A glorious mash-up of “glamorous” and “camping”, glamping has been around since 2005 (the word was finally added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016).
The “glam” part means you won’t be pitching your tent in the rain or dark, while bathroom facilities will be a step up from those found at a traditional campsite. There may even be a stargazing hot tub to soak in, too. Yet you’ll still enjoy the freedom, fresh air, and beautiful countryside that make camping so special, particularly so in summer!
Seriously, what’s not to love about that?
So whether you’re a family glamper, part of a cosy couple or a large group, pet-free or bringing your dog, these unusual glamping retreats have got you covered for your summer glamping adventures ahead.
Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Grey Willow Yurts | Devon
Our Favourite Summer Family Glamping Retreats
Busy urban life has its advantages, but if you’ve got a family it can be hard to find quality time to spend with them, even in the summer months. So these family-friendly summer glamping retreats aren’t just suitably unique. They’re also designed for you to reconnect with your favourite people – and nature – in the energising Great Outdoors.
Here you’ll find plenty of wide open space to play games and make fun memories all together… yet with added conveniences – and luxuries! – that make a family holiday feel special.
Castle Cary, Somerset, England
Sumptuous, family-sized safari lodges with five-star facilities and private hot tubs, soothingly off-grid and secluded in a vast, private field in the heart of Somerset countryside.
Bedrooms: 2 or 3 per lodge
Sleeps: 7
Newport, Isle of Wight, Isle Of Wight, England
Relax with a Vesper Martini aboard the jaw-dropping submarine replica HMS Bond that once starred in a Bond film, now nestled on a quirky Isle of Wight campsite that's full of surprises!
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: up to 5
Feistritz ob Bleiburg, Carinthia, Austria
Spoil yourselves with views of the picture-perfect lakes and mountains that surround Austria's first glamping resort.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies
Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England
A family-run glampsite where everyone is welcome, perfectly set between the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: Up to 4 per unit
East Grinstead, Sussex, England
Escape to an enchanting new way of life and learn woodland crafts, in a luxury camping & eco retreat nestled in ancient Sussex woodland.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies - 2-5
Husthwaite, Yorkshire, England
Chill out, unwind and savour sensational glamping and camping at The Hideaway - a wonderfully relaxed, totally friendly and perfectly placed eco-friendly campsite in the heart of North Yorkshire.
Bedrooms: Studio
Sleeps: 2 or 4 per unit
St Osyth, Essex, England
A petite and pretty glamping site featuring Megapods, a CargoPod, Armadillas and two farm cottages with glorious countryside and estuary views.
Bedrooms: varies
Sleeps: varies
Our Favourite Summer Dog-Friendly Glamping Retreats
When your best four-legged friend is part of the family, leaving them at home on your summer break is a wrench… for you and for them. It takes a heart of steel to resist those doleful doggy eyes as you close the door and head off on holiday.
We’ve picked these unusual dog-friendly summer glamping retreats to save your guilt, but also because a glamping break is much more fun with a playful dog in tow!
Friskney, Lincolnshire, England
A thrilling stay in a cosily-converted rescue vehicle parked on a Linconshire lake, in a rural area that boasts picture-perfect views of gorgeous Lincolnshire.
Cullompton, Devon, England
A laid-back, off-grid glamping site where everyone is welcome (especially dogs!) beautifully set in the star-studded midst of the Blackdown Hills AONB.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 5
Hasketon, Suffolk, England
Unwind amongst wondrous wildlife and amazing accommodation luxuriously inspired by the Great Outdoors, with unspoilt Suffolk countryside as far as your eye can see.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 8
Ballintra, County Donegal, Ireland
Luscious, off-grid lakeside retreats and a strawbale lodge, mesmerisingly secluded amongst 90 acres of diverse, wild, and unspoilt landscapes on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2-4 per unit
Boncath, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Warmth and wildlife await at an eco award-winning Pembrokeshire camp-and-glamp site, with an indulgent Wild Spa and eclectic family-friendly activities on site
Widegates, Cornwall, England
A unique, expertly handcrafted back-to-nature escape that showcases some of the best sea views in Cornwall.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 6
Garstang, Lancashire, England
Luxury glamping accommodation on Bleasdale Estate in Lancashire, set beside the Forest of Bowdale.
Bedrooms: 3 per tent
Sleeps: 6 per tent
Our Favourite Summer Hot Tub Glamping Retreats
There’s nothing like relaxing in a warming hot tub when you’re on a summer holiday. Especially when the stars are just coming out to play, and you’ve got a glass of bubbles firmly in hand.
Add the soothing natural beauty of the countryside, and even those who find it hard to switch off will feel fully relaxed in an instant!
Whether wood-fired or jet-powered, these unusual summer glamping retreats each feature that all-important hot tub, to elevate your break from great to other-worldly.
Welshpool, Powys, Wales
A haven of adults-only, dog-friendly eco-luxury with private hot tubs, deliciously hidden away in the midst of magical woodland at the heart of mid-Wales countryside.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2
Henley, Somerset, England
Two romantic, adults-only retreats each with private wood-fired hot tubs and views of grazing Miniature Shetland ponies, secluded next to the family farm that overlooks the soothing Somerset Levels.
Bedrooms: 1 per hut
Sleeps: 2
Little Bentley, Essex, England
A small and idyllic escape, secluded on a 300-acre family-run farm in North Essex, you will find three oak-framed cabin retreats with private hot tubs, that offer a little something for everyone.
Ugborough, Devon, England
Cosily furnished, family-sized safari tents with hot tubs, dog-friendly and secluded amongst 1,5 acres of Devon nature that's close to both Dartmoor National Park and unspoilt South Hams beaches.
Bedrooms: 2 or 3 per tent
Sleeps: 5 or 6 per tent
Casares, Andalucia, Spain
The ultimate in unique Andalusian luxury; a peacefully private glamping haven featuring the world's most opulent tents.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2 per unit
Bridport, Dorset, England
Peaceful, private havens for couples and small families, set on a 600-acre family farm that's teeming with wildlife and golden sunflowers, surrounded by Dorset's most magnificent hills.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2 (+2) per unit
Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland
Luxuriate in the beauty of the great outdoors, in welcoming en-suite yurts with hot tub or cosy horseboxes secluded in the lush grounds of a Scottish country house.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: 2 (Yurts) 4 (Cabins)
Our Favourite Summer Couples’ Glamping Retreats
Whether you’re planning an engagement, a honeymoon, or a ‘just because’ romantic break with the one you love, there’s only one rule: it has to be special.
So you’ll find each of these charmingly unusual summer glamping retreats rich in sumptuous features – and added privacy – that make them ideal for cosy couples.
All you have to do is open a bottle of wine and get lost in the kind of deep, laughter-fuelled conversations you never seem to find time for at home, as you toast marshmallows on the crackling firepit together. Bliss.
Llanfyllin, Powys, Wales
Quirky, luxurious hot tub retreats, secluded on a historic farm in mid-Wales with friendly resident animals and spectacular Vyrnwy valley views from soothing gardens.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2
Phuket, Thailand
An exclusive adults-only retreat that’s home to lavish tents and a deck that floats dreamily over the lotus lake, peacefully secluded in scenic, culture-rich Phuket.
Bedrooms: 1 per tent
Sleeps: 2
The Lizard, Cornwall, England
A welcoming ‘home-from-home’ Cornish stay with a delicious farmhouse breakfast, beautiful sea views, and a comfy bed in an ex-Royal Navy helicopter!
Lewdown, Devon, England
Romantic and restorative eco-retreats, lovingly hand-crafted and nestled on a shimmering Devon farm lake, with an on-site vineyard and hammocks suspended over the water for the ultimate in digital-free luxury
Barnstaple, Devon, England
A sustainable sanctuary nestled amongst woodland and meadow on the scenic edge of Exmoor National Park, with the sweeping North Devon coast practically on the doorstep.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2 per tipi
Ballachulish, The Highlands, Scotland
Luxury Wee Lodges, complete with bubbling private hot tub, nestled at the entrance to the mighty Glencoe Valley.
Bedrooms: 1 per lodge
Sleeps: 2 per lodge
Llanafanfawr, Powys, Wales
Unplug from daily life and unleash your creativity, in a designer off-grid glamping pod, gently nestled in a remote Welsh valley.
Our Favourite Summer Group Celebration Glamping Retreats
If you’re looking for a memorable group celebration with plenty of added wow-factor, welcome to glamping!
After all, it isn’t often that you’ll sleep under the stars all together, or tell giggly stories around a communal campfire with soft fairy-lights in the background… after devouring a sizzling supper cooked in the open air!
You’ll find many of these unusual summer group glamping retreats also offer extra treats – such as catering, pampering, or fun activities – that put their stamp on your celebration and fuel excited conversations long after you’ve returned home.
Bickleigh, Devon, England
A multi-award-winning, whole-family Devon glamping retreat with panoramic Exe Valley views, luxury facilities, and a private riverside meadow for outdoor adventures.
Bedrooms: 3 per lodge
Sleeps: 6
Lewes, East Sussex, England
A historic haven for non-conformist worship, close to the Norman castle and Saxon lanes of Lewes with soothing sea views and the South Downs National Park on the doorstep.
Dereham, Norfolk , England
A peacefully secluded, entirely off-grid haven in rural Norfolk, with welcoming hosts, lovingly hand-crafted vintage horsebox retreats, and abundant wildlife.
Bedrooms: 1 per lorry
Sleeps: 4
Axminster, Devon, England
A warm welcome to natural living awaits under a refreshing Devon sky, on a luxurious and friendly family-run glampsite with off-grid, wood-fired hot tubs.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6 per lodge
Lydbury North, Shropshire, England
Get ready for incredible dog-friendly glamping at Walcot Hall, where the fantastical blends with the fabulous for an unforgettable retreat.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies (2-4 per unit)
Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, Wales
If you like the sound of unique accommodation on an eco-friendly, organic farm, plus the chance to try more activities than you can shake a stick at, you'll love the Ceridwen Centre!
Bedrooms: varies
Sleeps: 2-50
Glastonbury, Somerset, England
Magical eco-friendly E-den cabins in Glastonbury, with breathtaking views of Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset levels.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 per unit