The Rising of Spiggy Holes

Ian Haughey • Aug 28, 2019

We love a jigsaw

In short, Spiggy Holes is a Wolfgang Cabin supplied by Tuin.  Following lots and lots of lost hours that we will never get back, we trust the time spent was an investment for the future.  There are a lot of suppliers out there, however it appears not many actual manufacturers, even fewer direct to the public, Tuin we kept coming back to and actually used as a benchmark for a reference when discussing with suppliers and builders. In most instances it came back to what is our budget and what are we actually capable of doing ourselves becoming the decision makers.  

It soon became apparent that using specialist cabin builders was always the most expensive option and in most cases they used Tuin or similar products.  Given that we had time on our side and are not adverse to accepting that we will make mistakes we decided on buying a kit. Thankfully we have a few good friends who have joinery and/or building experience to reference to and from this pool we felt relatively confident that we could put this together with a little assistance.  Tuin themselves provided loads of 'how to' insights and tips on putting together their cabins, all of which proved invaluable.

Spending time on the foundation and getting things square, is the key and proved to be the reason Spiggy went up surprisingly quickly.  The foundation logs were measured and laid a few times before finally cutting and fixing in place.  The same care was taken with the initial layers, many brews make for patient builds and, in all seriousness, Spiggy Holes was in place after three days.

Considering looking at all the parts it felt a little daunting at first, spending time to study of the building instructions and plans got us in to the right frame of mind.  The logs go together really well and overall we are impressed with the cabin finish and its stability, only time will tell on how it compares to Y Cwt Cwtch, the Shepherds Hut.

Next step, a little colour for Spiggy Holes.

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by Ian Haughey 22 Jun, 2020
Additional information relating to Covid precautions We want you to feel as safe as possible during your stay with us at Hillcroft Escapes, to that point we have put a few things in place for you; * Please follow all Government guidelines, especially those relating to visits in Wales. We will provide the latest updates prior to your arrival. * We will endeavour to conform to our ethos where possible, reducing plastic use and waste, recycling and the use of environmental friendly products. * Your accommodation will have been vacated a minimum of 24 hours before your stay, like wise it will be vacant for a minimum of 24 hours after your stay. * Self Check in, there is a key safe and we will rotate keys between stays, sterilising the key safe and key after each stay. * We will use available PPE equipment when in the accommodation. * We always take pride in ensuring cleanliness, however we will focus on all surfaces and items in your accommodation. * We provide bedding and towels, however if you wish to bring your own please let us know. * We will rotate cutlery and crockery between stays, However if you wish to bring your own please let us know. * We will put fresh hand soap and washing up liquid in reusable dispensers that can be cleansed after each stay. * We always want to welcome you by providing a few local items of welsh cakes, drinks, milk, tea and coffee, if you prefer us not to, please lets us know before your arrival.
 * Self Check out; * When you leave we ask for your help, normally these are tasks we do, after all its your break away, but in these times we are asking that you; * Put all bedding in to one pillow case. * Put towels in to another pillow case. * Put all recycling in to the main bins which we will be near to the car park entrance; * Plastics and tins into the Red Bin Bag * Cardboard into the Blue Bin Bag * Paper into the Blue box * Bottles in to the Green box * Anything else or your unsure, there is a Bin with a grey bag, just put it in there. 

Most guests often do help by using the recycling bin in the accommodation and we usually sort the recycling in to the main bins, but if you can, please do help.
 * Food waste, use the Compost Bin in the accommodation, it will have a food waste bag, please tie and put into the small Green Bin.
 * ensure you have taken everything else you brought with you, with you. * Leave the key in the door
by Ian Haughey 19 Mar, 2020
As many of you who have been on this journey to Pembrokeshire with us know, Y Cwt Cwtch, our shepherds hut, was to perform two tasks. Firstly, we had every intention of living in it whilst we renovated Hillcroft, unfortunately we arrived in the worst winter for 10 years and couldn’t site the Shepherds Hut on the land. We could not clear the land with machinery as the ground was too soft and would cause potential damage to the environment. To that point we moved into Hillcroft and are we glad that we did. Living in a space enables you to make better decisions on the way you live in it. In essence, a freshen up and moving in was the best plan. So come the spring we started clearing the land and deciding on the best way to make use of it. The winter helped us decide on the groundworks needed to drain the land and create a useable all year round space. The temporary Stables went up and a hard standing area for vehicles and trailers were put in place. Secondly, the next step was to locate the Shepherds Hut. When we decided to open up Y Cwt Cwtch, our Shepherds Hut, it was a key intention to share this piece of Pembrokeshire with family and friends. This locating phase took a considerable amount of time and loads of discussion. We even sat out on deck chairs just to get a feel for the view points and practicalities of a certain position, but we feel it was worth the time and effort to get this right. For us it was important that Y Cwt Cwtch could be a place where you could feel a million miles away from anywhere, a place that reflected tranquillity but also where you could interact if you so wished. For us it is possible to spend days out at Y Cwt Cwtch without ever popping in to Hillcroft, it feels that natural. When we opened it up to Airbnb initially we were apprehensive, a space that suited our needs may fall short for others. We were perhaps a little to defensive, from the first guests back in June 2018 to today when I write this March 2020, so many people have loved staying at Y Cwt Cwtch. Some have taken advantage of the location primarily as a base to visit Pembrokeshire, enjoy the coast and the places to visit. Some have literally arrived, parked the car and spent everyday in and around the Shepherds Hut, enjoying the cosy hut during the storms, bathed out in the sun or sat around the fire pit under starlit skies, it has become a special place for many different reasons and more than we will ever know. Today, we see changing times, difficult times for many and for ourselves. Y Cwt Cwtch has become our main income source backed up by seasonal working for us both locally. We have listened to the advice being offered from Government, AirBnB and also Cool Camping who we work with and looked at what we can do to help during these times, and to see how we can manage too. We have a number of bookings for Y Cwt Cwtch and by all accounts our Guests want to come here, they see it as a place where they can relax, where they can enjoy the outdoors and in relative isolation. We were reminded that one of our regular guests has actually never met us! We have decided that we will remain open however we are going to manage the bookings with our own take on self isolating; We will leave at least 48 hrs between guests going forward, this will allow us to leave the hut for a good 24hrs before going in to do the change over. Those that know us will appreciate that we keep Y Cwt Cwtch to a high standard and that will not change, we will focus a little more time on handles and surfaces. We will still provide the basics, fresh laundered bedding and towels, though we will remove any toiletries and would ask that you take back what you bring with you please. If you do need anything during your stay you know you only have to ask. A number of shops, local suppliers, cafe’s, restaurants and pubs are offering take away & delivery services and to that point we are happy to facilitate where we can. We will provide regular updates for you when you arrive. AirBnB and Cool Camping offer further information and guidance on their websites which you may find useful. Take care, stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you here. Ian & Liz
by Ian Haughey 25 Feb, 2020
This week we saw the first real sign of Springs imminent appearance in 2020 here at Hillcroft Escapes. Snowdrops near to our summerhouse, Spiggy Holes , have started to sprout and the buds are starting to reveal their white flowers. With the crisp blue skies, whispery white clouds and a chill in the air, you can feel Winter making way for the arrival of Spring. It’s also a point in time for us to get Hillcroft ready for a busy time ahead, valentines, half term, and a leap year have already made a positive impact for February. Now our focus turns to Easter, but especially March edges towards Puffins making an appearance down here at Skomer Island as they ready for the breeding season. Indeed many of our guests have enjoyed visiting Martins Haven and taking the boat trip to Skomer Island to see the Puffins at this time of year. Personally this is the time of year to tackle new projects and maintenance to ensure we are confident our guests will enjoy their staycation. This year we have our Summerhouse to get prepared and ready for the season. A lot still to do but it is all the nice stuff, decorating and furnishing. Once this is done we will be focussed on the wooded coppice area where we really need to do some tidying up. It’s such a lovely area to spend time in and we want to ensure that we are attracting and supporting the wildlife whilst managing the flora and fauna effectively. Part of this is the planning of a pond, or preferably a dip pool, that will make use of our grey water from the Summerhouse and drainage water. More news to follow on this. Following feedback we have received we have looked at a couple of options to help our guests get the most out of their visit to Pembrokeshire. So for this year we have put together a walking Adventure package to help you get the most out of your trip to the Pembrokeshire Coastal path. For those visiting for the first time check out our Introductory Adventure package. If you have visited the area before our Bespoke Adventure package may be more suited. Either way, check them out and give us a call or drop us an email if you want to discuss in more detail before booking.
by Ian Haughey 25 Feb, 2020
Cold dipping is not for the feint hearted, yet, it is good for you. Liz enjoys her wild swimming, all year round. Not long after we moved to Hillcroft she met some like minded folk in the form of the Bluetits Chill Swimmers . This was just what Liz needed, always had loved swimming, though mainly in swimming pools, she was keen to go wild swimming. Forming new friendships with a shared interest in dipping in cold water, by the way, not a wetsuit in sight!, Liz was off and still is in a regular basis. Her local group usually meet in Solva harbour, so don't be surprised when you see them either swimming between the moored watercraft or around by the beach area. There are many other places, the Blue Lagoon (pictured) is a favourite for a lot of water sports, including cliff jumping, hosting a Red Bull event for a few years. Mainly its the sea at various coves and beaches around St Brides bay and St Davids head. This informal group just like to swim together, but it is a far cry from 2014 when Sian Richardson and Tracey Sherratt decided to go ice swimming as a new challenge. In the Pembrokeshire sea. Today it also includes a male group, the Bluebells! Tits & Bells swim together in various groups all over the world, yes, numbers have grown, it is its own community. Just recently Sian Richardson collected the 2020 Community Champion award from Radio Pembrokeshire, for her endless efforts in making the group what it is. I loved how Bluetits Sam Minas summed the group as ‘The Bluetits Chill Swimmers is not a charity, it’s not a company or an organisation. It’s a TRIBE. Led by generosity, mutual respect and friendship.’ To echo this, Pembrokeshire is that sort of place, it adds to your wellbeing, it challenges, it relaxes, adds perspective, it is full of characters and opens you to opportunity. Liz looks forward to her dips, mainly at Solva on a regular basis, it works for her.
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