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Winchcombe (Ready Camp)

Alderton, Gloucestershire, England
1 acre hosted by Stacie ?.
Safari tent glamping amid the Cotswolds' historic, honey-coloured towns and right beside the Winchcombe Way footpath

Honey-coloured Cotswolds hotspot, Winchcombe is actually lacking in its most famous building. Grand Winchcombe Abbey was demolished in the early 16th-century and its a ruined nearby rival, Hailes Abbey, that draws the crowds today. But the old block-work of the great Benedictine building is still, in part, scattered around the pretty town. The lintel above the door to the old George Inn was once inside the church, while great stones in the Corner Cupboard pub have come from the abbey's limestone walls. They're each slabs from the Cotswold's extensive history. And almost every town and village around here, it seems, has some similarly ancient story to tell. It's a ready-made recipe for exploration.

Four miles from the town itself, though right alongside the renowned figure-of-eight footpath, the Winchcombe Way, Winchcombe Campsite is a well established spot that, over the years, has built itself not just a sturdy reputation but also a serious handful of camping facilities. Along with the regulars – hot showers, toilets, laundry rooms and the like – visitors will also find a reputable on-site shop, a large children's playground and parent and baby washrooms. The most recent addition to the site, meanwhile, also means campers can now leave their tent at home and turn up to a ready-pitched glamping set-up. You barely need to lift a finger.

In a private corner of the campsite, which centres around a large, tree-lined fishing lake surrounded by regular camping pitches, the two Ready Camp safari tents feature two bedrooms and an open living space. Inside, they're furnished with proper beds (each tent can sleep 4 adults or a family of 6), a sofa that look out to the wooden terrace with outdoor furniture, and a kitchenette fitted out with everything you need – hob, microwave, fridge, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. In all, it's a well prepared setup that's worth of the 'Ready Camp' name.

From the campsite, the pretty village of Alderton is an easy walk away, with a rich heritage and a handful of amenities including a pub, a Post Office, a shop and a petrol station. Beyond, meanwhile, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are just a short drive, while the approach to Winchcombe also sees you pass the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Arrive at the station a little early to enjoy a hot cuppa in the cute, 1950's style coffee shop on the platform and then hop on board the first steamer for a chug through the Cotswolds. If you don't have the legs for the 42-mile Winchcombe Way footpath, then it's certainly the next best way to get out and immerse yourself in the incredible scenery!

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Location
Alderton, Gloucestershire, 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 Stacie ?.Joined in July 2016
From the host
Your time spent…where it matters Time away with family & friends is great, but let’s be honest - it can sometimes be hectic to even think about! Ready Camp takes away some of the stresses and hassles of camping - having a preerected, canvas-wrapped haven with real beds, a kitchen and dining area. There’s no need to fill the car rammed to the rafters with an endless supply of ‘just in cases’. We give you back the time to do the fun things together with your friends and family. Pack your bedding & a sense of adventure Walk into a comfortable haven with cosy furnishings and oodles of little luxuries. With two bedrooms, an open plan living/dining area where you can wine and dine to your hearts content or put your feet up on the comfy settee after a long day’s adventure. The Kitchen area includes a fridge, microwave and hob, along with basic cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. (We’ve even supplied the corkscrew!) When it comes to light’s out…we’ve even included a torch for those midnight toilet trips, or just to make funny shadows on the tent!
Nearby attractions
The campsite's location near the village of Alderton makes it a well-placed base for exploring the area’s honey-colour limestone towns and villages. For starters there’s the Winchcombe Way, a 42-mile, figure-of-eight trail, that runs adjacent to the campsite. Or hop on a steam train at Winchcombe's small station (01242 621405), a little under 4 miles away as you drive into the town. If you've got the kids in tow, Sudeley Castle (01242 602308) ticks all the right boxes for a grand day out. It's an easy 10-minute drive from the Winchcombe campsite and boasts its own Adventure Playground, a zip wire and a 10-piece assault course. It's rich in heritage too; many famous Royal names have passed through its gardens and Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife, is buried in the grounds. Other nearby attractions include the Cotswold Farm Park (01451 850307), Cheltenham Racecourse (01242 513014) and the ruins of Hailes Abbey (01242 602398), now owned by English Heritage.
Food and drink
The campsite shop sells a variety of local produce from nearby farms, dairies, butchers and bakers. For a meal out, it's best to drive to Tewkesbury (home to a farmer's market on the second Saturday of each month) where there is a wide range of restaurants and takeaways. Or journey south to Cheltenham, where there's a similarly excellent range. The Beehive pub (01242 702270) is particularly good – gastro style, modern food but still at reasonable prices and with an atmospheric pub setting – while The Railway Inn (01242 522925) is the most traditional pub of the lot. Cheltenham's farmers' market is held on the second and the last Friday of each month.

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