Whether you’re camping, glamping or B&Bing, dream big with your holiday this year and remember there’s no need to confine yourself to four brick walls. From hobbit huts to wigwams and gypsy encampments, the UK has scores of quirky family-friendly locations that will fire the kids’ imaginations and make for an unforgettable outdoor break.
Wigwam-bam
Set on a working farm in the west Highlands not far from Loch Lomond, Strathfillan’s Wigwam Village promises a back-to-nature break with campfires and wild swimming. Stay in a wooden wigwam with heating, electricity, mattresses and a fire pit where you can barbecue the farm’s own wild boar, ostrich, kangaroo sausages or zebra steak. Take a woodland walk to the nearby waterfall and while away an afternoon swimming in the river Allt Auchtertyre. The site has a communal kitchen, dining areas, TV lounge, washing machines, and a shop selling permits to fish on the river Fillan. Round off the quirkiness by visiting the National Trust of Scotland property The Pineapple near Falkirk. A bizarre structure built as a folly in 1761 to enjoy fantastic views of the Trossachs, it once housed a walled garden, glasshouses and pineapple pits to grow exotic fruit and veg.
Rest up in a pod
Less than a mile from the shores of the loch, a stay in one of Loch Ness Holiday Park’s pods could offer a chance to test out the famous monster myth. These 10 mini wooden lodges sleep up to four on built-in beds, and each is equipped with a fridge and kettle. You still get the fun of cooking outdoors, but there’s also an on-site bar, restaurant and play area for children. Highland walkers can use it as a jumping-off point for the 117km Great Glen Way linking Fort William and Inverness. Mountain-bikers will enjoy tackling the 770-metre-high Corrieyairack Pass or history buffs can visit the magnificent ruins of Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, or the Clansman Centre in Fort Augustus, providing authentic insight into life in the 17th-century Highlands. Monster watchers can take a boat cruise on the loch or visit Nessieland in Drumnadrochit.
Explore the forest
Set on an idyllic 200-acres in Cardiganshire, Fforest Farm is a complex of bricks-and-mortar loft spaces, shacks, group tents and kata cabins, and even a dome. Set up by artists fleeing the gentrification of Shoreditch, the farm’s hub is The Lodge where breakfasts and Fforest suppers are served. It’s a beautifully planned site by the river Teifi gorge, a space to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of outdoor living with an onsite small pub and a cedar-barrel sauna in the woods. The group tents include lighting and power, and kata cabins have a solid frame but canvas skin, with a woodburner, soft sleeping mats, plenty of space for children to play and a fully equipped, covered kitchen on the decking. Visit the pretty riverside town of Cardigan nearby for restaurants and bars.
Home at the farm
Enjoy bed and breakfast on a working Welsh dairy farm outside Abergavenny, enjoying the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons national park. Carol Jones has been voted one of Wales’ friendliest B&B hosts and she will make sure you have a great stay and a hearty farm breakfast at Hardwick Farm. With breathtaking views of the Black Mountains, the B&B welcomes walkers, cyclists, outdoor enthusiasts and foodies who may want to dine at this Welsh restaurant of the year. Families with older children are welcome but, alas, not those with younger children, as it is still a working farm.
Explore Gypsy heritage
Near the salt flats at Maldon in Essex you can glamp with a Gypsy twist. At the edge of a cherry and apple orchard on Bouncers Farm, guests can choose from one of two original bowtop wagons (each sleeping three), a 1950s Buccaneer trailer (sleeps four) or an old-fashioned Burton vehicle (sleeps two). There is also a former chicken shed and bender tent on site, but while there is no electricity in the wagons, all have been lovingly restored, with comfy beds, duvets and linen provided and original Queenie stoves. Kids will love hanging out with the resident free-range chickens, sheep or kunekune pigs on the 22-acre farm.
Be king of the castle
The popular medieval attraction at Warwick Castle reopens its Knight’s Village with themed lodges for sleepovers this July. The village is set in a picturesque woodland grove on the river bank, and visitors can choose from a Warwick, Kings or Princess-themed lodge. There’s also medieval evening entertainment and two-day priority entrance to the castle with its multiple attractions, which include play areas, falconry, archery, jousting displays and interactive exhibitions on the castle’s history and medieval torture.
Return to the shire
Acorn Camping in Cornwall offers a host of hobbit-themed accommodations, including a magical, rustic woodland hobbit hideaway with straw bale walls and minimum ceiling height of 5ft 10in. Two timber hobbit holes are ideal for couples looking for a fairytale break in a woodland glade. Follow the pathway above the hobbit hamlet and wheelbarrow your belongings to your back-to-basics retreat from modern living. There’s no electricity or heating but torches are provided. Families of up to four can stay in a Hobbit Hut of 11sq metres, with double futon and two children’s beds, and equipped with benches, stoves, a lantern and camping pack made up of cutlery, plates, and cooking utensils. Each has a covered outdoor cooking area and shower and toilet with hot water nearby. The Eden Project is just a mile away, or trek a little farther to visit the gorgeous villages of Fowey or Mevagissey.
Welcome to the jungle
The Jungle NI in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, is an activity centre offering treetop adventure courses, clay shooting, archery, zorbing, segway and paintballing. Adventurers reluctant to miss out on a moment’s fun can book an onsite glamping pod made from insulated wood with double-glazed french doors leading on to a small patio with picnic benches, BBQ and campfire. Each comes equipped with mattresses, electric lighting, heating and power sockets, and sleeps up to eight on individual bunks in a picturesque setting within easy access of toilets, outdoor showers and washroom.
Tepee fun
Tepee Valley Campsite near Markethill in Armagh is an inspiring experience for young children and adults in that it celebrates the excitement of sleeping under canvas, making campfires and storytelling. With stunning views of Slieve Gullion mountain, the site includes a Native American tepee, two luxury yurts, a geodesic dome, a log cabin, a perfectly furnished tiny shepherd’s hut and a Gypsy caravan, The Rosie Lee. There is also a communal fire pit, plus kitchen and shower rooms. Whether it’s a romantic getaway for adults or time to chill out with friends and family, this is glamping in style.
Go to www.homeofamazing.com for further holiday inspiration
