I’ll never forget the drive down to Redberth for our little getaway near Tenby – we’d packed the car to bursting with cool bags of fresh veg from the market at home, dreaming of lazy barbecues, only for the sat-nav to chuck us into a massive traffic jam just past Carmarthen. Turned out some sheep had decided the A40 was their personal spa day. We sat there for a good half-hour, munching emergency crisps and laughing about how we always manage to turn a three-hour trip into five. But as we finally rolled up to this brilliant futuristic geodome on the farmhouse grounds, all that faded away. What a first impression! Nestled among a glamping site full of quirky dwellings, this newly renovated dome felt like stepping into a sci-fi pod with proper cosiness – king-size bed gleaming invitingly, sofa bed for the kids, and that cutting-edge insulation promising sweet dreams even if the Welsh weather turned moody. Just four miles from Tenby and four-and-a-half from Saundersfoot, it was perfectly placed for our food-focused holiday.

Right from the off, we were buzzing about the eating ahead. Unpacked, cracked open a bottle of local Pembrokeshire cider we’d nabbed en route, and fired up the dome’s compact kitchen for supper. I fancied myself a chef that first night, attempting a simple pasta with smoked mackerel we’d picked up fresh from Tenby’s harbour market the next morning. Disaster! Overcooked it to mush while faffing with the hob’s quirky controls – my other half still teases me about the “seaweed slop”. Still, we scoffed it on the decking, watching the sun dip over the fields, and it tasted better than it looked.

Tenby’s food scene stole the show. We wandered its colourful harbour, grabbing cockles and laverbread from the stalls – proper Welsh soul food, salty and moreish. Popped into a bustling market for artisan cheeses, plump strawberries, and loaves of bara brith that we schlepped back to the dome for picnics. Lunch was at one of those harbour-side pubs, tucking into fresh fish and chips with mushy peas, the batter so crisp it crunched like autumn leaves. Evenings? Saundersfoot’s golden sands led us to its lively centre for pintxos-style small plates at a tapas spot – prawns in garlic, chorizo bites – washed down with craft ales from the local brewery. One night, we hit a Tenby gastropub for roast Pembrokeshire lamb, slow-cooked to melt-in-the-mouth perfection, sides of dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal veg that had us groaning happily.

Back at the dome, our cooking attempts got bolder. Breakfast fry-ups with bacon from the farm shop down the lane, using the dome’s neat facilities to whip up bubble and squeak from leftovers. We even braved a clotted cream tea, slathering scones with jam from Tenby’s boutique delis. The kids loved it, turning meal prep into a game, though my “gourmet” sausage casserole one rainy afternoon was more stew than masterpiece.

Looking back, amid all the feasting, I had a quiet moment gazing out from the dome’s curved windows. Holidays like this remind you life’s too short for bland meals – it’s the shared plates, the daft kitchen fails, and those harbour sunsets with a pint that recharge the soul. If you’re after a quirky base for Pembrokeshire’s foodie delights, this geodome’s a gem. We’re already plotting a return.