Free Range Glamping

Located just outside the perfectly preserved Tudor village of Chiddingstone, just an hour or so from London, 500-acre Bore Place Farm is an organic dairy farm, historic venue and environmental charity all rolled in to one. And now, with the addition of luxury yurts and shepherd’s huts, Bore Place can add glamping to its already string-laden bow.

As the name suggests, there’s a wealth of space to roam at Free Range Glamping, with a glorious hilltop position for all of the accommodation in a sprawling wildflower meadow. Glampers enjoy breath-taking views across Kent's orchards and heady hop fields – the huts and yurts face south across the aptly named Eden Valley – and the local area is awash with decent footpaths.

The yurts themselves are real works of art – elegant latticework walls, wooden flooring and a transparent crown for stargazing – and are comfortably furnished with wood-burning stoves, king-sized beds and futons for extra guests. Each has its own safari-style kitchen alongside, plus a firepit for late-night marshmallow roasting, and it’s a short stroll to your private composting loo. Shepherd’s huts, too, feature king-sized beds, woodburners and have compact kitchen spaces inside. They have en-suite eco loos but, for both hut guests and yurters, if you prefer proper flushing loos or want to take a shower, it’s a 300-metre walk to the farm where there are ‘proper’ facilities. The result is access to the goods when needs must but otherwise a wonderfully paired-back, off-grid glamping experience, with candle lit evenings, and a quiet, rural atmosphere.

“It’s all the best bits of camping – campfires, birdsong, and breathtaking scenery”, as friendly owner Chris tells us. “Combined with clean, dry, inspirational space, proper beds and a private toilet.” It's glamping, in other words, that hasn't completely left the fun of camping behind.

Set in the North Downs, there’s some fantastic walks and outdoor pursuits to enjoy. Bouldering (or mini rock climbing to the uninitiated) is surprisingly prevalent here. Chris can fill you in on the best formations, like Harrison’s, Toad, and Wellington rocks surrounding nearby Tunbridge Wells. For more sedate excursions, there’s a wealth of stately homes and gardens, castles and quintessential Kentish towns to visit. The eminently reachable village of Chiddingstone is one of the best-preserved examples of a Tudor street anywhere. Or if the lure of the organic farm setting is too much to resist, you could partake in one of Bore Place’s ecology courses – try your hand at green wood-working or simply enjoy a guided stroll around the multi-faceted rural setting.