Glamping? In the winter? Don’t be put off yet. Too often, a glamping holiday in the summer leaves you stuck in a winding stream of traffic on the way to a crowded campsite – not least a feeling of disappointment if the weather doesn’t cooperate once you get there.
But a getaway in the colder months can offer something completely different, if you’re willing to put aside your hopes for a sunny stay: the peace and quiet of winter mornings, landscapes sparkling with frost or covered in mist, cozy evenings around you own fire pit.
Plus, it’s off-season, which means you’re likely to find a glamorous cabin or luxury yurt for a lot less than in July or August. Here is our selection of the best shelters.
Starry Sky resides in Carmarthenshire
The long winter nights are ideal for stargazing. And Hafan and Derwen – two off-grid huts hidden in a remote, conservation-focused smallholding in Wales – are just the spots, as there’s little light pollution here in the Tywi Valley. There is also plenty of game: watch and listen to deer, owls and red kites.
The huts have wood-burning stoves (and a free supply of wood), mini kitchens and distractions in case of bad weather, including a guitar, books and games. Outside there’s a sheltered veranda, fire pit and compost toilet, plus views of the prized dark skies of the Brecon Beacons.
Cabins (sleeps four) from £150 for two nights.
Rural retreats in Kent
Cuddle up on the Kent Downs in a vintage shepherd’s hut at Greenhill Glamping, home to two beautifully restored 19th-century huts on a family farm in the Alkham Valley. Insulated with sheep’s wool and complete with wood-burning stoves, electric heaters and king-size beds with goose down duvets, you certainly won’t feel the cold.
Plus, there’s great walks on your doorstep to get the blood flowing – stroll to Alkham’s 200-year-old pub or take a 15-minute drive to Dover’s White Cliffs for a stroll to blow away the cobwebs.
Shepherds huts (for two people) from £155 per night.
Camping without an audience on the Isle of Skye
It may be a bit nippy on Skye in winter, but the reward is empty roads, guaranteed natural drama and – who knows – maybe even the Northern Lights. Plus, the neat wooden pods at the Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse, located in Uig on the northern Trotternish Peninsula, stay cozy all year round.
They are small but perfectly formed, with good beds, a kitchenette, heating and private showers, as well as beautiful views over the vast bay. Walk to nearby Fairy Glen and grab a drink at the Isle of Skye Brewing Company, just down the road.
Pods (for two or four people) from £95 per night.
A new shelter in Herefordshire
The White House Hideaway is perfect for winter. With solar energy and a wood-burning stove, it is off-grid, nice and warm and completely private. The simple wooden interior has a compact kitchen and bathroom, while the double bed is located by a wall-sized window, so you can dream away and wake up to views of the Wye Valley.
You can also get outside: SUP on site, follow walking trails, hit the pub (the excellent Crown Inn at Woolhope is five miles away) or soak under the stars in the outdoor pool.
Cabin (sleeps two) from £258 for two nights.
The most beautiful fort in Powys
Oaken Fort really adds ‘glamour’ to ‘glamping’ – it’s no surprise that this fairytale, timber-clad bastion is one of Canopy & Stars’ most loved Instagram posts. Situated on the Anglo-Welsh border, the unique hut overlooks rolling hills and woodlands, wild in location but five-star in style.
Every furnishing, from the eco-wood beams to the high-quality kitchen, is impeccable. And you can enjoy the view regardless of the weather: inside, from the copper bath, looking through the large windows, or outside, from the electric hot tub on the deck.
Cabin (sleeps four) from £245 per night.
Hygge paradises in Northumberland
Trees at Tughall offers a touch of Scandi cool in the wilds of Northumbria. There are three modern cabins here, each hidden from the others. Ash is embraced by ancient trees; Hawthorn sits by the rippling Tughall fire, overlooking the Cheviot Hills; Willow has its own private clearing by the stream.
They are all excellently insulated, with warming wood-burning stoves and heaters hidden beneath the large window seats. Gaze at the stars from the covered terrace, huddle around the fire pit or head to the cafes and seafront of Beadnell Bay, just a 30-minute walk away.
Cabins (sleeps two) from £310 for two nights.
Quirky huts in Worcestershire
On a crisp winter’s day you won’t find a more beautiful spot than the Cotswolds. The utter Englishness of these rolling hills is magical under a touch of frost, just as snowdrops begin to emerge in the local woodlands.
Bluebell, near the village of Broadway, is a quirky base for exploring the north of the region; it is made up of two shipping containers, one of which has been creatively converted into a bedroom with private bathroom, the other into a comfortable lounge kitchen. They are connected by an open but covered terrace, so you can enjoy the rural view in all weather conditions.
Cabin (sleeps two-three) from £95 per night.
A ski resort in the Cairngorms
Choose a pod near the slopes for a cozy British ski holiday. The off-grid shepherd’s huts, pods, spacious cabin and converted railway carriage at Glenshee Glamping are close to Glenshee Snowsports Centre.
You can spend a day traipsing around Scotland’s longest and most extensive ski slopes and return to the site to snuggle up in your heated retreat – most have wood-burning stoves and all have good views. Hot tubs can also be booked to soothe those aching limbs.
Pods and cabins (sleeping two to five people) from £95 per night.
Great tents in Devon
If you want to sleep comfortably under canvas this winter, choose HARTA. The unique tents at this remote spot on the edge of Exmoor offer the romance of camping without the hardship. Each room consists of two linked, double-walled teepees, complete with king-size beds, shaggy carpets, wood-burning stoves and underfloor heating.
There is also an en suite bathroom (with a roll top bath) and a private outdoor shower if you prefer something a little more invigorating. Cook up a feast in your outdoor kitchen or order a homemade curry delivered to your tepee door.
Tipi (sleeps two) from £140 per night.
A quiet retreat in Shropshire
Stripped luxury, done well – that is the goal of Rest + Wild. The four Shropshire cabins are stylishly built using recycled and natural materials and beautifully designed with brown leather, moody-dark paint and copper accents. But they also lie deep in nature; there’s no wifi and no road noise (fear not, there’s heating).
Indeed, you have to park up to 250 meters away and hop through the fields to get there. The reward? Privacy, tranquility, birdsong, secluded outdoor pools, romantic evenings around the fire and beautiful views of the Clee Hills.
Cabins (sleeps two) from £550.00 for three nights.