Go wild in style: 20 great British glamping sites

First there was camping. Then there was glamping, a zero-hassle way to enjoy the outdoors, with yurts, cabins and safari tents equipped and ready for your arrival. Now the outdoor holiday has been taken to the next level with the advent of “super-luxe” glamping, offering opportunities to enjoy the unbeatable rosy-cheeked, treeclimbing thrill of the outdoors with indulgent extras that give boutique hotels a run for their money.

En suite facilities with designer toiletries, high-quality catering options, massages and other treatments are fast becoming commonplace. But where glamping really has the upper hand over its bricks and mortar competitors isn’t in big beds and breakfast hampers, but in the intrinsic connection to the great outdoors. With glamping, you are essentially getting a room with no walls – now that is pure luxury.

Crafty Camping, Dorset

When expert woodsman Guy Mallinson handcrafted this glamping Shangri-La more than a decade ago, his bespoke huts and yurts seemed utterly innovative. They pale in comparison with his latest addition. With a private spa deck that includes a sauna and hot tub 30ft above the ground, and a vast copper bathtub with views out into the west Dorset woodland, this strikingly modern treehouse is as fascinating as it is luxurious. Exposed wooden walls accentuate its connection with the surrounding trees, while the combination of styles – stacked logs, wood panels, natural bark-covered timbers – distinguishes the various rooms. At its heart, a rotatable wood-burner warms the circular living space, while a glass floor, outdoor rain-shower and the use of a slide to return to terra firma add a joyful sense of fun. Join Guy and his team for optional woodcraft courses (from two hours to five days) or venture eight miles south to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

Treehouse from £390 per night (other glamping options from £88 per night): Yonder Hill, Holditch (01460 221102, mallinson.co.uk)

Brooks Vintage Horsebox Glamping, Herefordshire

Set in the walled courtyard of a Georgian manor, this trio of stylishly converted Seventies Bedford horseboxes mimics the luxurious interiors of the main house itself – a 22-bedroom hotel complete with restaurant, heated swimming pool and grand communal living spaces. Each fully en suite horsebox is a different size – the smallest with a double bed above the cab, the largest with a king-size bed and fold out bunks – while little touches like equestrian-themed paintings and original wood panel walls ensure the character isn’t lost. It’s a slight shame

Stay cosy in Powys in one of the Secret Yurts, above