A Cosmic Escape in the Heart of Wales
Tucked away in the serene Pembrokeshire countryside, Melin Mabes offers a unique glamping experience that feels like it’s been plucked from another galaxy. This four-acre retreat is home to three standout accommodations, each designed to spark the imagination and transport guests to a world far beyond Earth.
One of the most captivating stays at Melin Mabes is the Spodnic UFO, a spacecraft-themed pod that looks as though it has just landed from outer space. Martin Johnson and his wife, CarolAnne, are the visionaries behind this magical escape. They purchased an overgrown plot of land centered around a 17th-century mill 12 years ago and transformed it into a one-of-a-kind glamping site.
The UFO pod is a highlight of the property, featuring a design that mimics a real alien spacecraft. It includes three tripod legs, a drop-down door, NASA-inspired interiors, and color-changing lights. The entrance was creatively modified using a wheelchair lift, which Martin describes as “a simple solution with a lot of work behind it.” The door mechanism uses springs for extra power, ensuring a smooth and dramatic entry for guests.
Inside the UFO, the attention to detail is remarkable. The walls are lined with NASA-designed insulation foil, which reflects heat back into the space. The decor is equally imaginative, with blow-up alien dolls, spacesuits, astronaut helmets, and black-and-yellow hazard tape adding to the extraterrestrial theme. A steel staircase leads up to a sky-view dome equipped with a telescope, perfect for stargazing on clear nights.
Outside the UFO, there is a kitchenette area with a hob, oven, fridge, sink, and dining area. Guests can also enjoy a sprawling private garden and a large hot tub area decorated with moon posters and twinkling fairy lights. The bathroom is located in a life-sized TARDIS phone box, inspired by the popular BBC series Doctor Who. Inside, the oversized space-age phone box features a shower, a blue-lidded toilet, checkered flooring, a mirror, and a basin with a mini TardIS handwash dispenser.
Martin, a lifelong fan of UFOs and science fiction, drew inspiration from futuristic buildings of the 1960s for the UFO pod. Originally used to hide electrical generators at the 2012 London Olympics, the structure was broken down into six sections and transported to the Welsh countryside. Each wall section weighs approximately a tonne, requiring a steel base to ensure stability on the marshy ground.
The UFO itself is made from fiberglass and features an acrylic dome for a classic saucer-dome look, along with eight acrylic domes around the circumference to allow natural light inside. Tripod legs were added to give it the appearance of a spaceship from the classic film War of the Worlds.
Across the site from the UFO are two other unique stays. One is a traditional gypsy caravan that has been transformed into a cozy accommodation for two people, featuring a raised double bed and a wood-burning stove below. Nestled in the trees is a real treehouse with a ladder and a slide leading to the ground, as well as a double bed, two singles, underfloor heating, and a fire to keep guests warm.
Guests can also enjoy pre-ordered artisanal meat and cheese hampers delivered directly to their accommodation. Dogs are welcome for an additional £10 cleaning fee per stay.
Melin Mabes is one of five rare and remote stays featured in the upcoming episode of World’s Most Secret Hotels. Other properties include Jirira Mountain Lodge, situated at the edge of the world’s largest salt flat in Bolivia, and the historic Canfranc Station Hotel in Spain.
Narrated by Julie Walters, the six-part series explores some of the most unusual and breathtaking escapes across all six continents, highlighting the teams that keep these properties running and the guests who live their wildest dreams.
World’s Most Secret Hotels premieres on Channel 4 on 18th April at 8pm.
