Sandra and Santi, the owners of Simply Canvas, couldn’t be accused of being orthodox – they met in a Vietnamese monastery – she was a nun, he was a monk. After leaving for the world outside, destiny brought them to the Dordogne, whereupon they were married. The end? Not quite. They then set up a campsite that sought to encapsulate peace and equilibrium. As such, a zen-like calm filters through every inch of Simply Canvas. Chickens wander past fat Buddha statues in the allotment, kittens bounce across the lawn as hammocks swing gently in the breeze – tune in, turn on, doze off. Wander through the lavender grove to the graphite-black, kidney-shaped swimming pool – it’s like that because it soaks up and retains the heat of the sun. Why run a man-made heater when you can harness nature’s own?
The accommodation is equally relaxing, with six safari tents furnished in traveller’s paraphernalia – ornate globes, wicker furniture, peacock feathers... Each tent faces its own direction to maximise privacy. The site operates an honesty tab, so it’s up to you to declare how many glasses of chilled rosé you’ve been tucking into while watching the extraordinary pink sunsets they fire up nightly. There’s a high-beamed, candy-lit barn that is a playroom for kids on stormy days, venue for yoga classes, and also the kitchen and dining room. Because there are only six tents the atmosphere is intimate; you’ll soon get to know your fellow guests, be it sitting al fresco or meeting on the way to the personalised shower each of you enjoys (your name is chalked on the door).
Weaved among the tents, the pool, the barn and the hammocks is the garden itself, Sandra and Santi’s pride and joy. Their permaculture ethos ensures that everything is grown organically and sustainably, with each plant strategically placed in order to help the growth of those around it. The idea is to simulate the patterns of natural eco-systems and create a fruitful garden that simply maintains itself. It’s just another way that the site continues its cycle of natural harmony. Simply canvas? It’s simply wonderful.
