Bell Tent Village

A little Bell Tent Village has sprung up on a campsite on the watery edge of Nottingham. If you know your geography, you’ll know that Notts is landlocked in the East Midlands, so what do we mean by its watery edge? The area we’re referring to is Holme Pierrepoint, south-east of the city, where the River Trent feeds the National Watersports Centre’s 2,000-metre regatta lake and its purpose-built white-water course. It’s all part of the 270-acre Holme Pierrepoint Country Park. Just four miles from the historic city centre, it’s an easy getaway for people wanting to escape the city but equally handy for anyone hoping to explore it.

The big draw, of course, are the range of water-based activities available just a ten-minute walk from your tent. Available on weekends and throughout the school holidays, there’s white water rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding and an inflatable assault course that’s a firm family favourite. But make sure you book in advance as this place is incredibly popular. And when you’ve had enough of getting wet, there are on-land activities too: archery tag, a sky trail (of rope walks and daredevil swings) as well as the more sedate mini golf course.

The Bell Tent Village at Holme Pierrepoint is within the larger campsite but kept slightly separate by a young laurel tree border. That means that once you’ve entered under its wooden archway entrance, there’s no setting up of tents: everyone here is a glamper and staying in one of the pre-pitched tents. And despite the name of the place, there’s actually a choice between bells and safari tents, with the latter offering more space to spread out and beds for up to six. The glamping enclave has 10 pitches in total with a communal campfire pit that’s available for all to use and a bit of its own space to run around.

It’s a pleasant place to bed down in, thanks to the spacious tents and the relaxed atmosphere on site. All are welcome here but it’s more than likely families and groups who will enjoy it the most, with the range of activities seemingly designed to stop boredom before it begins. And if the almost-on-site activities aren’t quite enough, or if the rain sets in, there’s always the city just a few miles away with its castle, caves, historic pubs, shops and restaurants.