Glamping at Middle Stone Farm, West Somerset
Why Middle Stone Farm?
I stalk a multitude of accommodation providers on Instagram. It was via Host Unusual that I spied the luxury glamping safari tents of Middle Stone Farm, just as we were starting to think about lockdown restrictions lifting and UK self-catering holidays being a thing again. A quick scan of their website and I’m ready to click “Book Now”. I briefly consider the smaller and cosier Deckhouse Cabin and Stable Cottage, both suited for a couple, but I have my eye on one of those tents. After all, we’re planning on going at the end of April, when spring has sprung and the frosts are far behind us.
(Spoiler alert. Spring had definitely not sprung. And the frosts were far from behind us)
The Setting – All the Fun Of The Farmyard
Middle Stone Farm is in Brompton Ralph, in West Somerset. It’s rural location makes it a great base to travel to Exmoor, the North Devon Coast and the Quantock Hills. A car is definitely needed to get the best out of the area, although with the right weather it’s hard to tear yourself away from your accommodation. We did find ourselves traversing the same roads over and over again and became quite the dab hand at navigating our way around. Rural location = lots of twisty, winding roads so take your time and be careful if you’re nervous about that kind of driving!
It’s a working farm, but above all Catherine and Patrick are family-orientated so everything is geared up for a family-friendly holiday. From the huge open spaces of the glamping fields to the play areas, and from the farmyard tours to the kids toys and books in each accommodation, this is the perfect place whatever the age of your party. And with three dogs of their own, three of the six safari tents are pup-friendly. Otter and Wilbur will undoubtedly make themselves known to you by headbutting you around the knees for attention.
Booking couldn’t be easier through the Middle Stone Farm website, and thanks to the comprehensive and clear pre check-in emails we knew exactly what to expect when we arrived. And throughout our stay, Catherine was just a text message away for any questions.
Kilve Lodge – More Than Just a Tent
So out of the six safari tents – why choose Kilve? With the green light for UK holidays and outdoor hospitality given, we expected a packed site. I chose Kilve because it was the furthest away from the children’s play area, and therefore afforded us a little privacy. What I didn’t account for was choosing one of the quietest weeks in Middle Stone Farm’s calendar, and therefore having the whole glamping field to ourselves.
The safari tents have all been manufactured locally, with recycled, repurposed and pre-loved items used inside. This is all part of Middle Stone Farm’s excellent Eco Policy and commitment to running an environmentally friendly site.
Kilve shares a glamping field with two other safari tents – Bossington and Porlock, all named after local places. This is a pet-free zone, but dogs are welcome in Buzzard, Hawk and Kestrel lodges. Kilve sleeps six; Middle Stone Farm offers couple discounts for their safari tents in you’re planning a trip outside of peak holiday season. There’s parking for two cars for each tent; load up a wheelbarrow and follow the signs!
Let’s Go Inside
Throwing open the canvas doors for the first time elicits a gasp of awe from me. And I’ve pored over the photos so knew what to expect. From Mr Fletche, I get a nod of approval. He prefers to be surprised by my choices. And I think the gal chose well this time round. This is not just any tent.
To our left, a wooden dining table with candelabra for a romantic dinner a deux. There’s a home-baked farmhouse loaf, locally produced apple juice and freshly laid eggs, surrounded by vases of greenery plucked from the farm’s hedgerows. A squishy leather sofa and armchair bedecked in cushions and throws creates a cosy corner. The Esse woodburning oven dominates the space; our first job is get the fire roaring. Beyond the stove, the kitchen, fully equipped with all manner of pots, pans and utensils. Only on the final morning do I find the ice tray, which would have been handy for that pre-dinner G&T. And the post-dinner G&T come to think of it.
Two bedrooms, a twin with pristine white linens. A comfortable king-size with fluffy pillows. And what’s in this cupboard? Yes, there’s another king-size bunk so you can lock the kids away the kids can have their own space. I contemplate shoving Mr Fletche in here if he snores. Or if I have one too many of those pre- or post-dinner G&Ts. Both bedrooms have zipped canvas doors leading onto a shared annexe, from which there is a toilet and sink on one side, and a large walk-in shower on the other.
The Great Outdoors
Back out onto our deck and there is rattan outdoor furniture, perfect for gazing at the stars with a sun-downer in hand. Children (or very little people) have their own seating area. There’s a wooden bench and table on the grass outside, which evokes memories of pub gardens, glass bottles of coke and packets of salt and vinegar crisps. There is also a hammock, which I manage to clamber into without spilling out. Outdoor sitting and dining is well catered for. If the weather plays ball.
Our wood fired hot tub is located to the side of the tent, away from prying eyes. Although thankfully there are no prying eyes around to witness our 10pm dash from the hot tub in plummeting temperatures. Mr Fletche does a grand job on our arrival day stoking up the water to a balmy 35 degrees – there’s definitely a knack to it. We manage an invigorating dip with the obligatory (plastic) glass of prosecco, before declaring that hypothermia is not the best way to celebrate our release from lockdown.
Eating and drinking
The beauty of Kilve, and all the glamping accommodation at Middle Stone Farm, is that you are able to cater for yourselves. The kitchen is fully equipped, and once your stove is hot it will cook to perfection. There isn’t much storage space for food (although there is a small fridge and freezer) but I would definitely recommend ordering one of Catherine’s home cooked meals to heat up. I pre-ordered a cottage pie for our arrival night; we’ve just made our third meal out of it back home! If you prefer to buy food locally there’s a small village store in Brompton Ralph, or a Co-op in Wiveliscombe, 3.5 miles away. Middle Stone Farm has their own farm shop too, full of local and organic produce.
We also ordered a breakfast hamper which contained sausages, bacon, eggs, butter, bread and apple juice. I’ve never tasted bacon like it, and knowing all the meat is locally sourced gets the thumbs up from me. Of course, they will also offer a vegetarian option if you would prefer.
There’s no pub in the village; instead we booked outside tables at the Bear Inn in Wiveliscombe (10 minute drive), and the Farmers Arms at Combe Florey (15 minute drive). Both were great options, serving good food and a selection of local beers. Mr Fletche also highly recommends the beers from Quantock Brewery.
Useful tips for staying in Kilve Safari Tent (in subzero temperatures)
There’s no doubt that the cold snap at the end of April caught us all by surprise. I imagined basking on the sundeck, breakfasting al fresco and evenings spent languishing in the hot tub. Unfortunately what we had was four nights of huddling around the wood burner, building a hot water bottle fort and putting on all our clothes to go to bed. Even our host admitted that the tents aren’t particularly well equipped to deal with sub-zero temperatures. So here are some useful tips if you’re planning a stay (and useful for glamping in general!)
- Pack a dressing gown. Intended for trips between lodge and hot tub, this became our attire of choice for lounging around the tent. Also pack slippers or thick bedsocks – the floors can be pretty chilly. Layers are your friend. Thermals are your bestest friend.
- Kilve is the closest tent to a country lane (which is quiet). And to a poultry farm (which is not quiet). Earplugs are a good recommendation, although we used a white noise app to block out the sound.
- On a wood burning stove, there’s no such thing as fast food or a quick cuppa. Plan accordingly; it takes about 20 minutes for the stove to start to warm up enough for the kettle, and about 40-60 minutes for the oven to reach ample temperature to cook. The trick to heating a fire – don’t be afraid to use lots of wood. A generous amount is provided; even with all the cold weather we didn’t get through the entire stash.
- The hot tub is also heated by a wood burner. This takes around 4 hours to reach a perfect temperature the first time you use it. If you want a dip on your arrival your hosts will happily arrange to have this heated for your arrival for an additional fee. Another note about your hot tub – they use a LOT of water so please consider whether you will make use of it before booking it. Sadly we only used it once because of the dodgy weather.
- Pack wellies or waterproof shoes for walking between the tent and the car park, particularly on wet mornings. Even a light dew can soak through canvas pumps and socks – as I found out. These are also handy if you want to take a farm tour. There will be plenty of mud and other stuff you’d rather not step in wearing your fanciest footwear.
- Middle Stone is a working farm, which means that sometimes they will rotate the animals around to ensure they are living in the best conditions. The alpacas for instance are usually in the field directly opposite the Kilve, Bossington and Porlock tents, but they’ve been recently moved due to the lack of rain.
- There are plenty of cooking utensils supplied but you may want to bring a little oil if you plan on frying. From our breakfast hamper, we cooked our sausages in the oven and then used the tiny bit of excess fat to fry the bacon and eggs
Glamping at Middle Stone Farm – All the Details
