Sometimes campers want accommodation that matches the natural beauty of their surroundings. While the DIY feel of pitching your own tent and creating your own spot in the great outdoors is unrivalled, it's certainly not for everyone, and even seasoned campers need to take a break every now and then for a truly restful getaway. Enter Bluebell Retreat Glamping, which provides three wooden pods and a shepherd's hut with a rustic aesthetic that perfectly complement the woodland they're nestled within. For those who want the idyllic views and the sprawling walks without the unwashed hair and rough sleeping, these four glamping hideaways provide the ideal mixture of seclusion and comfort.
Bluebell Retreat is situated within a small woodland at the foot of the iconic Malvern Hills, overlooking a pond and the surrounding commons. The quaint pods feature a double bed situated in front of a windowed doorway that opens out onto the meadow while the shepherd's hut is set back among the trees. Open your curtains in the morning and be immediately greeted by the Worcestershire woodland. The pods and hut each have decking which allows for relaxed bistro dining, where you can enjoy your morning coffee situated among the local wildlife, including adorable muntjac and pheasants.
If visiting in a group of eight, you will have the site all to yourselves, with you able to enjoy your surroundings exclusively with your small group. While ideal for a couples' retreat (no kids under the age of 14 are allowed), it's also something of an angling hotspot. The six Leigh Sinton Coarse Fishing Lakes that encircle the site let you cast your hook for a small fee. Clean off from a day of reeling in some big catches in the modern and stylish washroom, tucked away behind some trees in a minute's walk from the site, with the heated shower and flushing toilet in its plush interior being a far cry from the typical portaloos and compost toilets you typically find in a campsite.
But while Bluebell Retreat may feel so embedded within the Malvern countryside that it could be in the middle of nowhere, there's plenty to see and do nearby. Take a trip to the Malvern Hills, a three-mile walk from the site, and embark on the End to End linear walk that encompasses all of its summits. Visit the Malvern Theatre in the titular spa town for a spot of arts and culture, or visit the Grade I-listed Great Malvern Priory to learn of its history. Or, failing all of that, take a 20-minute walk and sink a few in the local Royal Oak pub, before tucking into a wood-fired pizza from the outdoor The Old Dough Hook van.