PEMBROKESHIRE’S fast-growing festival of wellbeing, food and music, The Big Retreat Wales, has celebrated a triumphant second year, doubling in size.

Set on the Old Castle Site in Lawrenny above the Cleddau estuary, on what’s been described as the most beautiful festival site in the UK, attendees at the late May event indulged in everything from yoga and fitness, to gin tasting and cookery classes, with live music running a soundtrack to the weekend.

Co-founder Amber Rich said: “The weather, the classes, the talks, music and food just hit the spot and our lovely festival-goers gelled as one big happy group over the weekend.

“We had fitness and wellbeing devotees hitting the

classes hard, while others enjoyed a bit of calm, doing a spot of spoon carving, art or gin tasting, and all the while kids were entertained by the wonderful Majical Youth Theatre Company, learning bushcraft skills, or just playing and exploring the woods with new-found friends.”

Headlining band Rusty Shackle were a sensational closing act, completing a top weekend line-up.

“Another great milestone for us has been the campaign to ban plastic from the event, with vendors selling their food and drink in compostable containers. It’s been brilliant, and we now have a big compost heap where the worms are getting busy to produce compost for next year’s flower displays,” said fellow co-founder Diana Hinde.

This year’s success has brought a wave of interest for 2019, with Tier One Tickets selling out in three days, and a Super Early Bird release of Tier Two Tickets selling fast.

Said Amber: “Alongside our wonderful attendees, we also need to say a special thanks to Celtic Holiday Parks and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, who’ve been with us from the start.”

The Big Retreat Wales 2019 will take place over the May 24-27. Early bird tickets are available at www.thebigretreatwales.co.uk