Goodbye office, hello outdoors Meet
the women who have escaped the 9-5
‘I went from an office job to running a Welsh campsite’
Sarah Heyworth, 50, lives in Arthog, Snowdonia, with her partner John and their two dogs. They run a campsite and B&B at Graig Wen.
‘Putting down my pen, I folded up the letter and pushed it into an envelope. Then, as with the hundreds of others I’d already sent, I walked to the local letterbox and dropped it in, wondering if my outdoor dream would ever become reality.
I wanted to open my own campsite somewhere beautiful, so I was contacting campsite owners to ask if they were thinking of selling. But this hadn’t always been the life I wanted. I’d had my “aha” moment when me and my partner John were travelling around Europe in a camper van. I fell in love with the open road and freedom. When we got back, I hungered for a more outdoor life than working 9-5 at my marketing business. Ready for a challenge, John and I gave up our jobs, sold our home in Brighton and set out on an adventure.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Although we had no idea how to set up a campsite, we were undaunted. We moved to a camping and caravan site in the Lake District, where we worked second-in-command for six months learning the ropes. It was invaluable to understanding everything, from general maintenance to what to do if guests arrive late. Meanwhile, I sent out my letters, searching for the site that would provide the perfect amount of wilderness.
At long last, I received a reply from the owners of Graig Wen, who wanted to retire. Located in the south of Snowdonia, Wales, its 45 acres sit at the foot of the mountains. Originally a Victorian slate mill, Graig Wen includes a campsite, B&B (The Slate Shed), four cottages and a pitch for eight motorhomes. This was far more than we had ever imagined taking on, but in the end we were seduced by the beauty and seclusion of the area and, in 2007, after securing a loan alongside the money we’d got from selling our home, we took on the business.
Before I knew it, I’d gone from having an office job to working on my very own rural Welsh campsite. The first task was to renovate the place – there were a lot of orange walls to paint! Considering we arrived with all our tools in a biscuit tin, both John and I learnt an array of new skills: I studied dry-stone walling to repair a stretch on our land, while John learnt a lot about rural plumbing. Doing it ourselves meant saving money – buying and renovating the place had already cost us around £700,000.
HELPING HAND
Friends helped with hand-painting the slate nameplates for the B&B’S bedrooms, and both my mother and John’s father moved nearby to assist with the day-to-day running of the place. We also employed a housekeeper and a receptionist, then opened to the general public in March 2008. A few years later, we’re turning over £115,000.
Being a big lover of the natural world, I wanted to create an authentic back-tonature experience, so not only can guests camp among the trees, but they can also stay in one of the hand-built yurts that we’ve installed in the forest. The beautiful landscape also offers a variety of outdoor activities: you can go cycling, walking, zip lining or swimming.
But it’s not just the guests who are out and about, I am, too. I’m always pottering about the campsite or picking fresh flowers for the rooms. The breathtaking surroundings also provide respite when things get a bit hectic. No matter how busy it gets, walking the dogs with the mountains towering over me is the perfect reminder of why we did this.’ • Visit graigwen.co.uk and slateshed.co.uk
‘The breathtaking surroundings provide respite’