Glamping in Somerset

The northwestern edge of Somerset faces the Bristol Channel, and forms the county’s only coastline. The towns of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Burnham-on-Sea, and Portishead are on this stretch of coast and are convenient starting points for beachside glamping adventures. As well as spending time on the beach, glampers on the Bristol Channel Coast can enjoy hiking and cycling, including the Clevedon Coastal Path to Portishead.

England’s first AONB, Quantock Hills is a lovely area of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands, and agricultural land in the county’s north. Both Taunton and Bridgwater provide handy bases for glampers who want to hike and go wildlife spotting in the area. Most of the Quantock Hills AONB is privately owned with no wild camping, but there are many good glamping sites at the base of the hills that provide easy foot or bicycle access deeper into the hills without the need of a car.

The Mendip Hills AONB is a range of limestone hills in the county’s northeast, near the cities of Bath and Bristol. Hidden within the hills are deep gorges, rocky outcrops, and the pretty lakes of the Chew Valley. Glampers staying in or around Bath and Bristol can visit on day trips, but there are glamping sites dotted around the AONB. The village of Cheddar—famous for its cheese and the Cheddar Gorge—offers a peaceful, rural alternative to other nearby cities.

Choosing your glamping accommodation in Somerset is not an easy task. Do you want to go all-out for luxury and book the family in to a safari lodge with a wood-burning stove, its own kitchen and a hot tub? Or would you prefer something a little closer to classic camping like a bell tent (with the added comfort of a real bed of course)? Do you fancy going it alone in a Somerset shepherd’s hut that’s tucked away on its own? Or would you prefer to be at the heart of the action on a sociable camping and glamping site?

Today’s glamping options provide something for every glamping whim—the difficulty is in choosing which accommodation suits you best. There are fairy-tale style tree houses which are the stuff of dreams for kids (and some adults too), and Mongolian-style yurts to bring out the nomad in you. There are tipis, log cabins, shepherd’s huts, vintage caravans and modern geodesic domes. Some are traditionally styled, some have a vintage theme and others are complete one-offs.

1. Dive underground at Wookey Hole. Join a tour of this famous cave system to discover the underground cavern and lakes. Wookey Hole also has a range of family-friendly attractions included in the ticket price which makes it good value if you’ve got kids.

2. Check out Cheddar Gorge. More subterranean adventures await at Cheddar Gorge—perhaps the more mature option of the two best-known cave experiences. But at Cheddar you can go up as well as down with a three-mile cliff-top walk as well as the chance to go underground in to Gough’s cave.

3. Go to Glastonbury! Festival or not, Glastonbury is well worth a visit. Head up to Glastonbury Tor for the views and to see if you feel the power of this place that’s held spiritual significance for a thousand years. You might also like to pop in to Glastonbury Abbey, the legendary resting place of King Arthur.

4. Explore Exmoor National Park. Head out for a hike, picnic or bike ride in the glorious surroundings of the national park where ponies run wild and heather carpets the ground.

5. Eat cheese! Britain’s most popular cheese is named after the Somerset village of Cheddar—so there can’t be a better place to try it. Tuck in to a Ploughman’s lunch in a local pub for your fix.

6. Drink cider—or perhaps just a juice made from the fruits of Somerset orchards. Somerset is famous for its apple drinks and there are plenty of varieties from cloudy scrumpy to new-breed craft ciders.

7. Head to the seaside. Get the bucket and spade out and head to Weston-super-Mare for traditional fun or get off the main drag and seek out the smaller coves and beaches further west.

8. Get a history fix at The Bishops Palace. Home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the medieval Bishop’s Palace is in the heart of historic Wells. It has 14 acres of gardens to explore too.

9. Take a walk on the South West Coast Path. The start of this 630-mile, long-distance footpath is in Somerset’s Minehead. You might not get it all under the belt on your holiday, but there’s no harm in making a start!

10. Go wild at Longleat. Okay, so it’s technically in Wiltshire, but if you’re glamping in Somerset, it’s not too far to go to visit the safari-style drive-through wild animal park in the grounds of the Longleat estate. Just remember to wind the windows up.