Luxury campsite could bring tourists to Llandyrnog

Aug 1 2008 By David Simister

LLANDYRNOG could become a luxurious new tourist destination after plans to build an innovative campsite in the village were given the green light by councillors this week.

Graham Carrington-Sykes, owner of the Pentre Mawr historic home, plans to build six distinctive luxury tents on the site to attract a growing number of upmarket tourists to the Vale, and had his plans approved at the council’s planning committee meeting last Wednesday [July 30].

"My family have lived at Pentre Mawr for a very long time, and have done a lot in the past twenty years to keep it going, and I consider myself to have inherited one of the finest houses in the area. It is important to have a unique selling point as we are in competition with many other country houses in the region" he said.

"These luxury tents will be eco-friendly and as unobtrusive as possible, and be aimed at the upmarket traveller. I’ve been in tourism all my life and I hope to maintain a high standard, and I belive original and quality ideas such as these are the essence of keeping tourism going in these difficult times."

Pentre Mawr, which has been owned by the Carrington-Sykes family for over 400 years, is currently operating as a country house hotel serving the Vale of Clwyd. It is hoped that with the new proposals, the business can be built upon with the tents, which will be constructed from timber. Although described as tents, the structures are said to be substantially built and expected to last at least ten years.

The unusual proposal gained favour with councillors, leading to the application being approved by 20 of them, with only 3 voting against.

"I think this is a very imaginative development which is both very unusual and eco-friendly, and is also located in an ideal spot in the Vale of Clwyd to boost tourism" said Ruthin councillor Bobby Feeley at the meeting.

For more information about Pentre Mawr and its current services, call 01824 790732 or visit www.pentremawrcountryhouse.co.uk