Are the Glamping Sites Fully Booked? Don’t Despair!
Camping and glamping breaks are perfectly suited to pandemic holidaying – with uncertainty around overseas travel, and the possibility that your destination will be re-classified while you’re away, meaning you have might also have to factor in a quarantine period, domestic holidays are the safest option. Last year glampsites, although they could only open from July, were packed out with holidaymakers desperate for a short break, and this year will be no exception.
Over the 2020 summer period there were over 200 pop-up glampsites to choose from, expanding the capacity to cope with the extra demand. This year, a relaxation of the rules, allowing landowners to run a pop-up for 56 days (rather than the standard 28) without planning permission, means that temporary sites can be open all through the summer holidays. There are over 500 pop-up sites planned for 2021, and this extra capacity is great news for those who missed out on the chance to book at their favourite site. When there is more news about how foreign travel restrictions could affect holiday plans, we may see even more pop-up sites being created to take advantage of the astronomical demand for glamping holidays.
At the time of writing, camping and glamping sites in Cornwall were already at 85% of capacity, while Devon was at 70%, leaving very few spaces left for the crowds of people that will want a summer break. Farmers, racecourse owners and landowners will be looking at ways they can turn unused land into a glamping pop-up site, so do keep an eye on the developments in your local area and further afield so you don’t miss out on these new offerings. Remember that the fields farmers will use might look like they’re in use now, but could be used for growing hay or winter feed for livestock. By the time June comes around these crops will have been harvested and that land turned over to glamping.
Most pop-up sites will be advertised on existing glamping and camping booking sites but it pays to be aware on social media too, as this is often the first place you’ll see news of temporary glampsites. If you’re desperate for a glamping break, but you can only find sites with bare pitches for your own tents, then you can still make it a glamping holiday by hiring or buying a bell tent or motorhome and using that for your accommodation. Tent hire is reasonably cheap, and by bringing your own bedding and a good quality airbed you can make it as luxurious as you like. Solar and battery powered lights help create the right atmosphere, and you can bring bunting, rugs and blankets to add those special touches.
If you’ve missed the boat on your favourite site take it as the opportunity to try somewhere new. What starts out as a pop-up this year could become a permanent fixture, when farmers and landowners see how much extra income they can make from allowing camping and glamping. This year, with the relaxation around planning permission for pop-ups, many of these sites will be a trial run for a more permanent offering. Advice in The Farmers Guardian encourages farmers to go straight for glamping options, as these can then be used year-round if they have heating and command a higher price than a simple tent pitch. By using these pop-up sites and proving that glamping is an excellent way to diversity a farm business we could see a lot more choice in the years to come, and more glamping sites can only be a good thing in our opinion!
