Wild Glamping Escapes with a Touch of Luxury

Camping isn’t all about static caravans and fields crowded with tents.

These days, many sites offer tranquil and luxurious environments, where nature and wildlife are still at the fore but en-suite bathrooms and proper beds are part of the package too.

So, we asked the experts at Glampingly to pick out their favourite under-canvas escapes that feel wild, secluded and green but still offer some serious luxury to boot!

OWL VALLEY, Devon

In the bottom of a wooded valley, two miles from the North Devon coast, this off-grid escape is home to three bell tents and an enchanting log cabin, each set in a private clearing among the trees. There are comforts aplenty- double beds, private shower rooms and a wood-burner in the cabin- yet there’s still space for a digital detox. Without WiFi, time is spend lighting campfires, building dens or playing board games in the stove-warmed recreation room. It’s a five-minute drive to Bideford and only ten minutes to the beach at Westward Ho!  

WALCOTT HALL, Shropshire

It was back in the 1800s that Lord Powis began planting trees in the grounds of his Georgian manor in the Shropshire Hills. Today the vast estate is home to one of Britain’s finest and most eclectic arboretums, with towering Douglas Fir trees and magnificent ancient oaks. Lost amid this backdrop is a similarly diverse collection of glamping structures, ranging from a pond-side yurt with its own rowing boat to a converted firetruck that’s only accessible on foot. Each of the ten structures are in a private space but all are within walking distance of The Powis Arms, an excellent pub at the bottom of Walcott Hall’s drive.

CORNISH YURT HOLIDAYS, Cornwall

On the edge of a Bodmin Moor, this 37-acre smallholding plays host to just three hand-made yurts, pocketed away in flat spaces on a site that gently slopes towards the River Camel. Inside there are double beds, wood burners and cooking facilities, plus luxury touches like a roll-top bath and an open-topped shower with impressive views. Outside, the semi-wild setting is a mix of ferns, hawthorn bushes and heathland, with flanks of trees and hedgerows. Footpaths lead onto Bodmin Moor and it’s only a 20-minute drive to the coast.

CELTIC WOODLAND HOLIDAYS, Powys

There are five modern, hobbiton-like dwellings among the trees at this Mid-Wales retreat, all designed by the campsite’s founder and constructed with local timber. Despite the woodland setting, with a clearing for campfires, a treehouse playground and a rainy-day cabin full of games, the accommodation faces out across the Wye Valley offering spectacular, far-reaching views. From the Welsh sheep’s wool insulation to the composting toilets, everything is eco-friendly and there’s a cute little pod shop selling everyday essentials too.

FOXTAIL CABIN, North Yorkshire

Set in the most wild and untamed patch of a working Yorkshire dairy farm, this octagonal cabin is nestled among rushes, boulders and trees. There’s no phone signal and minimal lighting helps you admire the stars, though bringing wellies and a torch is recommended. Inside, the surprisingly roomy cabin sleeps four on a double bed and bunks, while, outside, there’s endless space to explore. Walk the Nidderdale Way, passing the gritstone outcrops of Brimham Rocks high above the dale before dropping down to the River Nidd, or bring bikes to make the most of the quiet local lanes.

 Words by JAMES WARNER SMITH, Editor at glampingly.co.uk