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Glamping in the UK

A life buoy roped against a wooden panel.

Luxury Lifeboat Glamping

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With the diversity of glamping accommodation on the market now you’d be hard pressed to find a structure or vehicle that hasn’t yet been adapted for overnight stays.  Now a farmer from Stirlingshire, who has already adapted a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter for glamping, is about to take on an ex-RNLI lifeboat as the next addition to the glamping offering on his farm.

The Sea King conversion made the news in 2016 as it was such an unusual project, making farmer Martyn Steedman the best person to approach about giving the Tyne Class lifeboat a new lease of life.  She was destined for the scrap heap after 24 years of active service, and a further 11 as a donor boat for restoring and repairing other vessels of the same type.  The boat, first launched in 1988, used to be called 47-017 Owen and Anne Aisher but was renamed Prince George after retirement. 

As one of the last remaining Tyne Class lifeboats in existence, it was important to retired RNLI coxswain and mechanic David Buchan that she was preserved in some way for posterity.  Given the internal size of 14 by 5 metres she’s ideally suited to being converted to glamping accommodation.  The Prince George is the last of 40 such vessels that were in service from the 1980s, so the conversion will definitely be unique.

The boat was craned into place on Steedman’s Thornhill farm recently, and work will begin shortly to turn her from a shell of a vessel into a beautiful, luxurious glamping pod.  It would certainly be a holiday to remember, sipping a glass of something cold on the sundeck of the lifeboat in the summer and no need for the lifebelts!  It’s a big change to go from saving lives to being an unusual holiday destination but if anyone can make this conversion work, it’s Steedman.

The Prince George completes a unique trio of life-saving vessels from the sea being repurposed into quirky accommodation.  The Lifeboat is an AirBnB glamping offering in Penzance created from an escape pod from an oil rig, while another converted oil industry escape pod based in Lancashire completes the set.  The Tyne Class lifeboat is unique in that it is a propelled vessel for attending emergencies in, rather than a sealed pod for escaping them.

The smaller of the escape pods is based in Lancashire and was originally a circular structure that looked similar to the classic UFO shape.  It has been restyled, with several areas added on to provide an outdoor kitchen, toilet and shower room and a second bedroom.  It is finished with nautical inspired touches and sits on the edge of lake you definitely won’t feel the need to escape from.

The Lifeboat is a larger vessel designed for escaping an oil rig in an emergency and has also been used as the basis for the glamping structure, with kitchen and bathroom facilities housed in an extension.  The sleeping areas are in either end of the pod, which retains some of the original controls and all the windows so you really get a sense of what it might have been like having to sit in there in a survival situation and await rescue.

As we approach the 200 year anniversary of the RNLI in 2024 we just hope Martyn Steedman manages to get the Prince George holiday-ready in time to celebrate the momentous occasion and perhaps raise some funds and awareness of the courageous work that RNLI volunteers carry out. 

The sun setting behind wooden wigwams on a glamping site.

Another Boom Year For Glamping

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The glamping industry has seen two exceptionally busy years as UK holidaymakers opted for domestic holidays rather than run the risk of falling foul of ever-changing Covid travel restrictions.  The outdoor nature of glamping makes it much more Covid safe than a holiday cottage or hotel getaway, especially for family groups who needed to maintain some sort of bubble while achieving proximity to their relatives.

As the weather hots up and thoughts turn to holidays for 2022 glamping is once again at the top of the list as the ideal vacation.  As the cost of living rises, a holiday abroad is getting further out of reach of many people.  This is especially true if you need to renew your passports – a family of four would be looking at over £300 just to get their documents in order.  Add the airport queue chaos, and the hidden extras that come with many budget flights and it doesn’t take long before a holiday abroad is just too expensive.

Glamping in the UK will be a much more attainable and attractive option for people who would normally have the budget for a foreign holiday.  With lower travel costs and no need to rent a car in a different country, glamping offers the chance to have a relaxing getaway and take in many of the beautiful sights that the UK has to offer.

You don’t even have to venture far for a glamping holiday in the UK.  Holidaying in your local area means you’ll be able to visit all the things you drive past the signs for, but never actually go to – remember, people from other parts of the UK come to your area specifically for these things so they’re obviously worth the trip!  With petrol prices rising and unstable, even the cost of driving half the length of the country could be the price of an extra night away somewhere more local.

Anyone looking to test the waters with a glamping business would do well to have a go this year.  If you’re planning a temporary, pop-up glampsite for 28 days or less you don’t need planning permission, so take advantage of another year of increased demand and see if it’s a viable option for a longer term business.  If prices stabilise, and wages rise in line with inflation, 2023 will be another bumper year for glamping as an option for the people who can’t afford any sort of holiday this year.

Anyone desperate for a glamping holiday on a shoestring budget can try a DIY style glamping holiday where you take the luxury touches from home to a more traditional campsite.  Even making a luxurious glamping environment in the back garden can provide a little respite from the daily grind.  Spend the days out and about in the local countryside and the nights snuggled up in a cosy tent strewn with pillows and blankets and you’ve got yourself a glamping minibreak for peanuts!

Glampsites are going to be booked up quickly again this year, although with the cost of living crisis in full swing, there won’t be as much of a rush as last year, allowing you time to balance the books and see what your options are over the next couple of weeks.  As more pop-up glampsites open their doors this year, there will be more destinations and price points to choose from, a win-win for every glamping enthusiast.

A giant beehive building for glamping.

Quirky Glamping Options for the Adventurous

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There’s such a wide range of glamping options to choose from that it can be hard to know what to go for.  People who are new to glamping might want to choose a traditional bell tent or yurt with luxury touches to experience glamping in its purest essence, or they may choose one of the more permanent structures, such as tree houses, cabins and wagons.  The same applies to seasoned glampers; tired of the same options over and over again it’s tempting to try something completely different.  We’ve scoured the web for some truly unique glamping accommodation that will ensure you have a holiday to remember.

The Humble Bee near Okehampton, Devon, is a very quirky beehive shaped cabin with three floors and a bath carved out of the natural stone that sits behind the structure.  There is also a hot tub shared with the other two equally eccentric accommodations on the site but the private outdoor bath is an experience you’ll never forget.  Tucked away in a private corner beside the beehive it’s perfect for sitting in with a glass of something cold and fizzy, even if it’s raining.  Inside, the three floors provide a kitchen and shower room on the bottom floor, a space for relaxing by the log burner and a flushing toilet on the middle floor and a cosy king size bed enclosed in wooden walls on the top floor. 

Dragon Cruck near Powys, Wales, is a unique hand built wooden structure with all the wood coming from the forest in which it sits.  The main building, named after the style of roof joint used, has a large bed and log burner with feature windows to let in lots of light.  An open-air (covered) kitchen with a pizza oven and a gorgeous hand-carved wooden sink provides cooking facilities, while a compost loo is sited nearby with a shower facility also close to hand.  There is a deck outside to sit and enjoy the views, plus a portable fire pit you can enjoy under the shelter of the kitchen if it is raining, and outside on the deck when it’s dry.  Hiking trails for all abilities are just a stone’s throw away, as is the village of Meifod with a shop and pub.

On the same site is The Sleepout, a cosier alternative with a raised bed that is accessed by a unique hand-carved ladder made from a tree trunk.  The Sleepout also has a log burner and outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and a fire pit, so if you’re too late to book Dragon Cruck why not try The Sleepout for the same beautiful surroundings?  Inside, patterned brickwork creates a feature wall to enjoy in conjunction with the stunning views through the bespoke windows.

Lilla Stugan (Swedish for “little cottage”) is a gorgeous Scandinavian inspired roundhouse in Warwickshire.  The red and blue walls instantly conjure up the feeling of being in the fjords while the orchard setting provides colour and interest in every season.  There is a shower and loo in a separate structure, complete with ABBA records as decoration and cooking facilities inside the cottage, in the nearby al fresco kitchen and in the woodland fire pit where you can sit around playing the guitar, listening to the bubbling of the stream or watching your stew cook over the open fire.  If you want to indulge in some serious relaxation a wood-fired hot tub offers privacy and luxury in the stunning surroundings.  Fans of The Moomins will enjoy perusing the themed library.

Have you found a hidden glamping gem on your travels?  We’d love to hear from you about your experiences and recommendations.

bell-tent

Deciding Where to Go Glamping in 2022

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Glamping options for 2021 were a little thin on the ground – the restrictions we have faced since last year meant that domestic holidays were the best way to get a break without facing a lengthy and costly quarantine period, not to mention dealing with restrictions in other parts of the world on top of all the travelling.  Many sites were booked up by early spring this year but there is time, however, to plan a holiday for next year.

We hope that global restrictions will look a little different in 2022 and that holidays abroad will be safe and back on the cards, but if you’re hankering to go glamping, the world or at least the UK, is your oyster.  With the chance to take your pick of the glampsites in the UK, how do you decide where to go?  You may have a favoured spot you return to year on year, but even if you have a place in mind there are so many more glampsites now than ever before which are worth checking out.

Before you start looking at sites, it’s best to have an idea of what you are looking for and which factors are most important for you.  Without this guide you could find yourself spending many an hour shortlisting places, only to find that when it comes to making a decision many of the options you have shortlisted aren’t suitable, either because of price, location, facilities or attractions nearby.

There will be more than one criterion against which you will rank the options, but it’s up to you which are the most important, and which are more trivial.  A good starting point for your decision making criteria is:

  • Price
  • Distance to travel
  • Location of the site (near local amenities or attractions, or more remote?)
  • Number of beds
  • En-suite/private washing facilities
  • Private cooking facilities
  • Pets allowed
  • Linens and towels provided

You will probably have more of your own to add, but these provide a good way of filtering out options that don’t give you what you’re looking for.  Make a spreadsheet (you don’t need an office software package as Google Docs has a spreadsheet function) with your criteria across the top row and space for your options down the side.  You can then either tick the criteria that each site meets, or take it one step further and assign scores to each criteria based on how well each option meets them.  The higher the score, the better the option fulfils those criteria.  Adding up the scores for each option will show you which ones are the best fit, as it will have the highest score.

Once you have created the spreadsheet leave it for a couple of days then come back to it and see whether you still agree with the decision outcome.  In the interim you may have thought of some other criteria or a few different glamping options.  You may also have had a chance to think about the decision outcome and whether it feels right.  It’s a bit like choosing between two cakes with a friend, and both of you say you don’t mind which one you have but when your friend makes their decision, you realise you wanted the one they picked.

We hope this will help you decide where to have a 2022 glamping break, but you can use the method to make many other decisions, from what to have for dinner to moving house.

Ladder to the treehouse

Most Unusual Treehouses

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Glampsites looking to add something special to their choice of accommodation are turning to tree houses to provide an escape with a difference.  Fond childhood memories of playing in a tree house come to the fore when you stay in a similar structure as an adult, but we doubt the plaything of your youth came with a fire pit, comfy bed and en-suite facilities like these amazing tree houses.

The Kosel site in Cornwall draws on the playful nature of the tree house with its pair of unique curved tree houses, named Skapya and Kalmynsi.  You would be forgiven for thinking that there must be some Scandinavian heritage here, but those names are actually Cornish for “escape” and “calm”, two things which you’ll definitely experience if you stay in one of these.  Both structures follow a curve around the woodland they sit in, giving you great views into the canopy and down to the wildlife below.  If you’re quiet, and the wind is in the right direction you might even see badgers and hedgehogs snuffling about below you as you relax on the private deck with a cold drink.

Both Skapya and Kalmynsi have en-suite facilities, comfy double beds, log burners and fully equipped kitchens, plus electric heating for those colder nights when you need to take the chill off as you light the log burner.  There’s even a desk so if you can’t tear yourself away from work, or you’re self-employed these are great options for allowing a balance of work and play, and you’ll want to play!  There are cliffs and beaches just a short hop away, plus a selection of cosy local pubs for meals and drinks.  In the evenings, you can observe wildlife from the deck and perhaps toast a few marshmallows over the fire pit as you unwind.

Situated on the Devon/Dorset border is Guy Mallinson’s Crafty Camping.  You may have seen the Woodsman’s Tree house on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, with its most fun feature, a slide from the deck down to the forest floor below.  This tree house has to be experienced to be appreciated fully, as you can’t get the experience of a treetop sauna and hot tub anywhere else.  Inside, a huge bed with a skylight above provides a luxurious sleeping space, while if you don’t fancy the magic of the outdoor shower, there’s a copper bath with room for two in the main space.  A central log burner can be turned to face any direction, ideal for warming you up after a soak.  The fully equipped kitchen makes cooking a breeze, but the pizza oven on the deck is very tempting indeed.

Mallinson and his team have built another tree house, the Dazzle, inspired by the mish-mash of colours and shapes that Navy vessels used to confuse radar signals in WWI.  There’s no hint of a battle here though, as you cross the rope bridge into the heart of the structure.  Again, a king size bed in a light and airy section makes for a relaxing sleep while you can get close to nature in the hot tub situated on the deck.  The views are stunning, and the site is very secluded guaranteeing you can disconnect from the outside world and get some real peace and quiet.  For those who can’t switch off from the office, there’s wifi and a good 4G signal on the site.

A third tree house, the Pinwheel, is being completed at the moment and will be open for bookings from the end of August.  If it’s anything like the other two, you’d better book quickly if you want to experience it because these high-end tree houses get booked up fast!

Old red fire truck parked in the Netherlands

Carry on Glamping – Part One

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Anyone considering opening their own glamping site should watch the highs and lows that comedian Johnny Vegas went through in setting up his own site at Breaks Fold Farm, located in the Washburn Valley, in the Yorkshire Dales.  This location was found after their original site in Snowdonia fell through due to planning concerns.

The location issue wasn’t the only thing that Vegas and his team had to contend with – there were many issues with the procurement and restoration of the vehicles he chose to be converted into glamping accommodation, not least the old bus from Malta that he wanted to be the centrepiece of the site.  Vegas acquired the bus on eBay in the early hours of the morning after a few drinks, not noticing the location of the vehicle at the time.  Getting the bus back from Malta was fraught with difficulty, starting with getting the engine running at the garage where it had been stored and becoming even more tense when the ferry that the bus was being shipped on caught fire. 

Eventually the old tourist bus got to the restoration workshop, and more drawbacks became clear here.  The structure was unstable and needed to be totally re-built from the chassis up, exceeding the initial budget by £15,000, and this was not including the fit-out inside.  The engineers salvaged as much of the original bus as possible but had to create new walls and a roof, even adding new windows.  Inside, a sliding semi-circular sofa creates a cosy area in which to spend an evening, while the shower is tiled with ceramic artwork created by Vegas himself.  The bus is now called Patricia, after Vegas’ mother.

Vegas studied ceramics and used his artistic talents to create a three-sided abstract portrait of his sons, which he painted directly across the tiles before they were glazed and fired.  He also used his artistic influence to commission a sculpture made from reclaimed panels from the Maltese bus which sits at the entrance to the Field of Dreams campsite.  Plans are underway for a sculpture park next to the site.

In addition to the Maltese bus, there is an old Mercedes fire engine with a trailer, formerly used to carry the hoses and equipment, but converted into a small bedroom for two kids.  Unfortunately the health and safety requirements meant that the mini bedroom could not be used for guests, so it has been converted back into storage.

An old American school bus was also converted along with a Citroen camper van.  A hybrid Morris Minor pick up combined with a Fisher Holivan junior caravan was loaned to the site, and horse boxes have been converted into private bathroom facilities for each unique vehicle, along with outdoor seating made from the seats from the bus.  Vegas also refurbished a 1958 Austin Paralanian as a gift for his long-suffering assistant Bev, who was with him throughout the whole process.

Billy the Snail, the restored caravanette, has a similar history to Patricia.  The owner, Claire Swingler, also purchased the vehicle in the early hours after a few drinks but set about lovingly restoring the vehicle into a workable glamping unit.  At the Field of Dreams site, Billy comes with a bell tent for sleeping, allowing more guests to enjoy the unit as the main vehicle can be used for dining, cooking and relaxation while the sleeping accommodation is provided in the tent.

The four-part documentary series showed all the trials and tribulations that went into setting the Field of Dreams up; a process which took place over two years, including time during the pandemic which brought added challenges to the project. 

Please join us for part 2, where we give more helpful advice and look at lessons learned by others, for those of you thinking of undertaking your own glampsite project.

A glampsite full of bell tents at sunset

Glampsite Plans Prove Controversial

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Plans for a glamping site near the edge of Newport, on the Isle of Wight have been revised after planning permission was denied.  The original plans, which were recommended for approval by the planning officers, were for 28 glamping tents on the semi-rural site.  Councillors rejected the plans on the basis that the tents would look like “a shanty town” which they didn’t feel was in keeping with the area and would negatively affect the surrounding landscape.

Other issues with the plans included the impact of glamping on the residents nearby, including the smells of outdoor cooking as the tents did not have a kitchen area.  Now, the plans have been revised and are for 13 glamping pods instead of tents, which will have a less noticeable visual impact and are more in keeping with the surroundings.

The wood-clad glamping pods will be a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bed options, with a kitchen area inside to reduce the cooking and barbecue smells for local residents.  There will also be a communal barbecue area for guests to use.  It is hoped that by using these sustainable glamping pods instead of tents that the ecological impact will be mitigated and that the quality of the accommodation is more in keeping with the general plans for the area.

This is great news for glampers wanting to visit the Isle of Wight, as the rise of domestic holidays this year means more space will be available for people wanting a holiday without the risk of quarantine.  We don’t know whether the site will be finished in time for the 2021 summer season.  The big advantage of using pods instead of tents is that they offer suitable accommodation all year round as they are insulated and weather-proof.

While bell tents can be fitted with log burners and stay warm overnight even in colder weather, this can be off-putting for some people; so the insulation and extra facilities offered by glamping pods means this is a viable business whatever the weather.  For glampsite owners, maximising the amount of time that your glamping accommodation can be used makes sound financial sense.  There may be more of an initial investment, but the ability to rent out the pods through the spring and autumn months (even over the winter) means the returns can flow in steadily.

The other advantage of using semi-permanent glamping pods is that maintenance and cleaning is much easier.  There is no concern over whether damp canvas will start growing mould, or that rips in the fabric could render the whole tent unusable.  Cleaning up after guests is more efficient too, as there are hard surfaces to wipe making a big difference in the Covid era.  The self-contained units with kitchen areas and en-suite bathroom facilities are also Covid secure, as guests don’t have to share these areas with other families.

Anyone thinking of setting up their own glampsite should take note of this development, as even when planning officers recommend that something is approved, there may still be many potential hurdles to overcome.  Always think carefully about the surrounding area and what else is nearby as well as who can see, and even smell, the glampsite. 

We think that high-end glamping experiences will continue to be popular as more people opt for a holiday at home and discover the magic of glamping.  This means that the demand for luxury options will keep growing, so there has never been a better time to set up a glampsite.

A vector image of a hand putting a reserved sign out

Are the Glamping Sites Fully Booked? Don’t Despair!

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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!

A view of a vale with couple's feet in the foreground.

Unconventional Glamping for 2021

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Glamping and camping were the most popular holiday options in 2020 because they are generally Covid secure, outdoors and self-contained.  With no need to quarantine on your return, domestic glamping holidays were the mainstay of the summer and this trend is set to continue through 2021 as well.  While we may be able to travel abroad with more ease this year, there’s still no guarantee that a foreign holiday will be plain sailing, so the safest option is to stay in the UK and make the most of what the beautiful and diverse landscapes of this country have to offer.

This is great news for the industry, and many pop-up glamping sites are on the cards for this summer, as well as expansion at existing sites to accommodate as many holidaymakers as possible.  For those wishing to go glamping this means that pitches are at a premium and sites are being booked up quickly, leaving little availability in the more popular destinations.  There is a way round this problem, and we’ve looked to Scotland for a solution.

In Scotland the “right to roam” allows anyone to pitch up anywhere, as long as it is not private land or being used for farming.  Etiquette dictates that you shouldn’t pitch up anywhere visible from main roads and settlements, and that you should leave no trace of your visit, which means no campfires.  In England the rules are different, and you can’t just set up camp wherever you like.  We know that people who have done this have been given short shrift by landowners and farmers, but if you get permission from the farmer or landowner then things are different.

If you have your own bell tent, large family tent or campervan, then you can still create a glamping holiday off the beaten track by securing permission from the landowner or farmer.  With many farmers operating on tight margins they may be glad of the extra income they can make from allowing ad hoc camping in fields that aren’t being used for growing crops or grazing livestock.

Getting permission means going back to basics and getting on the phone to farms and estates in the area you want to go glamping.  While some may give you a flat-out no, there will be some farmers who are more than happy for you to spend a couple of nights on their land provided you are respectful of the environment and you leave the place as you find it.  Explaining that you’re seasoned glampers and that you will bring everything you need with you will help, as will the price you’re willing to pay for the privilege of a private glamping pitch.  You may find some farmers who have been considering allowing camping but are unsure, and your offer might help them decide.

You will need to be entirely self-sufficient and this includes making your own toilet arrangements – no farmer wants human waste left on their land and from a bio-security point of view it is vital that the land is not contaminated.  If you have a campervan with a toilet you’re good to go, but camping toilets can be purchased at a reasonable price, along with pop-up shelters to put them in.  If you love the idea of glamping off the beaten track, and being totally self-sufficient, then this is a good investment as you can use it for many years to come.

Yes, you’ll have to take a toilet, but the privacy that comes with glamping this way can’t be beaten.  We think this is a small price to pay for a unique experience that you won’t get on any glamping site.  The tranquillity and wildlife spotting you’ll experience with glamping this way will be the perfect restorative holiday, one you’ll want to have again and again.

A glowing bell tent

Glamping At Home?

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Can’t wait for your favourite glamping site to open?  Desperate for a night or two outdoors but you don’t want to be too close to other people?  Why not glamp at home?  We’ve written about making a glamping experience at home before, often with things you can do to camp indoors, but if you want an authentic glamping experience you really want to be outside.  Most of us don’t have a huge bell tent knocking about at home, so for a home glamping experience we would have to compromise with a standard nylon tent which does take the sheen off the idea somewhat.

The good news is that there are numerous companies across the UK who rent bell tents for a weekend or longer, so you can get that true glamping feel without leaving your garden.  Some firms offer a range of packages that include furniture and bedding, so it’s up to you whether you hire just the tent and supply your own air mattresses, or go the whole hog and rent a full bed frame and mattress. 

Bell tent rental companies usually include full set up and take-down as part of the service, so you don’t need to worry about struggling to get the thing set up in your garden alone, and some also offer tepees’ and other portable accommodation, so you can get something a little out of the ordinary in your own back garden.  Many also offer décor and lighting, but you can easily provide this yourself with camping lanterns and outdoor fairy lights, meaning you can put your personal style into the project for an even more memorable experience.

If you have a favourite campsite, perhaps one near family, or an area you return you year after year, why not rent a bell tent and take glamping to a normal campsite?  You’ll certainly be the envy of the other guests when they see your beautiful bell tent; Do make sure you read the instructions and watch a couple of instructional videos or you may end up as unwitting entertainment for the rest of the site!

Renting bell tents and furniture is a great idea for a summer boho wedding, and this is certainly a good option for people looking to get married in 2021, as we don’t know what restrictions we may face in terms of indoor venues.  Having a field with accommodation (you can even hire toilet facilities that are nicer than plastic portaloo) is a Covid secure wedding option that won’t be too badly hit by any restrictions that may be in place.  If you’re not sure whether this is the wedding option for you why not rent a bell tent for a couple of days and try it for yourself?  Depending on the Covid restrictions in your area at the time, you could even invite a couple of your guests to stay overnight in your garden bell tent to get their take on it as well.

In 2021 we all want to have a bit of time off and a bit of a holiday in some form.  For some of us, going abroad and potentially having to quarantine on return is a no-go, while some of us may be tightening our belts.  This makes a UK based glamping holiday a great option for everyone, whether you go to a glampsite, or rent a bell tent and make your own glamping holiday at home.