Ten of the best glamping sites

Love camping but hate pitching? Fear not, here are 10 glamorous camping experiences around the UK from the latest Cool Camping book, Glamping Getaways, published tomorrowThe Guardian's guide to 100 of the UK's best campsitesGypsy Caravan Breaks, Langport, SomersetPerfect for a romantic weekend break with a cosy twist, this picture-perfect bow-topped caravan awaits you in beautiful Somerset. There are hardly any of these caravans available for hire in England, but you'll find this one tucked away in an apple orchard on the edge of a smallholding, so it will be surrounded by apples or blossom depending when you visit. Inside you'll find a ready-made wooden bed to clamber into, and there's not much space for anything else. But don't fret, you'll also find that there's a separate shepherd's hut housing your solar-powered power shower and washbasin, and a 1970s Marshall caravan to cook in.? Open April-October. From �75 a night, two nights �130, three nights �180, four nights �220, extra nights �55 (sleeps 2); the nightly price gets cheaper the more nights you book; 01458 270044, gypsycaravanbreaks.co.ukStock Gaylard, Sturminster Newton, Dorset The Stock Gaylard country pile itself may be off limits, but its luxury campsite is open to all. Two separate yurt camps are set in secluded clearings of old oaks and elms, alongside nesting owls, nightingales and butterflies. The homemade lattice-framed yurts, topped with camouflaging roofs, perch on wooden platforms. The interior furnishings of the sleeping yurts look and feel extravagant, and the living yurt is kitted out with a sofa, guidebooks and wooden dressers containing every kitchen utensil imaginable.? Open May-mid September; weekly yurt rental �425-�575, mini-break �283-�380 (sleeps 4-5); 01963 23511, stockgaylard.comTurkey Creek, Westmoor Farm,OxfordshireYou probably won't find many turkeys, or indeed a creek at Turkey Creek. Fret not, however; you'll soon find that those two ingredients are not vital for a wonderfully relaxing holiday. You can choose from a rustic bell tent, tipi or yurt in which to camp within this shady wood. Prepare to be transported away from the trappings of modern life, with the main activities being: making fires, sitting by fires, cooking on fires, and generally enjoying the woodland. Not forgetting the resident dogs that need stroking and the goats that need admiring ? a glamper's work is never done.? Open all year; the bell tent, tipi, yurt and log cabin cost �65 a night (each sleeps up to 2 adults and 2 children); 01993 851364, turkeycreek.co.ukStrawberry Skys, Cyfronydd, Welshpool, Powys How could you resist the chance to camp in a yurt in Powys; officially the happiest place in Britain? Owner Eric's only complaint is how fast the grass grows on his 10-acre smallholding. Three Mongolian yurts sit in a steep, narrow field facing hills in all directions. At the foot of the hill is a fabulous all-mod-cons kitchen outbuilding with a veranda, compost loo and hot-shower unit. ? Open February-November. From �150 for a two-night (minimum) stay in a small yurt during low season, to �400 for a three-night weekend/four-night midweek break in the large yurt in high season; 01938 811 308, strawberryskys.co.ukCuckoo Down Farm, Ottery St Mary, DevonThe 30-acre site is home to a variety of friendly animals, and, at the top of a large open field, three yurts. Decadence is the name of the game at Cuckoo Down Farm; each yurt is furnished with a lovely double bed, wood-burning stove and various other bits and bobs including a vase of freshly cut flowers. You can also call on the services of Penny for a relaxing in-yurt massage, or else there's a reflexologist, a yoga teacher, a reiki healer and even an art therapist ? all at un-decadent prices.? Open early April-end September; a yurt (sleeps 4 adults or a family of 6) costs �465-�585 a week; 01404 811714, luxurydevonyurts.co.ukShadow Woods, Billingshurst, West SussexNestled in 63 acres of bluebell woodland in the heart of the Weald downlands, there's something palpably different about Shadow Woods. If you thought you were in the middle of nowhere to start with, prepare to feel even more isolated as you wander through the wild meadows. Owner Pom is an ex-film producer of some renown; she now focuses her energies on running the site and organising candlelit opera evenings in the bluebell woods. The five yurts and one safari tent are very well appointed with everything you will need for a relaxing getaway.? Open mid April-mid October. Medium yurt (sleeps 2) �260 a week, family yurt and safari tent (both sleep 4) �160-�380, cabin �150 a night; 01403 824057, woodlandyurting.comReally Green Holiday Company, Freshwater Bay, Isle of WightThe setting of the Really Green Holiday Company is so gorgeous that you'd almost forgive it for not being quite as environmentally sound as the name suggests. But there's no need ? the green credentials start before you even get near the place, with visitors being encouraged to leave their cars at home. You can get fresh, local, organic food delivered prior to your arrival and there's even an organic cafe and shop within the orchard.? Open April-October; yurt rental �345-�595 a week; weekend �220-295, midweek breaks �175-�295 (sleeps 4-5); 07802 678591, thereallygreenholidaycompany.comDolphinholme Farm, LancasterThe only thing in any sort of hurry at Dolphinholme is the River Wyre, which rushes along at the bottom of the field. Overlooking this field, sat on the edge of 35 acres of woodland, are the seven spacious and very comfortable "tents". This site offers lots of opportunities for swimming, paddling and pottering about with fishing nets in the river, or just picnicking on its banks, climbing trees and clambering on bales of hay. Campers can also help with the milking of the goats, or gathering eggs from the henhouse ? perfect for that morning fry-up.? Open Easter-late October; tents �435-�845 a week, �225-�539 for a 4-night midweek stay, and �279-�589 for a weekend (sleep 4-6); 01420 80804, featherdown.co.ukComrie Croft, Crieff, PerthshireComrie Croft is environmentally friendly, it combines secluded woodland pitches with two camping meadows for family tents, it allows campfires and has a communal fire pit complete with shelter under which you can sit and get to know your neighbours. Five katas (Nordic tipis) are dotted among the woodland and are large enough for a family of six. This is definitely how modern camping should be.? Open all year. Katas �168-�308 a week, �88-�144 for a weekend, �100-�200 for a midweek break (sleep up to 6); 01764 670140, comriecroft.comLong Valley Yurts, Ambleside, CumbriaIn a field bordered on one side by trees and Blelham Beck, and just beyond a brand new facilities block, sit two yurts and three bell tents. The structures are decorated in a Moroccan style, with the furniture, rugs and lanterns conjuring up a vision of old Marrakech. At night you can lie back and stargaze through the skylight, while you dream about the rock-climbing, abseiling, mountain-biking and canoeing you could be doing come morning.? Open late March-early November; yurts �385-�460 a week, midweek breaks and weekends �285-�325; bell tents �355-�395 a week and �235-�255 for a weekend or midweek stay; 01539 731089, long-valley-yurts.co.ukCool Camping's Glamping Getaways by Jonathan Knight is published 25 May, priced �16.95 (coolcamping.co.uk/glamping) CampingUnited KingdomFamily holidaysguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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