The real camping dream is often a slightly
exotic one; alpine mountains kissed by the morning sun; dusty orange rocks
curling around Himalayan valleys; salmon jumping beyond your tent flaps in
North American forests; the rich aroma of pine needles tingling in your
nostrils. The same smells, sounds and romantic camping atmospheres are closer
than you think though. Come to the feet of the Shropshire hills and you can
find the exoticism of foreign fir tress, bygone birches and Pacific pines at
your fingertips, and still with that all-important English country pub just a hundred
yards away. Now if that’s not the dream, we don’t know what is!
Home to one of Britain’s finest and most
eclectic arboretums, Walcot Hall is the very site in question. It was back in
the early 1800s that the first trees were purposefully planted here, in the
sweeping grounds of a grand stately home, and since then both the trees and the
collection have continued to grow. Different species and varieties are always
being added and today the vast range makes for an impressive visit at any time
of the year. The old ones, though, are still the best – in particular a
towering Douglas Fir planted by Lord Powis in 1842 and once the tallest tree of
it’s kind in the entire country.
The real joys here, though, are for those
who really want to delve amongst the bows, camping beneath the arboretum canopy
in one of Walcot Halls hidden treasures. The campsite now boasts no fewer than
ten different glamping hideouts spread around the 30-acre site and the majority
are tucked up amongst the trees providing a true sense of woodland seclusion.
Sticking with the spirit of diversity these too are a varied bunch, from a
traditional wooden shepherd’s hut and creamy canvassed yurt to an old-school
gypsy wagon and a vintage fire-truck surrounded by rhododendrons. All are
exquisitely fitted out in a rustic but luxury style with huge beds and nearby
ablutions facilities.
Whether you chose the indulgence of
glamping or the space of the campsite, guests are still welcome to all the privileges
of a night at Walcot Hall. There are water pools for fishermen, two large lakes
with rowing boats to dabble around in and stables for those inclined – head out
for a hack with Stuart Murray who’ll show you the local bridleways. For more independent
travelers there’s a wealth of other activities on the doorstep (no, beyond the
pub!) not least the fabulous walking opportunities in the Shropshire Hills. Try
the scenic three-mile route to Bishops Castle, a thoroughly welcoming little market
town accessed along a beautiful tree-lined pathway – not that you haven’t seen
them before!