“You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day... unless you are busy, then you should sit for an hour.” So reads the Zen saying quoted on the wall in reception at The Wildings, a Cotswolds glamping site near Bourton-on-the-Water that makes it very easy for people to do just that.
The six camping pods here have insulation, heating, lights, and electricity, and there are also four off-grid seasonal bell tents and two yurts. You can book the pods with camping mats-only, for what must surely be one of the best-value, all-season stays in the area, or ramp up the luxury by adding from a range of extras. It’s a sort of tailor-made glamping experience, with beds, linen and towels, campfire cooking kit and tableware all available. The bell tents offer boutique camping for a family of five or four adults, with these fully furnished, off-grid tents being illuminated by solar-powered fairy lights and lanterns. There's a campfire in a private garden surrounded by woven willow fencing for your evening meals, with each tent having access to its patch of grass with barbecue and benches. The yurts are a step-up from the pods for the pampered camper, once again being off-grid and lit up by solar-powered lighting, each kept warm with the addition of a small and efficient log stove.
This little camping village was set up by owner Kim when she was pregnant with her third child – and it shows. It’s a lovely spot for everyone but perfect for young families, with each unit sleeping up to a family of five. For some (perhaps especially parents) the fact that there’s nothing to set up and peg down will open up the world of camping. The pods, tents, and yurts are warm, weatherproof, and can be tailored to your needs. Bringing a baby? Add the cot bundle. Camping as a couple? How about booking a celebration hamper? And if you’re worrying about warming the baby’s bottle or feeding over-tired kids, don’t. Just head to the on-site Cook House with its fully kitted-out, undercover communal kitchen with sofas and books to boot. The site has also recently made two Ooni pizza ovens available to hire for the carbohydrate-lovers among you, while a new on-site mini-farm shop provides tasty produce while supporting local farms and businesses. Pick up your meat and dairy here, but also feel free to nab a gin or cider while you're at it.
The site has plenty of simple pleasures – enjoying the campfire and watching the bats while the kids play on the climbing frame – but it's also a great base for visiting The Cotswolds, with picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water just a mile away, Stow-on-the-Wold not much further, and a couple of long-distance footpaths – the Windrush Way and Wardens Way – providing ample opportunity for country walks. Throw in The Cotswold Motoring Museum, Cotswolds Farm Park and more cosy tearooms, inns and cafes than you can shake a stick at, and you'll find there's more than enough to keep you occupied for a week. A Cotswolds glamping treat, if ever there was one!