The Wildings
UK England South West England Gloucestershire Bourton-on-the-Water
“You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day... unless you are busy, then you should sit for an hour.” So reads the Zen saying that’s quoted on the wall in reception at The Wildings, a new pod camping site in The Cotswolds. We quite agree and this charming little place on the edge of one of Britain’s quaintest and most-visited villages has made it a little easier for people to do that.
There are currently six camping pods at The Wildings, a half-acre sliver of land surrounded by fields near Bourton-on-the-Water. Each has insulation, heating, lights and electricity, which make it possible to “camp” without a tent all year round. You can book the pods with camping mats-only, for what must surely be one of the best-value, all-season stays in the area or ramp up the luxury by adding from a range of extras. It’s a sort of tailor-your-own glamping experience with beds, linen and towels, campfire cooking kit and tableware all available.
This little camping pod village was set up by owner Kim when she was pregnant with her third child – and it shows. It’s a lovely spot for everyone but perfect for young families with each pod sleeping up to a family of five. For some (perhaps especially parents) the fact that there’s nothing to set up and peg down will open up the world of camping. The pods are warm, weatherproof and can be tailored to your needs. Bringing a baby? Add the cot bundle. Camping as a couple? How about booking a celebration hamper? And if you’re worrying about warming the baby’s bottle or feeding over-tired kids, don’t. Just head to the on-site Cook House with its fully kitted-out, undercover communal kitchen with sofas and books to boot.
You’ll get more than your 20 minutes in nature here: while enjoying a campfire and watching the bats, while the kids play on the climbing frame and even on your way to and from the communal loos. But lovely as it is (and “lovely” really is the word), it’s a simple site that, as Kim says, is a great Cotswolds base camp rather than an attraction in its own right. After all, there are plenty of those in the surrounding area already with picturesque, riverside Bourton-on-the-Water just a mile away. It has a historic model village, Birdworld and The Cotswold Motoring Museum as well as tearooms, inns and cafes. There’s enough to keep you occupied for a week but it’s well connected too with footpaths as well as roads leading out to the rolling hills and other heart-achingly perfect villages that The Cotswolds is so famous for.
Our Best Price Guarantee
We guarantee our prices at Glampingly are the same, or lower, than booking elsewhere. If not, tell us, and we’ll match it or beat it. Full terms here.
Gallery
Details
Facilities
Two showers and two toilets are shared between the pods. There’s also a communal fully-fitted cookhouse with a fridge and cooker as well as a seating area with sofas and books. The pods are fully insulated with an electricity supply, lighting and camping mats and there’s a whole host of extras available to customise your stay from camp beds and bedding to welcome hampers. Campfires are allowed but restricted to the site’s own off-ground firepits which you can hire either on their own or as part of a campfire cooking bundle. Both include a basket of logs.
Suitable For
Families, couples, groups, dogs (for an extra charge) all welcome.
Nearby
Bourton-on-the-Water is in the middle of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural beauty and the site is just a mile away from the village. Attractions in and around the village include The Model Village (01451 820467), Birdland and Jurassic Journey (01451 820480), Bourton Model Railway (01451 820686), The Cotswold Motoring Museum (01451 821255), Greystones Farm Nature Reserve (01453 810853) and the Cotswold Brew Company (01451 824488) where you can enjoy a tour and tasting. You can also head out on The Warden’s Way from the village, to walk through some of The Cotswolds’ most lovely scenery to nearby villages. Lower Slaughter is two miles away with its Old Mill Museum, shop and cafe (01451 820052) and historic St Mary’s Church. The picturesque market town of Stow-on-the-Wold is five miles away – home allegedly to England’s oldest inn (see below), medieval stocks, antique shops and eateries.
Food & Drink
There are plenty of recommended places to eat in Bourton-on-the-Water from the simple Bakery-on-the-Water with its riverside cafe (0141 822748) to De La Haye’s fancy Fish & Chip Shop (01451 822500). The Rose Tree Restaurant (01451 820635), The Mousetrap Inn (01451 520579) and the Duke of Wellington (01451 820539) are all recommended and for Italian food, there’s L’Anatra (01451 820286). It would be rude not to pop in for a pint or a bite to eat at The Porch House (01451 870 048) in Stow-on-the-Wold which claims to be England’s oldest inn (though there are a few others vying for the title). For a coffee or hot chocolate in the same village, The New England Coffee House is the place to head for. The Old Prison (01451 860339) in North leach, five miles away, is a great place for brunch and you get free admission to the old prison it’s named after too. The Fox Inn at Barrington (eight miles away) comes highly recommended for its quintessential Cotswold riverside setting and atmospheric cosy fires.
Opening Times
All year.
Why book with Glampingly?
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
The Owner Says
We can't wait to welcome you to our lovely new camping pods surrounded by the family farm.
We want to give all our guests an amazing experience while staying with us, therefore we have designed our site to give you the best value for money, while also offering lots of options, so you can make it the perfect break for you.
The site runs like a traditional campsite, but instead of having a tent and all the hassle that goes with it, you have a fab, cozy, well-lit pod instead. The pods are 4m by 4m square, so really big and airy, and they are fully insulated, include lights, an electric heater and sockets.
If you want to keep costs down, then you are welcome to take the pod as it is and bring your own beds and bedding with you, as you would on a normal camping trip just without the tent. Alternatively, if you fancy spoiling yourselves, then why not let us provide comfortable beds and linen that will be ready for you when you arrive? We can also offer fire pits and hampers to make your time with us even more relaxing and special.
We also offer a relaxing Cook House for all our guests where there are kitchen facilities, a fridge, sofas, games, books, and all sorts of other things to make your stay comfortable.
For children, we have a fantastic play area to keep them busy while you make supper or relax with a book!
There is plenty of parking and we also have a specific area for bicycles for any cyclists staying.
Accommodation
Six camping pods.
Meadowsweet Pod
Rowan Pod
Thistle Pod
Yarrow Pod
Dandelion Pod
Cleavers Pod
Location
Getting There
From the A429, turn south east signposted Clapton Sherborne. Continue along Lanketts lane until you reach the junction, you’ll get a glimpse of our pods here. Turn right at the junction and immediately right through the farm gates. You’ll see our dandelion on the shed wall, just follow that around the barn and you’ll see us. From the A40, turn north signposted Sherborne Clapton, stay on this road for a few miles, its wiggly but don’t turn anywhere. Drive carefully as there are often roe deer about. Keep driving until you reach a junction at the top of the hill, we are on the left.
The nearest train station is nine miles away at Moreton-in-the-Marsh from where the 801 bus service (which provides a handy connection to much of the surrounding area) runs frequently to Bourton-on-the-Water (except on Sundays). An alternative station is at Kingham, about 20 miles away, from and to where you can take a taxi.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewBe the first to leave a review!
Why book with Glampingly?
- Best Price Guarantee, with no fees
- Instant booking confirmation
- Trusted for over 10 years
- A chance to win prizes in our regular competitions
