Now FREE DELIVERY on all UK Orders

All we need is a Bell Tent…

To start the Summer holidays this year we headed for a few nights of adventure in a bell tent. Glamping has become such a buzz word over the past few years, and there are so many options to choose form it can be totally overwhelming. Tents, camper vans, huts, boats, lodges, pods… you name it, it is on offer. We chose to stay quite local and booked somewhere based on a recommendation. We really wanted somewhere quiet and secluded with plenty of space for the Adventure Boys to run wild (without annoying anyone else!!) We also loved the idea of a bell tent; much more luxurious and comfortable than basic camping, but close to nature and still with that traditional feel of the joy of camping out in the wild with the stars above.

Allercott Glamping was perfect for us. The bell tent has been placed perfectly in the corner of a large field and is completely secluded, you have your own space and an uninterrupted view down to the coast. It is absolutely gorgeous, and was exactly what we were looking for. Its location just 10 minutes from pretty Dunster is ideal for families. There are lots of beaches to head to, the gorgeous National Trust Dunster Castle, and plenty of opportunities for walking, climbing, eating and all round adventuring!

The Bell Tent

The family who run the farm and have set up the Bell Tent have really thought about it. There is easy parking, a fenced off area just for you and your bell tent, and a large field to play in, or just enjoy the views! You aren’t over-looked at all. It is just you and your own adventure. This was so perfect for us and the boys. We could sit outside and enjoy a drink and watch them play, and as the sun set we could all enjoy the views with no one else around. It was wonderful to switch off for a bit and be slightly ‘off grid’. We weren’t glued to our phones, there were no other screens and we just loved being outdoors. We cooked over the open fire and then all snuggled together inside the tent after the sun had gone down.

The owners have set up a camping stove in addition to the open fire, which was perfect for the all important cup of tea and bacon sandwich in the mornings, and there is also a fridge and your own shower and compost toilet. It was all such an adventure. The shower perhaps being one of the highlights. It has been set up in a wooden out building with views across the fields to the sea. Just incredible. even our soap-dodging 10 year old willingly took himself off for a shower!!

A further highlight for us was Saturday night pizza. On our third and final evening, having cooked over the fire each day perviously, we ordered home made pizzas from the owners, and at 7pm they drove up through the field and delivered them to our tent door. Perfection!

Top tips for Glamping

Top tips and packing ideas for glamping…

  • We love to toast marshmallows on the open fire so always remember to take them along with sticks
  • Matches just in case they don’t supply any (although they did here along with a large supply of logs)
  • Layers. Even in the summer it can get chilly in the bell tent during the night, so we always try to take layers and extra blankets. Allercott was fab as they also provided extra blankets and hot water bottles. We were fortunate with warm weather and didn’t need them. But sat out late in to the evening we found we did need layers, socks and blankets on knees!
  • We really enjoy going screen free on trips like these. We find as adults we really need a bit of time away from it, and I think the children enjoy us being hands free too! So we take a good supply of books and games. Current favourites are Exploding Kittens, Throw Throw Burrito and of course classics Uno and Dobble. And to be perfectly honest one of theist things we took with us was a frisbee. The boys played with this for hours in the field in front of the tent!
  • Check the bed and linen situation. This particular tent has proper beds and lovely thick duvets, but it is always worth checking as this all takes up a lot of room in the car if it isn’t supplied!
  • A torch! We found that we ran out of phone battery, and without anywhere to charge, a battery or solar powered torch or lamp is really useful. Especially for those night time trips out to the toilet!
  • Extra shoes. We often find trainers can get damp in the grass late at night or early in the morning, so spare shoes are good. Of course this is more important if the weather is a bit on the dodgy side, as it so often can be in the UK!

Things to do in and around Dunster

Dunster is beautiful and the surrounding areas are equally lovely to explore. It is a great location to have as a base as you can travel in lots of directions and find endless opportunities for adventures with kids. Here are some of the ones we chose and loved!

  1. Dunster Castle. This is a great place to explore with children. The grounds have some lovely nature-inspired play areas, with winding paths and secret gardens to explore. Winding all the way up to the castle at the top there is lots to see. You could spend a couple of hours or indeed a full day! There is also a wonderful working watermill and lovely cafe at the bottom, from which you can walk in to the village of Dunster itself. This is lovely for a wander with independent shops and cafes, and lots of history.
  2. Dunster Beach. It always feels to me a bit like you are going back in time when you head to Dunster Beach. I adore it. It is a lovely place to escape to, with plenty of space and often quite empty. We headed there late in the afternoon and had acres of space to ourselves. A mix of pebble and sand it has views across Blue Anchor Bay and over to South Wales.
  3. Lynton and Lynmouth. An iconic part of the UK, I can remember visiting here as a child. I am still as fascinated by the cliff railway now as I was then! It is the highest and steepest totally water powered cliff railway in the world and is seriously impressive. We parked in Lynmouth and took the cliff railway up to Lynton where we wandered around the lovely independent shops and had ice cream. We then walked back down. It is quite windy and steep but the views are gorgeous, and it was nice to take our time exploring the area. Ralph was able to walk most of it (he is 4) with a bit of sitting on Daddy’s shoulders when needed! There are lovely shops, pubs and cafes down in Lynmouth too, a pebble beach and lots of opportunities for longer coastal walks. We will attempt some of them when Ralph is bigger. It is an absolutely beautiful area to explore.
  4. Porlock and Porlock Weir. This is one of my favourite places in the UK. It is so quaint, so peaceful and just like stepping back in time. Porlock is lovely for wandering around the small independent shops and a bite to eat. You can also camp here and head down to the beach. We spent our morning and lunch in Porlock Weir, just 5 minutes on from Porlock, where Exmoor meets the sea. There are a couple of lovely options for lunch and a super cute harbour to explore. It is one of those places you just have to see to understand. It is a must visit in my mind. so much space and opportunity to just slow down and explore at a snail’s pace. Much needed sometimes in this crazy world of ours.
  5. Minehead. Much busier and more frantic than the other locations, this is a great destination for fish and chips, fun at the arcades, a swim in the sea from the sandy beach, crazy golf or a spot of shopping. There are lovely walks from here out along the coast too. It is also a main station for the beautiful steam train line, the West Somerset Railway. We have done this a couple of times and it is really wonderful with children. Ralph is train obsessed so always a hit for us!

*Ralph and Henry are in some of our latest designs in these images. You can find them here!

If you have any other tips for the area let us know! Happy summer adventuring, Emma and the Adventure Boys x

Leave a Comment

Adventure Boy

free uk p&p

At this busy time of year, please allow 14 days for delivery. 

Happy Adventuring!  Emma and the Adventure Boys xx