Member Article

Couple help people “step off the world” with launch of The Forge

A North Wales couple have opened The Forge – a stunning addition to the region’s hospitality and tourism scene.

The Forge is set in a beautiful 20-acre smallholding called Cae Einion on the outskirts of Corwen which was once home to an Iron Age hill fort.

Owners Jamie and Sheena Corry are initially offering accommodation comprising three luxury glamping bell tents with the aim of allowing visitors to “step off the world and escape the pressures of modern life”.

People can self-cater using the well-appointed camp kitchens or take advantage of the many excellent pubs and restaurants locally. Guests can also receive a welcome hamper on arrival filled with local produce, fresh eggs and vegetables grown on the farm. Each of the tents is named after one of the Welsh peaks you can see from the accommodation – Liberty, Idris and Arenig – and comes complete with a composting toilet and hot shower Each tent also has its own fire pit so guests can try their hand at campfire cooking with Jamie on hand if guests want to learn how to make bannock bread or toast the perfect marshmallow.

During their stay guests can kick back and enjoy a slower pace of life, taking time to explore the hill fort, play in the stream or just wander through the 4-acre woodland. They are also welcome to get involved in lending a hand on the smallholding: feeding the animals, collecting the eggs and making jams and chutneys.

Jamie also runs the Wild Bushcraft Company which provides guests with the chance to try their hand at a range of activities including fire-lighting, shelter building, wild food foraging and primitive crafts such as constructing bows and arrows, knife making and spoon carving.

Jamie and Sheena will also be working with schools and youth groups who want to escape the classroom and learn about the great outdoors and local Welsh history in the atmospheric setting of the Iron Age hill fort.

Larger groups looking for a completely private retreat in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can rent the whole site.

The Forge has established strong links with a range of local adventure providers offering white water rafting, mountain biking, surfing, zip wires, gorge walking, canyoning, paintballing, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing and clay pigeon shooting.

The longer-term plan for The Forge is to convert a number of barns and derelict buildings into further bespoke accommodation. Also planned are other quirky stays including a converted ex-Army truck, which recently appeared on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces TV series on Channel 4.

Jamie and Sheena moved to Corwen from Hampshire three years ago. Jamie has spent most of his career working in the countryside as a bushcraft instructor, deer stalker and countryside ranger. Sheena continues to work in diversity and inclusion for a global management consultancy firm.

Jamie said: “It was a brave move relocating to North Wales but we fell in love with Cae Einion as soon as we saw it and knew we had to make it happen for ourselves and our two young children.

“We knew we wanted to move to either North Wales, where Sheena is from, or Scotland, where I am from, and North Wales won the day.

“There is so much potential in the site and it is great to be starting to realise our vision.” Sheena said: “We love it here and we wanted to give other people a reason to stop, stay and spend some time in this amazing and largely undiscovered part of the country.

“At The Forge, we give people the opportunity to escape from the pressures of modern life and immerse themselves in the great outdoors while still providing all of the modern comforts to make their stay as stress free and relaxing as possible.

“The beauty of what we are offering is that people can do as much or as little as they want – it’s really up to them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mason Media .