Set within easy reach of Bude's pumping surf scene, this singular south west retreat can arguably lay claim to some of Cornwall's most eye-catching glamping accommodation. While operating a separate field for 50 or so grass tent pitches (with optional electric hook-up), it's the luxury camping that steals the show here.
For starters, there's the eponymous oval pods. Ingeniously designed, these green-roofed wooden cabins come kitted out with king-sized beds, heated showers and solar-powered lighting, not to mention all the essentials from cooking gear and a cool-box to lean futons for extra pod-mates.
Although they aren’t exactly surfside, these luxury abodes come close enough, with the beach and town just a 20 minute walk away. And lets face it, after a battle with the Atlantic swell, these trendy little eco-pods offer superior comfort and protection from the elements than a sand-blasted tent on the beach.
Next up, the Atlantic Treehouse is a staggering feat of arboreal architecture. The spacious timber-framed house features bi-fold glazed doors, a perfectly proportioned balcony, and a clear translucent roof on its north side, with the central trunk forking right up through the structure and providing shade on the south section. Despite its eco-credentials, couples in the canopy are not short of mod-cons with a double bed, state-of-the-art heating, LED lighting, kettle, combi-microwave, and electric cool box, plus a firepit, barbecue and private bathroom with a 'secret al fresco shower' on the ground level. And, from six metres up, the views across the rolling green countryside to Widemouth Bay are stunning.
Although luxurious, there's a charming quirkiness to Atlantic Surf Pods. The spin-off business of an ex seashell-trader, there’s plenty of shell-themed décor and a shell shop and workshop onsite, which can be a brilliant distraction when the surf’s flat, the kids are bored or, on that rare occasion that Cornwall is hit by rain.
Gone are the days when 'roughing it' was non-negotiable if you wanted to dip a toe in the surfing lifestyle Cornwall is so famous for (although if you still yearn for a spot of traditional tent camping, the field next door offers some of the best in the region). In fact, flopped on a giant beanbag, the gas barbecue alight and a cold beer in hand, initiation to ‘surf-camping’ can be positively luxurious.