliss. So far, so good.

Read the full article at: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/flights-of-fancy-on-a-wild-welsh-weekend-7833943.html

 

Sphere in the sky – Red Kite Tree Tent in Condé Nast Traveller

Alexandra Davey from Condé Nast Traveller stayed at Red Kite Tree tent and found our “giant green eco-bauble” much to her liking.

The whole eccentric accommodation thing isn't new. It started with the Ice Hotel, and the following frenzy to find unconventional places to stay quickly graduated to boats, lighthouses, underwater lodges and even prisons. It also resurrected a firm childhood favourite: the treehouse.  

Red Kite Tree Tent, a new hanging orb near Builth Wells in Powys, Wales...fuses elements of conventional camping and log-cabin experiences to create a new treehouse with a twist.

The giant green eco-bauble that hangs in the forest is fashioned from hybrid aluminium and something called a static airframe, and is fully insulated to withstand wintery weather for year-round glamping. There's a double bed and a wood-burning stove, and another opening leads to an ensuite facilities deck where there's a shower, loo and sink.

The Tree Tent has already had a taste of fame after appearing on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, but the back-to-basics, ball-shaped hideaway is ultimately all about a solitary, un-starry experience. The only companions you're likely to come across are the local bird life: barn owls, woodpeckers and other feathered friends.

Find the article at: http://www.cntraveller.com/news/2013/march/red-kite-tree-tent-wales

13 amazing chalets to discover in the mountains

France Montagnes, the web magazine of all the French ski resorts, has curated a list of 13 incredible luxury ski chalets.

Chalet F’Net is on the list and in very esteemed company, alongside architectural masterpieces and ultra-luxe private chalets.

Read the feature at: http://www.france-montagnes.com/webzine/style/portfolio-13-chalets-xxl-decouvrir-en-montagne

Red Kite Barn in the Guardian’s 50 Best Cottages

The Guardian has rounded up 50 of the best holiday cottages in the UK. Red Kite Barn, in its 80 acres of private woodland, was featured as one of the best holiday retreats for nature lovers.

"Named after the birds that sweep overhead, Red Kite Barn lies in a private forest north of Builth Wells in mid-Wales, surrounded by rolling hills. The traditional exterior hides a chic contemporary interior (and it’s eco-friendly too, with ground source heat pumps and wool wall insulation). The upstairs open-plan living area is flooded with light from windows on all sides, and downstairs there are three bedrooms (with beds rescued from London’s Savoy Hotel). But it’s the isolated location that’s the real winner: wrap up and enjoy a drink under the stars in the raised garden and forget about the rest of the world."

You can read the whole feature at: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/apr/16/best-uk-holiday-cottages-summer-2016

Red Kite Tree Tent: "Cool Place of the Day" in The Independent

Red Kite Tree Tent, our incredible suspended forest bedroom, has been named "Cool Place of the Day” by The Independent

Amy Sheldrake from Rough Guides visited in May 2016 and described the tent as “a beautiful, futuristic orb”. Her review of the tent was featured in The Independent’s “Cool Place of the Day” feature. 

You can read Amy’s review at http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/camping-britain-wales-uk-holidays-red-kite-tree-tent-review-a7027626.html

Chalet F’Net on French TV

Chalet F’Net is becoming quite the celebrity.

When we created Chalet F’Net, we imagined David Niven in an argyle sweater, bombing down the mountain in an open-top car, or perhaps Brigitte Bardot sipping a cocktail in the snow. But little did we know that the chalet itself would become a celebrity in its own right. Our little boutique retreat has appeared on French television this year in three different programmes. 

Last Christmas, the chalet featured on France 2’s Télématin programme. In January, F’Net appeared on La Maison on France 5. Finally, the team from Midi en France visited Saint Gervais for a visit to the Mont Blanc tramway, with a hop off at Chalet F’Net.

Chalet F’Net at the wood-fired hot tub from above in early winter snow

Chalet F’Net at the wood-fired hot tub from above in early winter snow