If the point of camping is to immerse yourself in nature then few places do it better than Greenhillock Glamping. A five-acre site with just 25 pitches and a scattering of beautiful bells, it exudes a wonderfully wild and natural aura yet without simply abandoning you in the hills. In fact, Greenhillock is really a family site – a haven for kids and well equipped with solar showers, toilets, communal cooking and chillout area – yet its sense of nature comes not from feeling isolated in the wilds, but rather from being a part of the natural surroundings.
As a campsite the place is excellent. The pitches are generous and well spaced out and the communal field shelter is perfect if the weather doesn’t play ball. There’s an 'Art Shack' for creative kids, while those seeking comfort can ditch their tent and pluck for one of their three bell pods instead – fully furnished with wooden floors and a private deck area with firepit.
As a place to explore, though, Greenhillock really is something else. Nature trails, some mown narrowly among the long wild grasses, others meandering into surrounding copse, weave and separate through the surroundings, linking back up again like a vast natural maze. Hedgerows and mature trees provide enough fallen branches to set the scene for the next World Den Building Championships and a pond in a quiet corner of the site is set up with wooden board platforms around its edges; purpose built spots from which you can poke and prod with a net and bucket. Insect inspecting is an essential part of any stay here. They even provide some basic scientific equipment to help you out.
The abundance of nature – thanks to more than 25 years of careful cultivation – make it an excellent spot for walking and cycling, with quiet B-roads keeping things safe and sound. More hardy types, though, should hop in the car and head north to the Cairngorms National Park, where formidable mountains offer tougher outdoor trails. The east coast is a similar distance in the opposite direction and a good alternative place to end the day, munching fish and chips along the harbour at Arbroath. Only if your not whiling away the hours around the campfire, that is; the essential ending point for most at Greenhillock.
The site sits between the spectacular mountains of the Cairngorms National Park (01479 873535) and the dynamic geography of the east coast. To the former it's around a half hour drive, to the later 20 minutes or so. Try heading straight for Arbroath – a medieval port town that's now a throbbing heart of the Scottish fishing industry. Sampling the fresh seafood is a must while your there. Visit grand Arbroath Abbey (01241 878756), founded in 1178 by King William the Lion, or pop in to see Kerr's Miniature Railway (01241 874074), the oldest miniature railway in Scotland, which has been operating since 1935. Today it is run by a hobby group of volunteers and remains popular with locals, tourists and railway enthusiasts. In the opposite direction, Glamis Castle (01307 840393) is 15 minutes by car, a 14th-century castle and the late Queen Mother's childhood home with guided tours of the lavish interiors available.
Communal BBQs are provided. Monthly bar and BBQ events allow you a night off from cooking and let you savour local food and drink around the communal firepit. Away from the site, it’s short drive south to The Mill (01307 469486) for hearty breakfasts and lunches, while The Drovers Inn (01307 860322) is the top gastro pub in the area. For more of a restaurant vibe, try Forbes of Kingennie (01382 350777). For seafood near Arbroath, try But ‘n Ben (01241 877223).
