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Enjoy luxury on your camping holiday this summer

25th August 2020

Categories: Visitor News

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be keen to get out into the beautiful Devon landscape as soon as possible, especially if you’ve been cooped up under lockdown for the past few months. While the idea of sleeping under canvas and enjoying the wide open spaces of Dartmoor, Exmoor or some coastal hideaway somewhere might sound great in the planning stages, when you get there and the weather turns against you or you remember that you need a plug to charge your phone, it stops sounding like the great adventure you were hoping for. If you’re someone who likes their home comforts but are still tempted by the idea of going camping or you suffer from hayfever and want to enjoy the great outdoors but want somewhere to escape when the pollen is at its highest, you might want to give glamping a go.

Glamping is the name given to glamourous camping – basically, you have all the charm of a traditional camping holiday with all the luxuries of a hotel or B&B. Devon is home to a whole host of interesting glamping sites with a range of accommodation options including tents, but you know, ones with actual double beds in, to yurts, tippees, lodges, tree houses and just about everything else you could possibly think of!

If you like the sound of spending your summer holidays somewhere picturesque in some memorable accommodation, read on to find out more about the glamping opportunities you can find across Devon.

If you’re someone who wants the chance to try your hand at some watersports while also having access to unspoiled countryside and you want to be near the region’s culinary hot spot, you might want to book a stay at Longlands. This site has five beautifully furnished Safari lodges that can sleep up to six, have their own ensuite shower and a separate washroom! Longlands can be found in a private valley overlooking the gorgeous North Devon coast in Ilfracombe – not only giving you a chance to explore Devon’s foodie centre and enjoy all the attractions and activities that North Devon has to offer, but also puts you in close proximity to the coast, which offers the perfect conditions for a number of watersports, including surfing.

Image: Longlands

While the beautiful setting and the nearby coast and countryside, as well as the town of Ilfracombe being close, all give you the chance to be at one with nature, by staying here you also have access to a number of the region’s most popular attractions including Watermouth Family Theme Park and Castle and Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. With the ongoing uncertainty with the pandemic, there may be a number of changes at these attractions, so you may need to check with them directly for the latest updates, including what availability they have.

On the border between Mid and North Devon is Beara Lodge Here you’ll find two safari tents spaciously set within a 6 acre paddock and surrounded by woodland allowing you privacy and amazing views all alt the same time. This dog friendly site is equal distance between the Dartmoor National Park and the beautiful North Devon coast really giving you the best of both worlds when it comes to choosing between coast or country.

Image: Beara Lodge

Each of the Safari tents at Beara Lodge have plenty of space inside, as well as coming equipped with comfortable beds, your own full bathroom, dining area, kitchen with your own fridge and hob and a lounge area. It’s like camping but while being a home from home! Being close to both Dartmoor and the North Devon coast means that you are easily able to travel around the county and enjoy a host of fascinating activities all over the region. Perfect for keeping the whole family happy!

Further south in Tavistock, you’ll find Devon Yurt which can be found in 18 acres of private grasslands right on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. As the name suggestions, this site has a number of yurts for you to stay in, each one contains full sized beds with 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, carpets and rugs, plus your own private garden area for you to enjoy. The yurts have their own toilets and you can enjoy running water with a real shower and wet room style bathrooms on site too! You can even take a bath in a tent while enjoying the perfect view of the moor!

Image: Devon Yurt.

Booking a stay at Devon Yurt gives you the chance to cater for yourself using your personal fire pit or take advantage of the fresh, farm produce and have the team deliver their own hand made breakfast and BBQ packs which are delivered straight to your yurt! Each pack contains produce grown and prepared on the farm itself, giving you a real taste of Mid-Devon with every meal! Alternatively, you can travel into Tavistock or around the greater Devon area and sample food and drink from eateries across the county. One of the great things about staying in this part of Devon is that you are well placed to enjoy the whole county – if you want to see as much as possible, make sure to use the itinerary and planner sections of the website so you don’t miss anything!

This site is ideal for those of you who really want to get back to nature, especially as Roadford Lake, Tree Surfers, Tamar Trails and Canoe Tamar are all under six miles away and all have excellent outdoor adventure activities on offer. Of course, as with all attractions in Devon, we recommend you booking your day out in advance and checking with the individual business for updates regarding availability and capacity.

Another mid-Devon based glamping site is Orchard Retreat This site is in Crediton and regular wins awards for their family friendly atmosphere and the quality of their accommodation. The yurts onsite are locally handcrafted and located in a four acre apple orchard all within a short walk of their own private bathroom and kitchen facilities.

Image: Orchard Retreat

This is the idea site for those of you who want to truly relax and not move for your stay. The onsite shop has everything you could need for your trip and you can even hire the site’s hand built pizza oven! You’ll also find an onsite badminton court, table tennis and other outdoor games as well as plenty of the children to play with.

If you do fancy exploring the wider area, being in mid-Devon gives you equal opportunity to explore all corners of Devon and there are a diverse range of attractions and activities close by. If you can’t get enough of the region’s greenery, Fursdon Gardens is less than three miles away, or you can spend some time at Tiverton Castle or exploring one of the many National Trust managed gardens and properties in the area. As many attractions are still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, they may be operating on a reduced capacity or require guest’s to book in advance. Make sure to check with the individual businesses before heading out.

Many of you, no doubt, will be wanting to get to the English Riviera, one of the region’s most popular holiday resorts. With its warm climate, picturesque sights and Blue Flag beaches, we don’t blame you, so of course, we’ve found you a glamping site in the heart of the English Riviera. Whitehill Country Park is in Paignton, close to a whole host of family friendly attractions and giving you plenty of chances to enjoy the beaches at Paignton, Torquay, Teignmouth and Brixham as well as the chance to head further into South Devon.

Image: Whitehill Country Park

Whitehill Country Park has a host of accommodation options to suit all budgets including their glamping pods which look a little like Hobbit Holes. The pods are eco friendly and are all equipped with lighting, power sockets, heating and your own decking which you can use in the warmer weather. These pods sleep up to four, giving them a cosier, more intimate feel to them and making them perfect for a romantic get away.

If you’re wondering what there is to do nearby, you have plenty to keep you entertained including Paignton Zoo, the historic Dartmouth Steam Railway, The National Trust’s Greenway site and plenty more. You’re also close to attractions such as Torquay’s Dinosaur World and the many things to see and do on the Dartington estate.

Don’t forget, Devon has two incredible coastlines, so why not spend some time at the Jurassic Coast towards the east of Devon? Jurassic Glamping is a great base for those of you who want to explore this picturesque area of Devon with exceptional views across the Axe Valley. This site has a number of Safari tents, all of which are fully equipped with everything you could need for a comfortable holiday. It’s child and dog friendly and each tent includes a fully functioning bathroom, warm comfy beds, fridges, heaters, sofas and their own kitchens. Plus, you have indoor and outdoor dining tables, plenty of wall sockets and everything from washing up liquid to towels provided for you!

Image: Jurassic Glamping

Jurassic Glamping is ideal for those of you who are interested in an eco-friendly break. The team are looking to turn the site into woodland in collaboration with the Woodland Trust creating a habitat for badgers, deer, foxes, rabbits and bird species, allowing you to have a clear conscious while you have a break in Devon! The site is close to the fishing village of Beer, has easy access to the South West Coast Path and the beaches of the Jurassic Coast.

Nearby attractions include the Lyme Regis Museum in neighbouring Dorset, Seaton Tramway and the Beer Quarry Caves giving you plenty of diverse things to do during your stay.

Feeling inspired and want to see what other glamping opportunities there are in Devon? Find a whole host of alternative accommodation providers including glamping sites here. Alternatively, you can look at a range of accommodation options here.