Finding your hwyl as the air turns crisp
There’s a quiet change in the air here in Mid Wales as November deepens and the evenings draw in. It feels like the perfect time to discover a little of what Visit Wales has been celebrating this year, the Welsh word hwyl.
It’s one of those lovely Welsh words that doesn’t have a tidy English translation. Some say it means joy or enthusiasm, while others describe it as calm contentment, that ahhh moment when your shoulders drop and you feel completely at ease. Hwyl can be lively and full of laughter or gentle and still. Either way, it’s about being present and finding pleasure in the moment, and it’s something we see our guests experience time and again here at Coety Bach, our cosy Mid Wales cabin for couples.
As proud Visit Wales Gold Award accommodation providers, we’ve seen how easily visitors find their hwyl in the simple things. It’s stepping onto the frosty grass first thing, hearing it crackle under your feet, and wrapping yourself in a dressing gown with a hot coffee while you look out over the misty hills of the Ithon Valley. It’s that content feeling of sitting by the log burner after a long walk, your faithful friend snoozing nearby and the warmth of the fire slowly sinking in.
There’s hwyl in the everyday moments too, like sitting in the garden together at sunset, watching the sky turn gold with a glass of red wine in hand, or quietly watching the chickens peck about as woodsmoke drifts through the air. And when night falls, the wood fired hot tub is the perfect place to unwind. The stars appear above the valley, the water steams in the cool night air, and the only sound is an owl calling in the distance.
Winter in Mid Wales has its own kind of magic. The hills soften, the nights draw close, and life takes on a slower rhythm. That’s when hwyl seems to shine the brightest, not in the rush of summer days but in the peaceful glow of a countryside evening when everything just feels right.
As the year draws to an end, we’ll be leaning into that feeling and welcoming guests who want to find a little hwyl of their own. Whether you’re planning a romantic winter getaway in Wales, a stargazing weekend near the Elan Valley, or a dog friendly countryside break, Coety Bach is the perfect place to experience it.
Watch this short film from Visit Wales which beautifully captures the spirit of hwyl and what it means to feel it here in Wales:
Video courtesy of Visit Wales