The Big Retreat Wales festival, held in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park, scored some fantastic reviews after its first ever outing this year. The festival held over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend, celebrating great music, food and wellbeing, was so popular that it is already selling tickets fast for 2018.

Held on an old castle terrace in the village of Lawrenny, high above the Cleddau estuary, the Big Retreat Wales featured a packed weekend of healthy action, such as pilates, yoga and zumba, as well as a generous slice of more sinful pastimes, including gin and chocolate masterclasses. Activities to enhance mindfulness, such as wood carving, wild foraging and kayaking were also popular with festival-goers, who travelled from across Britain to the small South Pembrokeshire village.

“We just had the most amazing weekend,” said Rhian Sula from Tenby. “We are really looking forward to next year.”

Kate Harper from Dunblane was equally complimentary. “It was definitely worth coming all the way from Scotland,” she said. “I left, having been massaged in a tent in the trees, with a better knowledge of gin, and recharged by the gorgeous setting!”

“We have been bowled over by the reviews we’ve been getting,” said festival director Amber Lort-Phillips. “The first event was a massive undertaking, and gave us some fantastic ideas for next year. We were helped hugely by a really supportive local community, as well as local businesses such as Princes Gate Water, Calon Wen, Celtic Holiday Parks and G. D. Harries who really believed in what we were doing and wanted to help us make it happen.

“When you’re launching a festival like this, that support means a lot and we hope they can feel some pride for helping make what was such a successful event happen.”

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority was also a backer of the festival, which sits on the site where the national parks in Wales were mapped out nearly 70 years ago.

“What we kept hearing was how stunning and inspirational this site is,” said Amber. “People were describing it as having one of the best views in Wales. They were blown away by the landscape.

“The good weather might have helped!” she added, laughing.

Bands who performed at the festival included Climbing Trees, Platform 1, Ragsy and Narberth singer/songwriter, Jodie Marie.

“I feel so honoured to have been part of the festival,” said Jodie. “It was so lovely to play in such a beautiful location.”

The Big Retreat Wales 2018 will take place over the Whitsun Bank Holiday (May 25-28). Early bird tickets are available at www.thebigretreatwales.co.uk.