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Glampotel (Bere Regis)

Bere Regis, Dorset, England
1 acre hosted by Paul W.
High-end glamping in a tree-fringed Dorset field, complete with kingsized beds, wood-burning stoves and private bathrooms

In a handsome thatched cottage built by his grandfather, Thomas Hardy penned out his now immortal works, Far From the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure, peering from his windows to the delicate Dorset countryside beyond. It’s not difficult to find the similarities in modern-day country Dorset to Hardy's fictional county of Wessex and those who plod in the tracks of Tess of the D'Urbevilles can easily discover the beautiful rural hideaway of Kingsbere, known in our everyday world as Bere Regis. The 12th-century church and quaint rural pubs still have that storybook charm, while a wander into the ancient woodland reveals a setting unchanged since Hardy’s time. Stumble out in the right direction, however, and you can now find yourself in a setting strikingly at odds from the impoverished dwellings of his Victorian fiction. Instead, under the light wash of cream canvas, lie comfort, luxury and a relaxing atmosphere in one of Wessex’s most high-end glampsites.

Glampotel is a well-hidden dotting of six en-suite ‘canvas cottages’ located in a meadow, though tucked so much against the trees that it still has a rather magical woodland feel. The cottages are similar in design to bell tents (in fact, two are bell tents) and are raised on wooden platforms to provide a flat ground surface and deck outside where you can relax in the garden furniture as you fire up the fancy gas barbeque. Step inside and guests will find a king-sized bed in the centre of the large space with wooden cabinets to the side, topped with traditional candle lanterns. A log-burning stove provides that extra rustic charm and an opportunity to stoke up the heat, cocooning yourself in the warmth of your cosy abode. You can also stash away food in a cool box provided, so your local Dorset cheese doesn’t melt away while you read beside the fire!

Glampotel is actually reached by heading to Rowlands Wait Camping and Touring Park, the campsite that technically shares the space. On arrival you are welcomed to use all the facilities the campsite provides, including laundry and the small onsite shop, but can forego the communal sanitary blocks in favor of your canvas cottage’s own en-suite bathroom just outside. The huts have hot showers and composting toilets along with a parking area next to the pitch. Indeed, having settled yourself in the private Glampotel field guests will find themselves very much separate from the touring park and those hoping for that extra boutiquey feel can ask for one of the ‘romance packages’ or hire out the whole space for bushcraft courses, cookery, wine tasting and much more.

While the 300-acre ancient forest on the doorstep will absorb imaginative children, building dens and searching for wildlife, those who hop back in the car will be rewarded with the rest that Dorset that has to offer. Beautiful Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are around 20 minutes away, rightfully famous features on the Jurrassic Coast where you can try fossil hunting or rock pooling at the various beaches. Meanwhile, inland, historic Dorchester remains a point of pilgrimage for Thomas Hardy fans - or at least those who didn’t get sidetracked looking for fictional Kingsbere, perhaps landing themselves in the reality of this luxury hideaway amid the countryside.

Click here to view more Glampotel locations.

Activities
Biking
Hiking
Surfing
Natural features
Beach
Forest
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
More camping spots nearby
Location
Bere Regis, Dorset, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Paul W.Joined in January 2016
From the host
Glampotel Bere Regis is the original Glampotel location – this is the place that set the Glampotel standard and turned our luxury canvas cottages into an international enterprise. Set in a very private area of Rowlands Wait Touring Park, Glampotel Bere Regis comprises six beautifully appointed Canvas Cottages, nestled in a wooded glade, with ensuite bathrooms and views across the Dorset countryside. Our canvas cottages can sleep two adults and up to three children, with luxurious furnishings, comfortable beds (all bedding, linen and towels provided) and everything provided – gas BBQ, coolers, and all cooking utensils, crockery, glasses etc. Glampotel Bere Regis is both a family-friendly and a dog-friendly glamping site – this is the great outdoors after all! A short walk from the quaint village of Bere Regis and run by Rowland Wait's owners Stevie and Ivor, Glampotel Bere Regis was our very first Glampotel location and has won multiple Tourism Awards and critical acclaim. As a Glampotel guest, you will still be able to use all of the Touring Park facilities – including the shop, which stocks all the provisions you need, plus daily supplies of newspapers, fresh milk, eggs and bread – but you'll also have the private Glampotel space all to yourselves. Take a stroll in the ancient woodland adjacent to Glampotel or, of course, explore the stunning Purbeck Hills and Jurassic Coast. Some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches are within a few miles of Bere Regis, with the stunning Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door just 20 minutes away.
Nearby attractions
It's a short stroll into the village of Bere Regis with two pubs and a quaint old church. The Purbeck Hills and the Jurassic Coast offer scenic walking & cycling with striking natural features like Durdle Door, peaceful Lulworth Cove and rugged Kimmeridge Bay (01929 481044), best for fossil hunting. Join sections of the South West Coast Path for stunning views of the fabulous beaches and coastline. Studland Bay and Shell Bay are particularly recommended beaches, both within a half hour drive. The ruin of Corfe Castle (01929 481294) and its picture-postcard village is nearby, and certainly worth a visit. The historic market towns of Dorchester and Wareham provide interesting days out, as do more modern Poole and Bournemouth, while history lovers should head to Cerne Abbas and Hardy's Cottage (01305 262366) along the way. Those looking for something a little different should try the National Tank Museum (01929 405096) near to the site or, further afield, taking a ferry out to Brownsea Island.
Food and drink
You can pre-order one of Glampotel's hampers prior to arrival. Care is taken to source the best produce that Dorset has to offer. Whether it’s local meats for the BBQ, sparkling wine and hand-made chocolates for that special occasion, or even a pamper hamper filled with handmade toiletries, they have something for all. Two village pubs are within walking distance and offer good food. The Drax Arms (01929 471386) is a newly refurbished pub, where the chef offers creative and delicious takes on traditional pub fayre, all freshly prepared on site, although note the ‘traditional’ serving hours. The Royal Oak (01929 471203) also offers good food, serving for longer than its village neighbour. Both have beer gardens. For a pub with more of a focus on food, much of it locally sourced, book a table at The Blue Vinny (01305 848228) in Puddletown, around six miles away.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/embed/wo-xTS5OOKQ

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