Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOP 10 Glamp sites
From animal spotting in a safari lodge to star spotting in a geo dome, these UK glamping breaks are a bit special
1 TREEHOUSE, BRECON BEACONS
Two nights from £378 for two
Spectacular Trewalter Treehouse doesn’t lack for creature comforts. Set in four acres on the edge of ancient woodland, against the backdrop of the Pen y Fan, South Wales’ highest peak, it’s the perfect romantic hideaway complete with a hand-carved double bed with cashmere mattress and Egyptian cotton bed linen, a large walk-in shower and a kitchen with dishwasher, coffee machine and a smart TV. Watch red kites fly overhead from the wraparound deck, or in the hot tub, reached by a swinging bridge from the treehouse, perched above the river. Ingredients for a cooked breakfast are helpfully provided (included in the rental) to set you up for a day of exploring. THE DEAL: Quality Unearthed offers stays at Trewalter Treehouse (sleeps
two) from £189 per night (the minimum stay is two nights). qualityunearthed.co.uk 01348 830922
2 ECO-CABIN, NORTH WALES Three nights from £725 for four
Expect sumptuous furnishings, underfloor heating, a private terrace, outdoor hot tub and spa treatments when you rent one of Forest Holidays’ new luxury eco-cabins in Beddgelert Forest, launching this summer. There’s even a flat screen TV on which food and drinks can be ordered. Just two and a half miles from the foot of the mighty Mount Snowdon, it’s the perfect base for walking or mountain biking through beautiful conifer woodland. Learn about local birdlife such as kingfishers and oyster catchers from the resident Forest Ranger on guided walks tailored for different age groups. THE DEAL: A three-night weekend in June in Beddgelert starts at £725 for a family of four in a two-bedroom Silver Birch cabin with hot tub. forestholidays.co.uk, 03330 110495
3 GLAMPING POD, FOREST OF DEAN Seven nights from £720 for four
Whitemead Forest Park, a 10-minute drive from Lydney town, is branching out this summer with the opening of 20 brand new glamping pods, sleeping up to four. The popular family resort has plenty on site to keep everyone busy with indoor pool, gym and sauna, spa, restaurant and bar, plus free evening entertainment from stand-up comedy and tribute acts to game shows and live music. And there’s a host of kids activities including face-painting, archery, fencing, snorkelling and mini-disco. THE DEAL: Choose your level of glamping comfort starting with the
Camping Pod – with double or bunk beds; Mega Pod has a wash basin and toilet plus an outdoor picnic area and parking space: Mega Pod X comes with comfy sofa, shower and kitchen area while the pet-friendly Mega Pod XL has all that plus more space. A week from August 6 in a Camping Pod starts at £720 and from £850 in a Mega Pod. whitemead.co.uk
4 CANVAS LODGE, DORSET
Three nights from £209 for four
Little ones – and big kids too – love camping on a farm. Down at Shilvinghampton Farm, a new Canvas Lodge from Feather Down designed to accommodate up to four people will be available from July. This smaller version of their classic glamping tent will be equipped with two comfy double bunk beds, a kitchen, toilet and veranda complete with deckchairs and extended canopy. Meet the neighbours on a farm tour – cows, goats, pigs, hens and ducks. And keep a keen eye out for local wildlife including deer, hares and owls. Chesil beach, part of the Jurassic Coast, is only a 15-minute drive away.
THE DEAL: Feather Down offer a three-night weekend break in a Canvas Lodge for Four from £209.
featherdown.co.uk
5 BEEHIVE, DEVON
Three nights from £360 for two This beehive-style cabin is tucked away in the garden of a Victorian house on the outskirts of Okehampton. The king-size bed, made from wooden crates, is one of many striking features. Luxurious touches include a day-bed lounger and an outdoor bathtub. Dartmoor National Park is nearby, while the pubs, restaurants, shops and art galleries of Okehampton are just a 10-minute stroll away.
THE DEAL: Humble Bee sleeps two with prices from £120 per night for a minimum stay of three nights with Canopy & Stars. canopyandstars.co.uk
6 GLAMPING SAFARI, KENT One night from £395 for two
Game for a safari adventure right out of Africa? Head for Port Lympne
Reserve in south Kent and set up camp in one of 10 luxury tents in the Giraffe Lodge. With a four-poster or sleigh bed, heater (most with en suite facilities) you won’t be roughing it. From your private balcony, you can spot giraffes, zebra and wildebeest drinking at the watering hole right in front of the Lodge. Enjoy a glass of bubbly before a guided safari, returning to a four-course dinner cooked over an open-fire pit at Laapa restaurant. Don’t miss your chance to hand feed giraffes from the restaurant balcony. THE DEAL: Overnight stay for two adults at the Giraffe Lodge from £197.50pp including dinner, breakfast, guided tour, parking and entrance into Port Lympne Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Park. aspinallfoundation.org/ giraffelodge
7 GEO DOME, SHROPS
One night from £110 for two
Just six miles from Ludlow, this stylish Star Dome is set in 15 acres of woodland on the edge of the stunning Shropshire Hills. Designated not only an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but also a Site of Special Scientific Interest there’s plenty of flora and fauna and great star gazing opportunities. After exploring
retreat to this modern geo dome complete with woodburning stove, kitchen, TV and bathroom with open-air shower. There’s a barbeque and a hot tub.
THE DEAL: The Star Dome sleeps up to four in a king-size bed and two singles, from £110 per night for two, extra person from £5 per night. Pets are welcome, from £10 per stay.
glampingly.co.uk
8 WIGWAM, PERTHSHIRE
Seven nights from £600 for two
These quirky miniature wooden wigwams are on the 140-acre Loch Tay estate, two hours’ drive from Glasgow
and Edinburgh. Each pod has a small shower room and kitchenette, plus double bed, corner sofa and fire pit.
Some have wood-fired hot tubs, from which to soak up loch and mountain views. The Boathouse restaurant and bar overlooks a marina where you can hire a boat.
THE DEAL: Seven nights in May is from £600 for two in a ‘Wigwam’ with hot tub.
watersidebreaks.com, 01252 339020
9 SHEPHERD’S HUT, HANTS
Two nights from £190 for two
Twin Shepherd’s Huts are new at adults-only, awardwinning Two Hoots site. Both have a king-size bed, washroom and kitchen. There’s also a log-burning stove. Two Hoots lies just outside the South Downs National Park.
THE DEAL: Each Shepherd Hut for two is from £95-£100 per night (minimum stay two nights). twohootscampsite.co.uk
10 GAME LARDER, YORKS One night from £50 for two
Escape to this working sheep and cattle farm on the moors and chill out in a cool little cedarwood lodge. From its hilltop setting you can wake to panoramic views over the Esk valley. There’s a decked terrace, a comfy double bed in the mezzanine loft, a woodburning stove, TV and cooking facilities, with outside shower and toilet.
THE DEAL: The Game Larder sleeps two with one night selfcatering from £50 through
Pitchup.com