A Weekend Glamping in South Devon
{ad/ press stay with Canopy and Stars}
This is a very overdue post but now that I’m getting back into the habit of writing again, I thought I’d share a little bit about this trip we took last summer. I was invited to experience a little bit of glamping with Canopy and Stars, who did a collaboration with Oliver Bonas and The Flete Estate. This specific stay isn’t available anymore but you can stay on the estate and they’re offering their own glamping, which I’d highly recommend as it’s really stunning! The whole weekend was quite the adventure!
In the Meadow
One Friday morning last August, we packed up a rental car and drove out to Devon. I managed to convince my husband to make a detour at Corfe Castle, which added a few hours to our journey but meant that we drove along the coast for the last two hours of our trek, which was stunning. By the time we got to South Devon, we were tired but very excited for our little break! Our bell tent was located in a field along with 5 other tents, a horsebox that’s been converted into a kitchen, compost toilets and solar powered showers. We brought lots of food with us, including some marshamallows to roast because each tent also had a fire pit! I never need much of an excuse for marshmallows!
It was so beautiful and there was almost no light pollution! One of the nights there were not many clouds in the sky and we could see so many stars. We could even see the International Space Station moving across the sky as we sat by the fire! I found out after we stayed that the 1995 Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet was filmed here too! How wild!
The Little Town of Totnes
We didn’t have the best weather for our weekend, so we had to improvise a bit! There was a day we tried to go for a walk but we got drenched so we spent the day in our tent, reading staying cozy. Then, another morning, we drove over to Totnes, a little market town nearby. It’s definitely quirky and very cute. We wandered through the streets, followed the road over the river and turned down as many little nooks as we could, before treating ourselves to some warm pies.
We also drove over to Plymouth for a quick stop as well. It was rather rainy, but we did head to the Barbican area to explore. We managed to find the Mayflower Steps which mark the supposed spot where the Pilgrims departed for America in the 1600s, which was an odd experience. Sometimes I forget how young a country my native land is, and then I come across things like this! Had the weather been drier, and we’d had time to actually plan a trip to Plymouth we might have seen a bit more but it was still nice to pop in for a couple of hours!
A Swim In The Sea
The Flete Estate is right by the sea, so we took advantage of one of the sunniest days and walked down to Mothecombe Beach. It was a stunning sight to be honest, and had the weather been better we definitely would have spent more time on the beach! The sea was cold but felt so nice to swim in! I love swimming, but I don’t enjoy pools; I think I have a chlorine sensitivity or something. Give me the sea or a river or lake any day of the week and I’m a happy bunny!
We also had a nice meal by the beach as well. There’s a little restaurant called Schoolhouse near the estate that we went to for lunch. Sitting in the sunshine enjoying a drink and a nice meal was delightful. Plus the entrance to the beach is just on the other side of the road. We’d brought some campfire food with us, but it was nice to head out too!
Could I Have S’More?
Would I go glamping in any capacity and not make s’mores? No no I wouldn’t. Since we were equipped with a fire pit, I made sure to stop by Panzers and pick up some proper American marshmallows and graham crackers. I might have to investigate making my own graham crackers as they’re definitely not cheap! Still, totally worth it to make s’mores by a campfire in a field. It took me right back to summer camp! I know, I know, how American of me, but what can I say? I love them!
Since our invited stay last summer, I’ve actually booked another holiday with Canopy and Stars for a few nights and I’m really looking forward to it! They have so many cute cabins, yurts and rustic accommodation that you’ll be dreaming of lush weekends away before you know it. I’ve already got several of their listings bookmarked, which is great because there’s just so much of the UK I want to explore!
