#Glamping it up at the UK’s coolest campsites
Tenting has never been so popular – it seems we all want to sleep under canvas and get back to the good old days of traditional British family holidays. But it’s not the modern tents people are most keen on – the rise of vintage #belltents is taking the market by storm – and more and more campsites are offering pre-pitched tents as a matter of course.
Indeed, there’s nothing quite so cosy as snuggling down under your duvet, comforted by a little wood burner in a glorious canvas bell tent deep in the glorious English countryside. Sales of bell tents and #camping paraphernalia are through the roof – they’re great for kids to play in in the #garden when you’re not going away on a little sojourn - but if you really can’t be bothered with pitching your own, then there’s a variety of cool glampsites in the UK that have done the hard work for you. We’ve rounded up our top five coolest campsites in the UK.
Set among the downs and ancient woodland, this is a place that’ll feed your imagination. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means there’s plenty of walking to be done. This isn’t a huge site – you can only stay in one of the two fully furnished bell tents or a shepherds hut.
The bell tents are vintage to the core – draped in fairy lights and bunting and with a lovely #logburner, which is perfect for the cooler evenings, you’ll be so chilled out, you’ll not want to leave.
This farm is nestled on the Norfolk – Suffolk border and has three bell tents – each with their own private space. One is on the edge of some woodland, while the other is a little further into the wood, while the third is in a meadow. Norfolk is blessed with big skies, so on a clear night, expect to see #constellations that will take your breath away.
There is a fourth tent that is very secluded and means a short tractor and trailer ride to get there. You’ll not be disturbed and it’s nature-lovers paradise. All the tents are equipped with everything you need including linen, a wood burner and rechargeable lights.
This may be a pocket-sized #glampsite, but it’s a gem of a place. There are just two pitches – one’s a bell tent and the other’s a gypsy caravan. Nestled between the coast and moor, each pitch has a field to itself – it’s completely off grid, but there are fire pits and compost loos and showers.
It’s perfect for those who want to experience real wild camping with a #vintage twist – oh, and the nature is simply stunning too.
This campsite is set in the tiny village of Cwmdu in #Carmarthenshire. At the heart of it is a tiny village store that’s been there since 1820 in a variety of guises. It’s now owned by the National Trust and is run as a community pub called the Cwmdu Inn.
The campsite has just four pre-pitched bell tents, so you can’t just rock up. It’s tiny, but perfectly formed and is on the edge of the dark sky reserve, meaning you can star gaze all night if you want to. Tents are available fully furnished and equipped.
Situated in breath taking Snowdonia, Backtrack #Camping is a very laid-back site on a family smallholding. The vintage-style bell tents are called Hendre and Hafod and can sleep four in each. They enjoy sheltered pitches in a corner of the farmland, with magnificent views of the hills and woodland beyond.
This is #luxury camping at its best – the facilities are super-clean and you get a cast-iron fire-bowl where you can cook and snuggle round afterwards.
We reckon that once you’ve had a vintage bell tent experience, you’ll want one of your own. One of the best websites we’ve found that’s a one-stop-shop for bell tents and all your other camping equipment is #TheVintageTentCompany. #Belltents are an investment, but one that’s worth making – look after your tent and it will be enjoyed by generations and it’s a great way to explore our fabulous countryside.