Family-run Buildings Farm has seen the full agricultural spectrum over the years. It’s gone from pigs and cows and herdsmen out in the fields, to modern day tractors and a working livery yard. Today, most of the 180 acres have been sewn for crop production – golden barley and oats ripple in the breeze and peas grow green in summer – but a picturesque four-acre patch has also been set aside for something very special indeed… A brand new glamping site.
Brambells Glamping is managed by the current generation of farmers, Tom, who tends to the crops, and Holly, who also looks after the livery yard, aided by their four young children. The meadow space plays host to just three specially designed Lotus Belle tents, each in their own private space. One sits tucked in the edge of a patch of woodland, with splintered views across an open wild-flower meadow, while a second is hidden deeper among the tees, dappled shade dancing across the tent’s creamy canvas. The third tent is in an open meadow, beside a small pond and has been specially designed to make the most of the dark Norfolk skies. Roll back a section of canvas in the roof and in-built ceiling windows provide views of the stars above. When the sky is clear it’s spectacular.
For extra seclusion, the site also has a fourth, ‘secret’ pitch overlooking the marshes and reached via a short tractor and trailer ride. Once there, you’re unlikely to be disturbed and the wildlife watching is tremendous. It does require a slightly longer walk back to the shower facilities, though – each tent has its own private, luxury shower room – but since, like all the tents, it has its own toilet directly alongside, a walk to the shower is a small price to pay.
The tents themselves are furnished with all the essentials you’ll need. There are beds (bedding and linen supplied), blankets, hot water bottles, a wood-burning stove and re-chargeable lighting, while the outdoor kitchen comes with all the pots, pans, crockery and utensils required. Fire up the gas barbecue or light a campfire and you’ll be whipping up some camping cuisine in no time.
For those at the main three pitches there’s an easy 10-minute walk out to the marshes, emerging from the woods into a vast area of open plains, overlooking the Norfolk Broads. By car (or bike) you can head north into the national park itself and rent canoes to really explore the landscape or, if you don’t want to over exert yourself, take a boat tour from nearby Beccles. While there, the market town deserves a spell of your time. The church’s 16th-century Gothic bell tower dominates the main high-street – The Walk – with a cluster of pleasant, independent shops and cafés, while further afield the beaches of the Suffolk coast await.
The local market town, Beccles (6 miles), is just under 15 minutes away, reached by crossing through the Broads National Park and crossing the River Waveney. If the view inspires you to get on the water, boats can be hired from a variety of places – Waveney River Centre (01502 677343), St. Olaves, Beccles or Oulton Broad are the closest. In town, meanwhile, there's a wide variety of independent shops and cafés to nose around. The beaches are only 4 miles away as the crow flies, but the rivers mean it's actually more like a 10-mile (20 mins) trip to Great Yarmouth and 15 miles (25 mins) to Lowestoft. Gorleston and Aldeburgh beaches are also excellent, while the wide open spaces and dunes at Kessingland and Dunwich are great for games with little ones and for running around. Go crabbing at Walberswick or visit Southwold for great shops, delis, pubs and the famous pier and harbour.
Purchase the 'breakfast pack' on site (bacon, sausages, beans bread, mushrooms, tomatoes and orange juice; enough for a family of 4) or try one of their range of home-cooked meals available to pre-order (great on the first night if you're arriving late). The White Lion (01502 677388; food 11am–11pm) is within very easy walking distance and, confusingly, it's a 5-minute drive to another White Lion (01502 677702) in nearby Toft Monks, which serves lunch and dinner 7 days a week. For shops, cafés, restaurants and more, head to Beccles, the local market town. There are more pubs there too, of course, though they all have different names, along with a couple of supermarkets (Tesco and Morrisons).