Want to be outside but don’t want to go through the rigmarole of pretending to love camping? Are you nodding your head to any of this? We certainly are. From safari tents to shepherds huts with (wood fired) hot tubs, put the screens down (after you’ve read our feature…) and get out and glamp.
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1. Float above the Welsh forest
Gwdy Hw is Welsh for owl and like its namesake this eco-friendly treehouse perches, almost unnoticeable, over an ancient oak forest in Machynlleth.
Rope bridges and hammocks sway between the trees, while repurposed Lyles Golden Syrup tins hang from the beams inside with candle light shining out through pierced holes, illuminating the cosy, chic interiors.
Completely off-grid, there is no Wi-Fi or electricity, with the treehouse kept warm by a wood burning stove and good old-fashioned insulation. A Swedish compost toilet and spring water shower have also been built next door. Sleeping-wise, there is room for two adults on a hand built wooden double bed, and two children in built-in bunk beds.
2. Pitch up for safari in a 75-acre organic farm
Perched at the top of a gently sloping meadow, surrounded by a 75-acre organic farm where deer graze and buzzards glide overhead, is the four person Deerland Safari.
A style of tent more often seen on the planes of the Africa, there is a huge veranda, deer-themed interiors and a compost toilet well lit with solar bulbs. The rest of the Safari remains off-grid, with only candles and torches provided.
Wi-fi is a no-no, with a BBQ, picnic table and stunning views of an official Area of Natural Beauty provided for alternative distraction.
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3. Take a step back in time… and into a hot tub
Built in 1835, this former hunting lodge in Herefordshire had all but been reclaimed by the forest until just a few months ago.
But careful and considerate restoration has created something truly unique out of Mrs Higgs Lodge, named after the last owner over 60 years ago.
A choice has clearly been made to leave the lodge as off-grid and eco-friendly as possible. Electricity is from solar panels, water is pumped up from the original spring well, heating throughout is from wood burning stoves only and the outdoor hot tub (a welcome 21st century touch) is wood fuelled as well.
4. A romantic shepherd’s hut in 45 acres of countryside
Blending into its woodland background and surrounded by a 45 acre private farm, Angels Hut is a stylish and romantic shepherd’s hut with room for only two.
The property was designed and built by its owner, who also had the good grace to install a custom-made, wood-fired hot tub on the decking outside along with a large fire pit. Wi-fi was intentionally never installed, leaving you secluded among the Dorset countryside. A compost loo sits outside, while the fridge comes stocked with produce from the local farm.
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5. A canvas Tardis in Cardigan Bay
Fairly unassuming from the outside, the Rowan Yurt truly comes alive once you step through its doors.
The ingenuity of the structure is immediately evident. Local Welsh wood is latticed around the walls, with winding, steam-bent branches reaching out to the top of the canvas. The trees used were felled thoughtfully, with the immediate ecosystem being preserved and maintained.
All of this arches over a double bed, handmade from local oak, and beautifully crafted wooden furniture. Never does this look better than under the glow of the solar power lamps and candles inside.
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6. Pick ’n’ mix glamping for friends
Glamping is a broad term and can encompass anything from yurts to shepherd’s huts – sometimes it can even be found in a grain silo and it’s pretty much all pitched up at Tey Brook Orchard.
This pick ’n’ mix glamping spectacular in Colchester has space for up to forty people, spread out across all manner of eco-friendly glamping options.
There are six yurts, two bell tents, one shepherd’s hut, one grain silo and a lot of extra camping beds if they’re needed. Each one has its own seating area and fire pit and there’s a communal seating area and a games room. The site is completely off grid, with all structures spectacularly lit with candles and LED lighting.
7. Meander around the Mendip Hills
The Brake Carriage is tucked away behind a hedgerow in the Mendip Hills. Pint sized and perfect for two, it offers stunning views toward Pennard Hill and Glastonbury Tor.
This converted railway carriage houses a comfortable double bed at one end with a small dining area at the other. In between, there is a cosy sitting room with a working wood burning stove if those summer nights start to dip.
A shower room with modern compost toilet has been added to minimise the environmental impact and lighting is supplied via a solar panel. Alfresco eating is the only option here, with an outdoor kitchen and dining space outside the carriage.
8. Romance in Northants with your own private beach
Deep in Northamptonshire, hidden at the back of a farmer’s garden is the secluded and romantic Seren Wagon. The small but perfectly formed glamping home is tucked away behind the trees and set alongside a small body of water with its own tiny beach, making it a natural draw for wildlife.
Designed with couples in mind, this royal-blue wagon is home to a king-size double bed and a wood burning hot tub. Solar powered fairy lights and candles illuminate the interior while a large wood burner, surrounded by chairs and tables, lights up the outside.
9. A solar-powered, safari surrounded by orchards
2,000 acres of family owned estate surround the luxurious Maddle Brook Safari.
Roaming fields and apple orchards fill the estate, offering a truly secluded glamping experience. The camp is in the bow of a brook and accessible only via a small bridge and with no internet access guests can feel truly off the grid.
Any electricity is solar only, with extra light added by paraffin lamps and candles, while a log-burning stove provides the heat. A walk through the orchard leads to a picnic and campfire spot on banks of the River Wye, with easy access for canoes.
10. A digital detox in the Brecon Beacons
24/7 news cycles, Facebook feeds and Twitter threads can be exhausting. These four shepherd huts at Offa’s Brook provide a perfect way for families or groups of friends to just log off for a few days.
The Brecon Beacons block out phone signal and Wi-Fi is non-existent, leaving you alone to enjoy a few wonderful days off-grid. Three double sleeping huts and an amenities hut curve around a cosy communal area and fire pit, while a private hot tub sits next to a babbling brook. There is also a large shower heated by a wood burning stove and a composting WC.
