Inside the UK campsite that’s like a boutique hotel – with curries delivered to your bed & tents with underfloor heating
THERE’S a campsite in the UK where guests can have their curries delivered to their teepees.
Camping is a great way to get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
One place where Brits can escape into the wilderness is the Harta Retreat in North Devon.
Located just 20 minutes from Exmoor National Park, the Harta Retreat is a peaceful glamping site set inside private meadows, fields and woodlands.
The glamping site is home to four boutique teepees, each of which is equipped with a king-sized bed as well as other luxurious touches.
Part of the Harta Retreat’s Distinguished Collection, guests can book to stay in a two-room teepee, which have their very own ensuites.
Both teepees in the Distinguished Collection have underfloor heating and an outdoor kitchen.
The glamping site also has two other teepees, which are part of its Superior Collection.
These single-room teepees come with features like an outdoor shower, chairs, a wood burning stove and an outdoor porch area.
The teepees are located far enough apart in the private meadow, so guests are given plenty of privacy.
Despite it small size, the Harta Retreat is also home to some quirky facilities.
One of those is “In-Tipi dining” where guests can order a homemade curry to their tent.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
Holidaymakers can order curries, continental breakfasts and graze platters right to their door.
Other on-site facilities include a concrete tennis court where guests can borrow equipment from the site’s owners.
There’s also a wildlife pond with a hammock, a wildflower meadow and an orchard and woodland where holidaymakers can go for walk.
Harta Retreat has been praised by visitors in online reviews on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “Me and my partner visited in early May and stayed in the Dancing Deer Tipi and we were blown away.
“The attention to detail was amazing, the teepee was immaculately presented. This is luxury glamping at its best.”
Another person added: “The teepee itself was absolutely perfect in every way.”
Someone else wrote: “This place is amazing, you can really relax and chill out and once again Aaron and Miranda made us feel so welcome.”
Another person even compared the Harta Retreat to a hotel, they wrote: “Glamping at its finest. All the luxuries of a Boutique Hotel in a Tent.”
Prices start from £125 per night per teepee, based on two people sharing a room.
This is luxury glamping at its best
While the exact location of Harta Retreat isn’t listed on its website, it is just 20 minutes from Exmoor National Park.
Exmoor National Park is one of the smallest national parks in the UK, and it is also one of the best places in the country for stargazing.
A statement on the park’s website reads: “On a clear night the Milky Way, shooting stars and thousands of glittering stars and constellations are clearly visible with the naked eye.”
Nearby, there’s also Lynton and Lynmouth – two UK seaside towns that have been dubbed “Little Switzerland“.
The turns have been likened to the European country thanks to their Alpine appearance, stunning scenery, and rich cultural history.
How to have a perfect glamping holiday
Nicola Holland and her dad Peter Bourne opened their small glamping site Stone Pit Meadows in 2020.
After welcoming holidaymakers for three years, the dad and daughter duo have noticed what pitfalls campers should consider before booking their next trip.
Nicola told Sun Online Travel: “I would always look out for things like if there are shared facilities – then exactly how many units are sharing.
“And see if you can find out how close together all the units are so you know what sort of privacy to expect.”
Meanwhile, this secret woodland campsite is surrounded by a huge lake, and it also has glamping teepees.
And this huge UK campsite in Wales is regularly visited by dolphins.
