How Ty Cwch tries to tread lightly

Ty Cwch is a boathouse in Cwmtydu, on the Cardigan Heritage Coast, built from shipping containers. From the start we wanted it to use as little energy and as few new materials as possible, without being cold, cramped or expensive to stay in. This post sets out what we’ve done, what the numbers are, and where we still fall short.

Using what already existed

The building is made from shipping containers that had already finished their working life. Reusing them meant we didn’t need a new steel or concrete frame. We clad them in larch, a hard-wearing timber that weathers to grey and doesn’t need painting or treating.

Inside, a lot of the furniture and fittings are upcycled. The sails over the deck give shelter outside, so much of the day is spent in the open air rather than in heated rooms.

Energy

Ty Cwch uses 38.6 kWh of energy per square metre per year. That’s the average over six years of running, and it’s 33% below the CIBSE benchmark.

The containers are insulated and each Cabin has its own heating, so it stays warm in winter without wasting heat on empty rooms. All our electricity comes from Good Energy on a 100% renewable tariff, backed by REGO certificates.

I’m an architect and have an MSc in Energy Efficiency in Buildings, so this is the part I care most about getting right.

Sharing

Twelve people at Ty Cwch share one kitchen, one living room, one fridge and one washing machine. Three separate holiday cottages would need three of each, and three times the heating.

The Cabins are small, with four bunks each, so they heat up quickly. People spend most of their time in the shared spaces and on the deck anyway. You can book one Cabin and share the ground floor with other guests, or book the whole place for your group.

Water, waste and wet kit

We keep water use down and recycle as much of our waste as we can. Please sort your rubbish into the bins provided before you leave.

The two outdoor showers at the front are for rinsing off sand and salt after the beach. The drying room and washing machine are there so wet clothes and wetsuits don’t end up hanging in the Cabins.

There are kayaks, surfboards, bodyboards and life jackets in the store. Most of what there is to do here, walking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, doesn’t need an engine.

Getting here

Most guests drive, and for most stays the journey here produces more carbon than the stay itself. We can’t change where Cwmtydu is, but we can make the trip a bit cleaner.

• There’s a 7kW Type 2 EV charger in the car park, and we take £50 off your stay if you arrive in an electric car.
• Without a car, the nearest station is Carmarthen. From there, check Traveline Cymru for buses towards the coast, or ring Bwcabus on 01239 801601.
• The Cardi Bach bus runs along the coast between Cardigan and New Quay. Check the timetable before you rely on it.

Once you’re here, leave the car parked. The Wales Coast Path runs past the door, with Llangrannog to the south and New Quay to the north. Walk one way and get the bus back.

Longer stays get a bigger discount, from 5% for three nights up to 25% for a week or more. One long trip is better than several short ones.

Buying local

We use local suppliers wherever we can, and we point guests to them too.

• Food shopping: Tesco in Cardigan delivers to Cwmtydu. One van is better than every car in the group driving to the supermarket.
• Vegetables: Troed Rhiw organic farm. Turn right in Llwyndafydd and it’s on the right.
• Pizza: Tafell a Tan in Llangrannog does wood-fired takeaway. Order online and allow time to park.
• Drink and cheese: Da Mhile distillery and Teifi Cheese share a site near Llandysul. Mantle Brewery is in Cardigan.
• Foraging: Jade Mellor at Wild Pickings runs foraging walks on the coast and in the woods.
• Activities: Rhydian at ICY UK runs coasteering, kayaking and more. Tell him you’re staying at Ty Cwch.

Looking after Cwmtydu

Grey seals have their pups on the beach here each autumn. If you see one, keep well back, keep dogs on a lead and never get between a seal and the sea. Cardigan Bay also has the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in Europe, and you can often see them from the coast path.

Cwmtydu is a quiet place and noise carries a long way up and down the valley. If you want a party, the beach is the place for it. We ask everyone to be quiet at Ty Cwch from 10pm at the latest.

Please take your litter home from the beach. If you pick up someone else’s on the way, thank you.

What we haven’t solved

We’re not claiming a stay here has no impact. Three things we’re still working on:

• Travel. Cwmtydu is at the end of a narrow lane and most people come by car. The EV discount and bus details help, but driving is still the biggest part of the footprint.
• Outdoor heaters. The infra-red heaters under the sails run on renewable electricity, but heating outdoors is never efficient. Use them when you need them and switch them off when you go in.
• Laundry. Every changeover means washing bedding. Longer stays mean fewer changeovers, which is one reason the discounts go up the longer you stay.

If you have ideas for doing better, tell us.

Green Tourism Gold

Ty Cwch holds a Green Tourism Gold award. It’s an independent assessment covering energy, water, waste, travel and local buying, and it’s renewed regularly, so we have to keep earning it. The building has also won a Visit Wales Innovation in Tourism Award and was Highly Commended by Specifi as Cardiff Project of the Year.

You can book a single Cabin or the whole of Ty Cwch at tycwch.wales. Prices start at £26 per person per night.