Pure pleasures of the good life

Instead it was the 9.30am gathering outside the storage barn to receive our ration of daily feed for the goats, pigs, donkeys, sheep and hens.

A gaggle of around 20 enthusiastic children of all ages had naturally pushed their way to the front for first dibs of the assorted treats, but parents and grandparents were just as eagerly gripping their buckets ready for the morning meander around the fields of Croft Farm, nestled in a sleepy hamlet a short distance inland from the western fringe of Cardigan Bay in Pembrokeshire.

This small working farm boasts nine luxury barn conversions which can each accommodate between three and six people, while The Farmhouse can house groups of 12 and has that very essential of party-house amenities – its own hot tub.

The place has been transformed over almost three decades by owners Andy and Sylvie Gow, who gave up their London careers in the catering industry to bring their family up in an idyllic location.

Most of the farm animals have been born and raised on the farm, the few others come from within a 10-mile circle. And every morning they all need breakfast.

With the sun gently rising over the undulating Pembrokeshire hills we don our sunglasses and wellies to immerse ourselves in a taste of the good life. Forty-five minutes later, invigorated by a stroll around the eight-acre site, feeding eight sheep, four Kunekune pigs, two donkeys, six goats, we reached the last stop – the chicken coop.

After carefully distributing the final feed of poultry pellets we were allowed to treat ourselves to a reward for our morning toil from the 18 residents – a freshly laid egg.

Still warm as you gently carry them back to your accommodation, these eggs are in a different stratosphere to those bought in a supermarket.

Sat on the terrace, washing down breakfast with a cup of fresh coffee, you felt the stresses and strains of life in the rat race lifting from your shoulders.

And an indoor swimming pool and spa alongside a well-equipped games room, outdoor play areas and a gym helped the whole family get into holiday mode.

Indeed our children quickly teamed up with other youngsters staying on the farm and rather than sullenly stare at screens, frequently vanished to the animal barns where they were able to take out rabbits and guinea pigs to stroke and cuddle to their hearts’ content.

The children – even my too-cool-for school 13-year-old – really didn’t want to leave their newfound friends (human and four-legged) behind but with a stunning array of riches awaiting we dragged them away to explore the hills and green fields that meander down to the coast where golden beaches lead from quaint fishing villages.

This part of the world is fabulous to see from land but for those with a sense of adventure, an exhilarating trip out into the Irish Sea on a jet boat takes some beating.

We took on a 90-minute excursion with A Bay To Remember (bayto remember.co.uk) and after a highspeed departure from Cardigan we soon saw our first porpoise battling the waves, followed by a peregrine falcon swooping down as we approached Cardigan Island, where hundreds of nesting seabirds fill the eyeline.

The 10-mile journey allowed us to explore the coast between Cardigan Island and Mwnt, an important feeding area and where on a good day, you stand a chance of spotting bottlenose dolphins.

The boat then headed to Cemaes Head where the highest sea cliffs in the Pembrokeshire National Park took our breath away.

Below was a secluded beach filled with Atlantic grey seals cavorting in and out of the water. Our intrepid captain also took us inside the sea caves along the coastline.

Equally exhilarating, but not quite as white-knuckle, was our stroll the following day along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

This breathtaking stretch of some of Britain’s most dramatic shorelines covers 186 miles from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south and the variety of terrain and views create differing sections.

This means that whatever your age or ability there is something to enjoy.

Seasoned walkers clad in full waterproof regalia mix easily with pushchair-pushing parents, while certain sections have been created to be accessible by wheelchair.

Teenagers looking for something more adrenalin-fuelled in the summer months when the water is a tad warmer can have a go at coasteering, which combines scrambling over rocks, jumping into the sea and battling the rough and tumble of the ocean.

Of course, all that sea air builds up a great hunger and while the temptation is always to return to your farm cottage for a barbecue there’s a bountiful selection of pubs and restaurants along the coast and in nearby Cardigan to delight all tastes.

The Food For Thought café in Cardigan was packed to the rafters whenever we passed and after sampling their homemade burgers we knew why.

Along the coast, in the centre of the pretty village of Newport, sits The Golden Lion, a hostelry that has served locals and travellers with homemade food for more than 300 years.

And while the seafood on offer in the area was sublime, the highlight for my clan was a visit to Pizzatipi in Cardigan – serving stone-baked pizzas in a riverside courtyard during the summer months.

Created beneath a tepee, where we stayed warm by sitting around blazing fire pits, we tucked into arguably the best pizzas, perfectly fuelling our energy for the next morning’s farmyard chores.

GETTING THERE Premier Cottages (01239 615179/ premiercottages.co.uk) offers three nights at Croft Farm from £432 (six sharing), self catering.

Pembrokeshire tourism: visit pembrokeshire.co.uk