You’re not, strictly speaking, ‘camping’ at a Feather Down Farm. You’re staying in ‘tented accommodation’. It’s a small distinction, but it acts as a good indication of what you can expect at this mini-chain of boutique campsites. This is Luxury Camping in roomy three-bedroom pre-erected tents, perfect for the ‘not sure about this camping lark’ section of the community, who might baulk at the idea of trying to put up a tent in the rain. Or for families looking for a good-value alternative to renting a holiday home. Or, indeed, for just about anyone, really – these tented palaces are cool, comfortable and fun.
Feather Down Farms recruit farmers with excess, redundant land, then they transport and erect their high-spec, custom-designed tents at the farm, organise the marketing and reservations, and let the farmers take care of the day-to-day management. The Feather Down team and the farmers share the proceeds appropriately; and everyone’s happy.
Warren Farm sits in the heart of the Mendips, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty whose skies are very big and very open. Its 1,000 acres stretch along Cheddar Gorge, making it the perfect location for outdoorsy types. Your tent is literally on top of the highest inland cliffs on the island, meaning the views around you are sweeping and stunning, and the walks vigorous and varied. The owners farm a flock of over a thousand ewes that lamb in May, and over 80 suckler cows, which calve in April and May.
Your route to Warren will probably take you through the Georgian masterpiece that is Bath, just over 20 miles away. But if being active is more your thing, then you can choose between the attractions of caves at Wookey Hole, biking both on and off road, or a touch of fly fishing at the nearby lake of Blagdon. An absolute must-do is the energetic 45-minute walk down the valley to Cheddar, home to the village’s last cheese producer, The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company.
