Glamping staycations – this is the best of the best

Words by Deana Morgan

Confession time. I have never in my entire 57 years slept under canvas so when the opportunity presented itself to visit a former hayfield in Somerset to sample a little off grid, popup glamping site, me and my husband Graham jumped at the chance.

Now I wish I hadn’t waited so long to experience the delights of sleeping almost at one with nature as we had the best night’s sleep, and the experience was altogether delightful.

PopUpCampsites is joint owned by Jonny (also owner of Luxmode) and Jay (owner Romantic Tent Company Pop Up Somerset) and are a partnership who normally, well “pop up” wherever there is a festival where some of the attendees may wish to avail themselves of a little luxury.  The extensive range of accommodation can for example be found in the VIP area at Glastonbury, however, this year it is in permanent situ on a former hayfield in South Cheriton Somerset. Close to the Newt and with a whole host of other Somerset attractions close by, there is plenty to seek out and do but Jonny and Jay, the owners, recommend going off grid. Why not find and make your own fun alongside Mother Nature, truly reconnect with the kids, family and friends?  Cosy up by the firepit and enjoy the blissful seclusion.

There’s a variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets. We stayed in the “Safari” which is a small marquee complete with a Queen-sized bed, lounge area, covered porch with outside seating and a fire pit, electricity (discreetly placed solar panels power the entire site) and fully functioning en suite bathroom!  There’s hot and cold running water, (the hot shower was superb!) and a Propelair toilet (uses 1.5 litres per flush as opposed to the usual 9 litres). So much thought has gone into producing this site which uses engineering and creativity in equal measure and takes three weeks of hard graft to assemble.  After the season it will disappear without a trace as conservation alongside sustainability is at the heart of what the owners have set out to achieve.

The mix of available accommodation is varied. From tent only to fully furnished, with or without en suite, communal bathroom facilities, a tent for two or family sized. Check out the web to discover the right fit for you.

The site is accessed via a prepared track alongside cornfields and farmland. A steady five-minute drive from the lane to our pitch. On the website it recommends “leaving the Lamborghini at home” however Graham’s Morgan Sports Car made it unscathed. We were obviously travelling light but the families around us had packed the SUV with food and drinks galore. There’s the option to have fresh, locally sourced food brought in and the offering included chicken or pork kebabs (uncooked and ready to go on the fire pit), chilli jam, salads and puddings in a jar. The only cooking facility provided is the firepit with firewood and charcoal to order in advance and delivered to your tent. You can bring your own camping stove to boil water and provide additional cooking facilities. Cutlery, crockery, glassware were all provided.

We also took a short walk to the local pub for food and football. We safely followed the track back to our tent at the end of the night to be welcomed by a glowing solar light in the entrance. The sight was quite enchanting.

So this good night’s sleep then. Our Queen-sized bed had crisp white linen, a supersize duvet, terrific pillows and a stunning throw. We fell asleep all snuggled up and awoke to birdsong. It was surprisingly blissful and on awakening I said, “why did I resist this for so long?”

Some of the tents are decorated with the most stunning block print screens, vibrant textiles and rugs. Whilst all the accommodation has been made locally in Somerset, these textiles come from India and lend a romantically, nomadic feel to this temporary accommodation.  They are the perfect complement to the clean, white lines and linens of the tent.

Following coffee and pastries on our front porch whilst watching the kids on site playing footy with their grownups (so lovely to see), site owner Jonny very kindly agreed to give us a tour of The Tented Hideaway. A short walk away from the main site this concept can best be described as an exclusive tented retreat.

Two large marquees offer a total of seven beautifully crafted double bedrooms. Both marquees have lounge and dining areas, fully furnished and tastefully decorated, they are truly sumptuous. Graham hit the nail on the head when he expressed a view that this must have been what a Royal progression would have been like in a bygone era. Jaw drop stunning with so much attention to detail. This area was being fully prepared for a private party later in the day. With a chef and full catering team this must surely have been a memorable birthday celebration. Then to tumble into those big double beds and to wake up the following day to the smell of hot coffee. The rest as they say is history.

Yes, we were very happy glampers as this is an easy camping experience with reconnecting humans (big and small), with each other and nature at the very core of Jonny and Jay’s vision. 

As non-campers we do not own all the accoutrements that go with “regular” camping, however, this wonderful experience gave us everything we normally require from a trip and more. A luxurious, readymade, home from home in the great outdoors. The best of all worlds and in the year of staycation planning you will be hard pressed to find anything to match this!

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