So the school holidays are finally here, and you’ve decided you’ve had enough of soulless hotel rooms. It’s time for some much-needed fresh air!
There’s just one problem – you’ve got the family in tow. Queuing in the dark for the loo isn’t an option when you’ve got kids, and then there’s the issue of keeping everyone entertained. Aren’t peaceful glamping breaks in the countryside just a little bit…dull?
Well, prepare to have your expectations of bedding down in the Great Outdoors well and truly challenged, with our rundown of some of the best family glamping spots the UK has to offer.
Indulgent style, quirky additions and fresh-air adventure are guaranteed. For example, how about a luxurious stay on a working potato farm, or sampling a taste of the Wild West on the Yorkshire coast?
There’ll be plenty to keep the kids happy, too – from pedal go-karting, clay pigeon shooting, den-building and campfire songs, to making friends with the resident animals.
Seriously, what are you waiting for?
We begin with rural Devon’s Orchard Retreat, the secret Vogue didn’t really want to tell you about! One of the style-bible’s ‘Best Destinations for Families’, here you’ll find two lovingly renovated holiday cottages and three locally handcrafted yurts, all set amongst fifteen fresh green acres.
With a play area and plenty of wide open space, there’s always plenty to see and do (with a hammock and an indulgent outdoor bathroom to keep the adults nice and relaxed!) Meanwhile, The Gallery – a stunningly restored cattle shed – is on hand for games and social media check-ins. Oh, and better still, four-legged friends are welcome too.
A 200-acre North Yorkshire haven founded by award-winning ex-designers, Jollydays Glamping perfectly combines fun and indulgence amongst expansive natural woodland. In fact, Jollydays is proud to be a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the only scheme of its kind to have been validated by Visit Britain.
Choose from family-friendly woodcutter’s huts and bell tents, or the more spacious Lodge and Woodland Tents. Settle in amongst nature and enjoy all that wide open space, then convene around the friendly communal campfire by evening (just don’t forget the marshmallows!)
You can mosey on down to Pinewood Park, an award-winning Wild-West-themed holiday park complete with quirky accommodation, at just about any ol’ time of year – since prices stay the same even during the school holidays.
Situated just two miles from the centre of Scarborough, Pinewood Park offers a whole host of western-inspired glamping and camping accommodation. Choose from Luxury Cowboy Lodge, Woody’s Western Wagons, Cowboy Camping Shacks and Cabins, and Tipis, all ideally positioned for all Scarborough has to offer.
Petite and pretty, Lee Wick Farm features glorious countryside and estuary views from its glorious position off the beaten North Essex track…on a working potato farm, no less!
The arched MegaPods are a fantastic introduction to family glamping, while the CargoPod is a former shipping container – ideal for those with sturdy sea legs and a sense of fun! Meanwhile, the brand-new Armadillas (above) are the closest you’ll come to a hotel room situated in a field, complete with log-fired hot tub, mood lighting and Bluetooth sound systems.
How about a fresh family escape to the exceptionally scenic Isle of Wight? Here you’ll find Tom’s Eco Lodge, located on a friendly working farm and offering a wide range of luxury outdoor accommodation.
Ideal for families with differing tastes, there aren’t many sites that can offer such plentiful space, sandy beaches right on your doorstep, fun on the farm and exhilarating adventure, all in one place. Clay pigeon shooting, coasteering and bushcraft are all activities that can be arranged here, too.
Simply choose from a selection of thoughtfully-crafted living spaces that include adventurous Safari tents, spacious wood cabins, cosy pods…and innovative Modulogs, brand new and exclusive to Tom’s Eco Lodge.
If you’re in need of some Wild Luxury, simply pack up the family and head to the Norfolk coast!
Wild Luxury comprises two separate, private sites (The Hideaway and Thornham Bay) and a summer-only Wild Camp for an exclusive group of 12. During summer time only, the Wild Camp makes for an exclusive natural escape for up to 12 people in search of their very own outdoor adventure.
Choose from fully-equipped Zambezi or Serengeti lodges, or sleep under the stars in a range of ‘sleeping’ and ‘chill’ bell tents – whilst enjoying comforts including a 13-metre star canopy, shower tower and fitted kitchen including barbecue area for al-fresco dining at its very best.
An enchanting woodland retreat worthy of a fairytale, Happy Valley Glamping is nestled in a Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, situated within a Wildlife Trust-designated site. Surely there’s no better way to get back to nature?
The shepherd’s huts and bell tent you’ll find here are lovingly furnished for cosy comfort, and with Congham Heath as your back garden, you can make it all the way to the local village without encountering a road. Simply hire some bikes and whizz around to your hearts’ content – and don’t forget to pack a picnic!
Consisting of a quirky camping pod and a cosy shepherd’s hut, the friendly and family-run Hollym Park Glamping is located in the heart of East Riding of Yorkshire countryside.
Puddleduck’s Pod is ideal if you enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of the Great Outdoors, but you’d rather not have to wrestle with a tent to experience it! Ideal for two adults and a small child, you’ll enjoy holing up inside this insulated ‘wooden tent’ with its distinct country den-like feel.
You’ll find a wealth of pristine facilities nearby, from piping hot showers to communal kitchen facilities. There’s also a children’s adventure play area, for those times when the kids need a little tiring out before bed!
Simple rural luxury in a delightfully secluded Welsh valley, One Cat Farm represents the Great Outdoors at its absolute greatest, set just three miles from the sandy beaches of Cardigan Bay.
Exceptionally family-friendly, the owners have three children themselves, and you really will find they’ve thought of everything.
Featuring four beautiful, practical and cosy camping dens, you’ll have everything you need to disconnect from hectic everyday life and simply lose yourselves in the finest surroundings – and company! – that nature has to offer. Enjoy making friends with the local wildlife, with wild geese, herons, otters and lizards regularly spotted (not forgetting the famous One Cat!)
At Middle Stone Farm (above and main photo), your family-and-eco-friendly Somerset glamping sanctuary awaits.
The perfect base for exploring the beauty of both Somerset and the North Devon coastline, you’ll be greeted by a warm welcoming committee of chickens, geese, alpaca, rare-breed sheep and goats just as soon as you arrive!
You’ll find six lavish safari lodges (two of which are dog friendly), complete with their own wood-fired Swedish hot tub, a charmingly converted stable cottage and a wooden Deckhouse cabin also with hot tub – simply choose your ideal place to rest your heads and get ready to enjoy plenty of natureful comfort and adventure!
So there you have it – time to step away from those bland hotel websites and make your family’s acquaintance with nature this year!
Whatever your group’s size and tastes, we’ve got plenty more Host Unusual glamping options to show you on our website. Just be careful, because all that fresh air adventure and wildlife-studded relaxation can become addictive!
Above: Middle Stone Farm’s friendly residents!
