Glamping Without a Tent – Whatever Next?
What do you think of when you hear “glamping”? Most of us will think about beautiful, high end accommodation in a bell tent, yurt, pod, tree house and many more types of luxury camping options. No-one would consider al fresco sleeping, would they? Sleeping under the stars is the sort of thing we associate with tropical holidays, or reality TV shows on deserted islands, hardly the lap of luxury. Well, one glampsite in Devon created a magical al fresco experience over the summer, and while we don’t know if they’ll repeat this for 2021, or even add more open air beds, we can imagine there will be a long waiting list for the Midsummer Meadow Bed.
Canopy & Stars co-founder Tom Dixon trialled the outdoor sleeping option at his site in Devon and although we didn’t get to experience it, the reviews speak for themselves. A beautiful four poster bed (with double canopy that can be used to keep off any rain, or pulled back so you can see the stars) sits in a picturesque wildflower meadow. A bell tent nearby contains a second double bed as a backup in case the rain hits sideways, but judging by some of the reviewers, who stayed there when it rained, you’ll stay nice and dry under the canopy for an unforgettable experience.
This idea combines the best of both worlds – there’s a tent where you can keep your stuff and relax out of the rain, should you experience any during your stay, but you can also have the truly magical experience of sleeping out in nature with nothing between you and the wilderness, not even a layer of canvas. There is a fully equipped bathroom a minute’s walking distance away and an eating space lined with stunning art. The whole experience looks truly enchanting; however, the outdoor bed is the standout star of this glamping holiday. The four posts are made from tree trunks selected for their shape and size, so they’re exactly the right height to hold the rain canopy out over the edges of the bed to keep the rain off you even if it’s pouring down. This bed frame is an artwork in its own right and its ideal for recreating your childhood fantasies of fairies and woodland sprites.
This unique offering may have inspired some other glamping sites to follow the same path in 2021, and we’ll be first in the queue to try out this fantastic idea. For those of us who want that full back-to-nature experience, sleeping outdoors cannot be beaten.
Sleeping outdoors under the stars is something we can easily do at home if we have a garden, or if we know someone with a large rural garden or some land. Recreating an outdoor sleeping experience at home could be a great option if we can’t afford a full on holiday and it doesn’t have to involve the construction of a four poster, nor do you have to drag your bed outside! An inflatable mattress is ideal for creating an outdoor bed and there’s no need to worry about the morning dew making your bedding all wet if you’re raised off the ground. A standard garden gazebo will provide cover against the rain, and in most gardens the only nocturnal visitors will be neighbourhood cats and the odd rodent. In more rural areas you may find you see birds, bats, foxes, badgers and all manner of woodland creatures – those with a nervous disposition may find the rustling and snuffling a little disconcerting, but we think being woken up by a curious hedgehog nosing around would be a delightful experience.
