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Me and MrsR have some time off together soon (4 days/3 nights) and she has this idea about staying in a camping pod - not the super-basic ones - heated with a proper bed and maybe even a shower if poss! We’ve stayed away in the van over the years but looking for something a bit different, cosy, rural and not a piss-take price for what it is. Not too bothered about where it is but needs to feel like a small ‘holiday’/break (we’re in the lovely East Mids). Must be a nice pub that does food within a small walking distance. Anyone know of anything that fits the bill? TIA
There are quite a few places listed on Wigwam Holidays. We've stayed a couple of places.
Most wigwams have a heater and a kettle.
North Berwick was nice but probably half hour leisurely walk into town and had a separate kitchen shared by the wigwams.
One we stayed at I Skye you could use the bunkhouse kitchen.
Loads of places all over the UK with similar setups.
https://www.wigwamholidays.com/what-is-a-wigwam
Tyndrum has some I stayed in once. I had a basic one without an ensuite but that have posher ones as well with loos
We had exactly as you describe for some of this summer holiday. However, Talmine Camping Pods are a touch far. Best view evah though.
This is a nice little site with a heated pod in the Forest of Bowland.
Nice pub in the village, plus a teashop. Nice walk down the river to another pub too.
Tyndrum has some I stayed in once.
Used to stay in those when they were £20/night, must have been the late 1990s 'cos we were hiking rather than riding.
Comrie Croft have stoves in their Kata (wigwams).
Plus great riding and cafe.
They get very toasty.
Glentress Forest Lodges. Been staying there regularly for 10+ years. Spacious, warm and cheap. Good communal block on site for cooking, eating and washing. Riders Retreat bar & hotel on your doorstep for food and drink. Hundreds of bike trails too! Peebles is a couple of minutes away. It can't be beaten.
My AirB&B would be exactly what you are looking for. Unfortunately we are "closed for winter".
Bear us in mind if you want another trip next summer.
Just noticed my neighbour is now on AirB&B. A bit more luxurious (and expensive) but might also fit the bill.
How close to home?
Half a mile from me, good pub food at the Old Black Horse or Newdigate, other cafés and bistros walkable, edge of Shipley country park for walks and easy access to gravel/towpath riding between Derby and Nottingham.
Tweed Valley pods are in there first season near Innerleithen, (approx 1.5km walk to town?)
Peebles 8km approx the other way.
No use to the OP but stayed in the Glen Nevis pods a year or so ago with one of my sons who unbeknownst to me cranked up the heating when we went to the pub, to dry out kit. Which it did, but also melted a block of butter on a top shelf which flowed down across half the space. Imagine my good humour at an hour's cleaning before we could kip.
Ah yeah, Glen Nevis, nice pods. Heated
I have stayed in quite a few pods on various trips and they generally have good insulation, its quite rare that I would use the heating at all.
Narrowboat weekend away. Proper bed, central heating, shower and always close to a pub. Might not be cheap, but Glamping isn't either.
Have a search on AirBnB for "Sheppards Hut"
Me and my partner have stayed in a few and always had a great time. They are often on a secluded part of a farm with a nice view, have heating, running hot water and bathroom attached and small kitchen.
Setting's really important for these I think, so many are just stuck in a grassy field and it's just so boring, and exposed if the weather turns. Look at places like comrie croft (which has kata tents instead of wooden pods but they work out similiar) or strathfillan wigwams (where some admittedly are in a field but others are built cleverly into a wooded river valley, absolutely lovely) to see how good it can be if it's done well.
(having said that I quite often stay in a shepherd's hut place near dumfries which is definitely just in a field. But it's a nice field at least with really nice views, a good hill for the sun to set behind, etc.)
Thanks for the suggestions folks! Some look great but too far away - some are taking the piss with their prices - so much so you could stay in a nice pub with breakfast for way less than some people are charging. Keeping my options open ATM though…
Might be further than you're looking for, but we've stayed at Tigh an Each near Laggan in just such a pod. Own cooking facilities / toilet / shower / bit of decking to sit out on, with a double & three bunks in the back. Not the cheapest, but a great view. Plus it's just up the road from Laggan Wolftrax. No easy pub though, on the downside. They do B&B too, and she'll cook you a breakfast roll in the mornings & bring it to the pod.
Catgill at Bolton Abbey has some, Devonshire Arms just down the road for food. (Neither are cheap though)
some are taking the piss with their prices
They seem very expensive for what they are, unless the location is spectacular. Was looking at some for MrsMC"s last big birthday and she went nuts at me for thinking of "wasting" that money.
This is place in eskdale is nice. The byres are pretty big and have beds, showers and kitchens. The woolpack pub is next door and serves great food.
https://www.stayineskdale.co.uk/
Glentress Forest Lodges. Been staying there regularly for 10+ years. Spacious, warm and cheap. Good communal block on site for cooking, eating and washing. Riders Retreat bar & hotel on your doorstep for food and drink. Hundreds of bike trails too! Peebles is a couple of minutes away. It can’t be beaten.
I’m about to tell my wife we are going next summer. So this is good to know
I've stayed in the ones on the NT site in Langdale years ago which were reasonable value at the time (<£70for the weekend) but most seem very poor value in winter compared to just booking a holiday cottage or hotel.
Paid for my folks to stay here last year. Pretty special place and not crazy money. Not too far from you either.
Shropshire.
These may be a bit big, but it's a lovely site and a ten minute walk to Bishop's Castle which is brilliant and quirky and has lots of pubs.
https://www.foxholes-castle.co.uk/datcha.html