In any other location you might be wooed by the comfort of the bell tents at Battisborough House. The sprung mattresses, the antique bedsteads, the bunting, the lanterns, the lights. But it takes a lot, here, for anything to grab your attention other than view. Set on a perfectly flat terrace of land above the country house's tennis court (which guests are welcome to use), a drop in the landscape reveals the sparkling blue of the sea. On a clear day it seems to merge into the blue of the open sky. 'Welcome to the coast', the view seems to say. Get any closer and you'll be camping in the sea.
There are just three bell tents in total, set beyond the Victorian house, which also offers self catering holidays and residential trips at other times of the year. The premium tent hire company, Ready Tent Hire, had been receiving requests to pitch tents here for years before they finally decided to bed down at the place for good and turn it into a bona fide glamping site. The result is a well-run site with good hot showers and loos, set within some six acres of gardens and grounds, which are largely left untamed so that wildlife can flourish. There's a communal firepit in the trees, a games room in the house that glampers have access to and a croquet lawn for garden games less than 100 metres from your tent.
Unsurprisingly, the most enticing feature is the access to the coast. A tiny stream – and a footpath – leads down in front of the house to Battisborough Cove, a small craggy beach usually occupied by a few guests from the glamping site and perhaps a sea-kayaker or a stand-up paddleboarder out to explore. There are stacks and rocky stumps and the water is an appealing turquoisey blue. Behind it the South West Coast Path runs along the clifftops – follow it east to find a slightly bigger, sandier beach at the mouth of the River Erme or follow it west for more hidden nooks and a picturesque undulating trail. Not that everything has to be found on foot. It's a 20-minute drive to Ivybridge, Dartmoor and popular beaches like Wembury and Bovisand and it's 30 minutes to Plymouth. But, it has to be said, there's something nice about coming somewhere as popular as South Devon and finding the space and the seclusion of Battisborough. It makes you want to simply stick around and enjoy a little quiet time. And perhaps a game of tennis or two.
From the site you can walk down a private coastal path that leads out to Mothecombe Beach, peaceful and unspoilt, the beach is a great place to swim and sunbathe while avoiding the summer crowds. From here you can also walk to several more isolates coves. Another beloved spot to take in the sea views from is South Battisborough Farm, home of the famed Surfing Cow Ice Cream. The farm is over an acre in size and has a BBQ and picnic area with views of the coastline and the iconic Jersey-Cross cows in action, all just a few minutes’ walk from Battisborough Glamping. Dartmoor National Park (01626 832093) is 20 minutes from Battisborough, great for hiking and generally getting out into the open, with the popular walk up Western Beacon amongst the closest points to the glamping site.
There's nothing within strolling distance but there are plenty of options in the town of Ivybridge, 15–20 minutes away, including Hettie’s Coffee Shop and Rochelle’s River Café (01752 698576). The former serves a fresh and local menu with daily specials that can also be ordered to takeaway and boats a large terrace that overlooks the River Erme. Hettie’s Coffee Shop, meanwhile, is a lovely independent spot less than five minutes by car, serving refreshing smoothies and iced coffees as well as breakfasts, light lunches and vegan options. A little closer to Battisborough Glamping is the Schoolhouse Devon (01752 830552), just five minutes away in the car. The restaurant serves great fresh seafood and has a calendar full of events including tapas nights, indulgent specials and live music, all happening within a few minutes’ walk from the sea.