by Glamping? In the winter? Don’t put it off yet. A summer glamping break often means sitting in traffic on the way to a full campsite – especially disappointing if the weather doesn’t play ball when you get there.
But the colder months can offer something completely different, if you’re ready to abandon your hopes of a sunny stay: the peace and quiet of winter mornings, frosty or misty landscapes, cozy nights all around you. own fire pit.
Plus, it’s well and truly off-peak season, which means you’re likely to find a glammed-up cabin or luxury yurt for a lot less than you would in July or August. Here’s our pick of the best hidden gems.
Starry remains in Carmarthenshire
The long winter nights are ideal for stargazing. And only Hafan and Derwen – two off-the-grid cabins located in a remote conservation-focused Welsh holding – are the only ones with very little light pollution here in the Tywi Valley. There is also plenty of wildlife: look and listen out for deer, owls and red kites.
There are log burners (and a free supply of wood) in the cabins, kitchenettes and bad weather diversions, including a guitar, books and games. Outside there is a covered porch, fire pit and composting toilet, as well as views of the dark skies of the Beacon Beacons.
Cabins (sleeps four) from £150 for two nights.
Rural gambling in Kent
Cuddle up in the Kent Downs in a vintage shepherd’s hut at Greenhill Glamping, where two 19th-century cottages have been handsomely restored on a family farm in the Alkham Valley. Insulated with sheep’s wool and complete with wood-burning stoves, electric heaters and king-size beds with goose-down duvets, you won’t feel the cold.
Plus, walking is great on the doorstep to get the blood flowing – head to Alkham’s 200-year-old pub or take the 15-minute drive to the White Cliffs of Dover for a walk to blow off the sweat.
Shepherd’s huts (sleeps two) from £155 per night.
Camping without crowds on Skye
It might be a little nippy on Skye in winter but the benefit is empty roads, guaranteed natural drama and – who knows – maybe even the Northern Lights. What’s more, the neat wooden pods at Boutique Boutique Bunkhouse, located in Uige on the northern Throndarnis peninsula, stay cozy all year round.
They are small but perfectly shaped, with proper beds, kitchens, heating and en-suite showers, as well as lovely views over the sweeping bay. Walk to nearby Glenna Sióg, then grab a pint from the Isle of Skye Brewing Company, just down the road.
Pods (sleeps two-four) from £95 per night.
New gambling in Herefordshire
The White House Hideaway is perfect for winter. With solar power and a wood burner, it’s off the grid, toasty and completely private. The simple wooden interior has a compact kitchen and bathroom, and the double bed is flanked by a wall-sized window, so you can leave and wake up to views of the Wye Valley.
Or, go outside: SUP on site, take trails, head to the pub (there’s an excellent Crown Inn at Woolhope five miles away) or soak under the stars in the outdoor bath.
Cabin (sleeps two) from £258 for two nights.
The best fortress in Powys
Oaken Fort really puts the ‘glam’ in ‘glamping’ – it’s no wonder this fairytale, timber-clad bastion is one of Canopy & Stars’ most liked Instagram posts. Situated on the Anglo-British border, the unique cabin looks out over rolling hills and forest, wild in location but five star in style.
All fittings, from the eco-wood beams to the high spec kitchen, are immaculate. And you can luxuriate in the views regardless of the weather: inside, from the copper bath, looking through the large windows, or outside, from the electric hot tub on the deck.
Cabin (sleeps four) from £245 per night.
Hygge havens in Northumberland
Trees at Tughall adds a spark of Scandi-cool to the wilds of Northumbria. There are three contemporary cabins here, each hidden from the others. Ancient trees have abundant ash; The hawthorn sits by the Tughall stream, overlooking the Cheviot Hills; Willow has its own private glade next to the stream.
All are extremely well insulated, with heating log burners and heaters hidden under the large window seats. Gaze at the stars from the covered deck, curl up around the fire pit or head to the cafes and coastline at Beadnell Bay, just a 30 minute walk away.
Cabins (sleeps two) from £310 for two nights.
Strange cabins in Worcestershire
On a crisp winter’s day, you won’t find a prettier place than the Cotswolds. The Englishness of these undulating hills is magical under the glimmer of frost, just as snowdrops begin to appear in local woodlands.
The Belfry, near the village of Broadway, is a curious place to explore the north of the region; It is built from two shipping containers, one of which has been creatively converted into an en-suite bedroom, the other into a comfortable lounge-kitchen. They are connected to an open but covered deck, so you can enjoy the bucolic views whatever the weather.
Cabin (sleeps two-three) from £95 per night.
A ski resort in Monagroudh
Choose a pod by the piste for a snug British ski break. Glenshee Glamping has off-the-grid shepherd’s huts, pods, a large cabin and a converted railway wagon close to Glenshee Snow Sports Centre.
You can spend a day gliding down Scotland’s longest and most extensive ski slopes and return to the site to huddle up in your heated retreat – most have wood stoves, and all have good views. There are also dedicated hot tubs to soothe those ski limbs.
Pods and huts (sleeping two-five) from £95 per night.
Great tents in Devon
If you want to be comfortable under the canvas this winter, choose HARTA. The unique tents at this secluded location on the edge of Exmoor add the love of camping to any hardship. Each includes two linked, double-skinned tipis, along with king-size beds, shaggy rugs, wood-burning stoves and underfloor heating.
There’s also an en-suite bathroom (with a roll top bath) and a private outdoor shower if you prefer something more lively. Cook a feast at your alfresco kitchen or order home-cooked curry delivered to your tipi door.
Tipi (sleeps two) from £140 per night.
A quiet haven in Shropshire
Stripped-back luxury done right – that’s what Rest + Wild is all about. Its four Shropshire cabins are stylishly built using reclaimed and natural materials and beautifully designed with brown leather, moody-dark paint and copper accents. But they are also deeply rooted in nature; no wi-fi and no road noise (fear not, there is heating).
In fact, you’ll have to park up to 250m away and yomp across fields to get there. The reward? Privacy, peace, birdsong, detached outdoor baths, romantic evenings around the fire and lovely views out to the Clee Hills.
Cabins (sleeps two) from £550.00 for three nights.
