1 / 16

Amber's Bell Tent Camping at Hopton…

100%
·
· Hopton Wafers, Shropshire, England
1 acre hosted by Amber W.
Avatar
Family-friendly bell tent glamping in the trees, set on a 1,800-acre Shropshire Hills estate

Not many people in Shropshire can claim to have had their home designed by the same architect as Buckingham Palace. Yet, while it’s not as large or famous as the royal home, the beautiful stone country house of Hopton Court Estate is one of the rare exceptions. On the south eastern edge of the Shropshire Hills, discreetly tucked away among ribbons of trees, Hopton Court Estate was reputedly dreamt up by John Nash himself, with grounds by the last great landscape designer of the 18th century, Humphry Repton. While the house may be less palatial than Buckingham, the space certainly makes up for it. There’s some 1,800 acres in total.

Beyond the house and across open meadows The Riddings is found; a six-acre stretch of light pine and deciduous woodland, with gargantuan trees that have stood for generations. It is here, spread among the open spaces that Amber’s Bell Tents are located, a collection of six, fully furnished abodes, each decked out with real beds, a wood-burner and all the kit and clobber you need for cooking on a glampsite.

The glamping concept itself has been tried, tested and reviewed to much praise – Amber Wykes has set up her bell tents at several other country estates across the UK too – with a family-friendly feel and plenty of space. Rope swings hang from the lower branches of tall oaks and pine cones scatter the floor. Children love to scurry around looking for the largest or making friends through games of hide and seek. There’s a real sense of seclusion among the trees, aided, of course, by no WiFi or televisions and a positive approach to allowing campfires.

Walkers are particularly in their element. It’s just over a mile to the official boundary of the Shropshire Hills, while the estate itself is crossed by a number of footpaths (one leading to the local pub, less than a mile away). A hike west up Titterstone Clee Hill (the third highest top in the Shropshire Hills) is the quickest way to gain some altitude and enjoy views over Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, with the Brecon Beacons in Wales sometimes visible on a clear day. If you can’t cajole the kids into walking, it’s 10 miles to Bewdley where you can ride steam trains along the enchanting Severn Valley line. Or travel the same distance west to the foodie town of Ludlow, with independent shops aplenty and a magnificent ruined castle to explore.

Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Wildlife watching
Natural features
Forest
Field
Farm
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
More camping spots nearby
100%
4 Ratings · 13 reviews
Avatar
Vicki ?.
July 27, 2021
We arrived and was greeted by two ladies who did the site tour, the tent was outstanding with comfy beds and was very clean. The showers and toilet facilities was exceptional clean. The site is a true hidden gem.
Avatar
Roger A.recommends
July 17, 2021
Pheasant
Not only was this an excellently run glamping experience in a beautiful location and area,but also the sun shone on us throughout our 4 night stay…which made the holiday perfect…we’ll be back
Avatar
Georgina M.recommends
June 6, 2021
Pheasant
We stayed 4 nights in one of the fabulous quality bell tents. Lovely secluded location. Only you, 5 other families and the birds - including the cuckoo (fantastic to hear). Well equipped tent and facility - private en-suite cubicle is great. We enjoyed having our own bbq/fire pit (upcycled inner vehicle wheel 👍🏻). Comfy bed. Very picturesque location with lots of local walks around Shropshire Hills. Narrow country roads. We spent days in Ludlow and Shrewsbury, and cycled along Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal from Kidderminster one day. All beautiful and enjoyable. Would recommend site and area.
Avatar
Jenny ?.
September 1, 2020
An idyllic site - just 6 tents well separated with their own areas and a really remote location. The tent was lovely and well equipped. The bed was a little hard but overall we had a fabulous stay. The local pub (the Hopton crown) is also recommended - we had a very good meal there.
Avatar
Sarah E.recommends
August 31, 2020
Pheasant
This was a beautiful setting and the tents were great. There were a lots of storms during our stay but I never worried about the safety of the tent. The site was perfect for my children (8 and 11), who loved running off to play on the tree swings or look for wild rabbits. We were looked after very well by Claire and her husband, who even came to check we were OK in the storm. We had a few trips off site but the site itself was so perfect, we didn't feel the need to leave much. We found a public footpath from the nearby common, through fields of sheep down to a stream. It was amazing. The tents were lovely, the beds were comfortable and warm. There were lots of utensils for cooking and the children were delighted to have marshmallows to roast on the fire. The chest that was used for a cool box didn't work that well as we had some very hot weather and it got rather smelly but it didn't spoil our stay.
Avatar
George H.
August 26, 2020
Booked with a group of friends so we essentially had the whole site to ourselves. It was fantastic. The tents were very clean and looked great, BBQ for each tent and a bench and communcal firepit. The site looks little bigger on the pictures and video but it wsa a perfect size. Lots for kids to do with swings and a pond Along with a badminton net. Amber was very helpful on arrival, extremely friendly and a lovely host. The tent s had all you could need including tea and sugar. The ice packs were an added help keeping food fresher for longer. When we had a cler night the stars were amazing, no light pollution and we were far enough away from anyone else to disturb them. The toilets/showers were kept very clean and only a short walk from the tents. Would definitely recommend and would love to revisit.
Location
Hopton Wafers, Shropshire, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Avatar
Hosted by Amber W.Joined in March 2015
From the host
Not many people in Shropshire can claim to have had their home designed by the same architect as Buckingham Palace. Yet, while it’s not as large or famous as the royal home, the beautiful stone country house of Hopton Court Estate is one of the rare exceptions. On the south eastern edge of the Shropshire Hills, discreetly tucked away among ribbons of trees, Hopton Court Estate was reputedly dreamt up by John Nash himself, with grounds by the last great landscape designer of the 18th century, Humphry Repton. While the house may be less palatial than Buckingham, the space certainly makes up for it. There’s some 1,800 acres in total. Beyond the house and across open meadows The Riddings is found; a six-acre stretch of light pine and deciduous woodland, with gargantuan trees that have stood for generations. It is here, spread among the open spaces that Amber’s Bell Tents are located, a collection of six, fully furnished abodes, each decked out with real beds, a wood-burner and all the kit and clobber you need for cooking on a glampsite. The glamping concept itself has been tried, tested and reviewed to much praise – Amber Wykes has set up her bell tents at several other country estates across the UK too – with a family-friendly feel and plenty of space. Rope swings hang from the lower branches of tall oaks and pine cones scatter the floor. Children love to scurry around looking for the largest or making friends through games of hide and seek. There’s a real sense of seclusion among the trees, aided, of course, by no WiFi or televisions and a positive approach to allowing campfires. Walkers are particularly in their element. It’s just over a mile to the official boundary of the Shropshire Hills, while the estate itself is crossed by a number of footpaths (one leading to the local pub, less than a mile away). A hike west up Titterstone Clee Hill (the third highest top in the Shropshire Hills) is the quickest way to gain some altitude and enjoy views over Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, with the Brecon Beacons in Wales sometimes visible on a clear day. If you can’t cajole the kids into walking, it’s 10 miles to Bewdley where you can ride steam trains along the enchanting Severn Valley line. Or travel the same distance west to the foodie town of Ludlow, with independent shops aplenty and a magnificent ruined castle to explore.
Nearby attractions

The Hopton Court Estate covers some 1800 acres, playing host to various events – from folk festivals to fitness events (see their website for full details) – with plenty of footpaths to explore. On the edge of the Shropshire Hills, the estate also offers direct access onto Catherton Common and the Clee Hills – Titterstone Clee, in particular, is a prominent landmark round these parts and well worth a ramble to the top for views over Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and as far as the Black Mountains. For family-friendly routes, the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve offers cycling trails and more accessible walking routes or, to really take it easy, ride the vintage steam train from nearby Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway (and hike back along the Severn Valley Country Park). Mountain biking, climbing, fishing, canoeing and wild swimming are all possible too, while, for culture, Ludlow town is a treasure trove – antique stores, boutiques and a fantastic reputation for food – with Ludlow Castle (01584 873355) overlooking it all. The town is host to a number of festival events annually, including a gourmet food festival (01584 873957) in September, while the tiny market town of Cleobury Mortimer, just 2½ miles down the road, also boasts fine cuisine, with 6 different pubs and a brewery, Hobsons. It also has a bank, pharmacy, petrol station, Post Office and all the essential amenities, plus a charming, 12th-century church with a famously crooked spire.

Food and drink

It's a 10-minute walk through the estate grounds to the Hopton Crown (01299 270372). Family-friendly and with a small but decent beer garden, this 16th century coaching inn was refurbished in 2018 and has a good focus on all things local, with several real ales on tap from Wye Valley and Ludlow breweries (try the Ludlow Gold or the Wye Valley Butty Bach to be a real local). The pub is open every day and food is served daily (though not until 6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays). Occasional live music. Free WiFi.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/embed/N-rd5zyqL1o

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Cool Camping is now Hipcamp, your best resource for beautiful private campsites.

Discover & reserve tent camping, caravan parks, cabins, treehouses, & glamping.

Download the Hipcamp App

Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.