Fords Farm Glamping

It’s lucky that the family behind Fords Farm Glamping are a sociable bunch. For months after they moved to their farmhouse in the Shropshire countryside, every weekend saw a different friend or family member pay them a visit. And it’s easy to see why. This spot in the countryside outside Oswestry is a two-minute walk from the peaceful Montgomery Canal. It’s also a five-minute walk from the pub, a short drive from charming Shrewsbury and half an hour from Snowdonia National Park. Lucky for us, then, that visits aren’t just limited to family and friends.

In one of two fields behind their 17th-century farmhouse, the Johnsons have pitched four bell tents for glamping guests to stay. Arrive here, and Oliver or Tracey will welcome you to site and show you which one is yours. And although the location is likely to quickly win you over, you’ll soon realise that it wasn’t just the destination that those family and friends were coming for. The Johnsons are amiable hosts and this is a small but sociable site where saying hello to your neighbours is almost part of the deal. Shared areas include a raised undercover deck with bistro seating and a communal campfire pit.

Back at your tent, it’s a comfortable six-metre set up with proper beds for couples or families of up to six and a log burner to help keep things toasty. Outside, there’s a picnic bench, barbecue and two reclining chairs where grown-ups can relax while kids explore the meadow. It’s a flat field that’s just right for camping and kicking a ball about, but watch out for the free-range chickens and ducks while you do it. You might also be treated to a welcome sniff from Dexter the collie and Bramble the farmhouse cat.

We’re told that Oswestry is known locally as “'bout an hour” because it’s about an hour from everywhere: from Chester, from Birmingham, from Liverpool, from the Shropshire Hills, the Peak District and from the coast (at Barmouth). We’d say there’s a little artistic licence in there but all are possible day trips — and the proximity to the cities makes this a great weekend escape for many. If that’s what you’re using it for, the local attractions are enough: the walks, the canal, days in Oswestry or Shrewsbury followed by dinner at the pub. We’d say that’s ‘bout perfect for a weekend away.