Cool ways to camp
Like the idea of crashing on a campsite but don’t fancy pitching a tent? Then go for one of these fancier options instead…
YURT
Originating in Asia, the yurt came to Britain in the early 2000s and has become one of the most chic ways to go semi-wild in nature. Essentially a circular wooden frame with a fabric overlay, a yurt is basically a reinforced tent with a wood-burning stove and a chimney. You’ll usually arrive to find your logs pre-chopped and cutlery and crockery provided, often with solar-powered lighting. For sleeping arrangements, luxury double beds are commonplace, and most larger yurts come with beds for children. One of our favourite locations is Full Circle Yurts, a group of six yurts on a hillside above the village of Rydal in the Lake District. lake-district-yurts.co.uk
TREEHOUSE
Spending the night in a treehouse brings out the kid in everyone. Treehouse accommodation is now big business – and very swish. From Devon to northern Scotland, campsites and stately homes are building timber mansions that are fully plumbed in, with soft, cosy beds to collapse into. Some use rope bridges as corridors; some have hot tubs on the verandah; and some look like a hobbit’s house. Perhaps the best thing of all is the scent: the aroma of wooden walls on a summer’s night, with dim lights and a flickering log fire. A great place to start looking is the Canopy and Stars website. canopyandstars.co.uk
SHEPHERD’S HUT
Shepherd’s huts are luxurious (but small) affairs frequently added to farmhouse B&Bs for visitors with a more romantic inclination. Think artist’s studio or small summerhouse, usually surrounded by orchards, and you get the idea. Usually they’re made of corrugated tin, mounted on raised platforms or wheels, with a wood-panelled interior. It’s hard to imagine a genuine shepherd living in such a posh pod, so effectively it’s another cute variant on glamping rather than an authentic hill-farming experience. But if luxury on a small scale is your thing, the shepherd’s hut obliges in spades, and there’s a great collection around the Brecon Beacons. sugarandloaf.com/shepherd-huts-wales
LOG CABIN
While a rustic cabin in the woods has been a staple of the American outdoor scene for decades, we’re only just catching up. The degree of luxury varies enormously, from stark and spartan to seriously luxurious, sporting all mod cons and eye-watering prices. As its name suggests, Forest Holidays (forestholidays.co.uk) has many well-appointed cabins and lodges in woodland locations nationwide. For something more rustic, Braemar Lodge Hotel (braemarlodge.co.uk) offers self-catering cabins in its grounds with direct access to the Cairngorms.
CAMPING PODS
For a quick trip away, when the prospect of putting up a tent after a long drive is a big turn-off, the idea of diving into a pod appeals. At their most basic you get an empty room with a couple of plug sockets, and at their best you’re blessed with bunkbeds and furniture. There are lots of locations across the UK, ranging from private campsites to big organisations like the Camping & Caravanning Club (candcc.co.uk).