Devon heaven: 10 of the best Devon glamping spots that are blissful rain or shine

For more weekend break inspiration, see our guide to glamping in the Peak District, glamping in The Forest of Dean, the best lodges with hot tubs, the best glamping in the UK.

Glamping in Devon | No. 1

Royal Oak Stargazing Cabins

Tried and Tested by our Editor 

With endless views of the heavens, these 3 Devon cabins are a stargazer’s dream come true

The Setting: Slipped quietly into 15 acres of verdant Devon meadow, in the rolling Blackdown Hills above Honiton, are Royal Oak Star Gazing Cabins. These 3 log cabins – Orion, Ursa, and Perseus – sit alongside ancient oaks and beech trees, and watch over the whispering grasses and wildflowers, as if they’ve always been here.

In truth, the cabins have only been part of this beautiful spot for just over a year. But they’ve been sustainably hand-built by their owners, Poppy and Paul, from reclaimed timbers to be at home in the farmland that surrounds them. And it’s little wonder that the owners want to keep Mother Nature happy here; it’s precious land, this juicy slice of Devon. Deer graze just metres from your door. Buzzards float on thermals overhead. And dragonflies zip through the air.

You’ll need a car to get to this special glamping spot in Devon, although the drive to it is relatively easy from the M5, which is only 30 mins away. There’s also direct road access from London along A303 and A30. If you’re heading by train, that’s easy, too: Honiton and Axminster are on the main trainline from London.

When you arrive, either Poppy or Paul will be waiting to welcome you and show you the ropes. There’s private parking on-site for your car, a wheel barrow to take the load off carrying your luggage and a short, pleasant walk along the field to get to your cabin.

Nearby, the famous lace-making market town of Honiton ticks to a laidback Devon beat. A little further afield (20 mins to be exact) is the stunning Jurassic coast and the treasured town of Lyme Regis. Travel 10 mins further down the M5 and you’ll reach the historic city of Exeter.

The Inside: Orion, Ursa and Perseus, as you might expect, have superstar interiors; each one slightly different from its celestial sibling. But all have one very important asset in common: a magnificent star-gazing window that shoots views up into the heavens from the comfort of your bed.

Of course, the cabins are heavenly in their own right, with enough living and eating space for 2 adults to co-exist happily under one roof. Squishy king-sized beds to laze in all day long; a wood-burning stove with firelighters, kindling and wood to help you crackle away the cold nights; plus, a modern kitchenette with hot running water, a gas hob, a fridge and plenty of utensils and equipment to keep you fed.

Each cabin is solar-powered, so whilst there’s electric to boil the kettle, charge your phone and keep the lights on, there’s not enough to power a laptop or a TV. Not that it matters; the Devon countryside views and peace are enough.

More impressive still is the en-suite shower room in all three cabins. Much larger than you expect and fitted to a standard that would make many hotels blush, they come with a walk in shower, vanity unit and sink, and a luxury compost toilet. Which, trust us, is a work of genius by the eco-savvy owners and very easy to manage with, if you follow the instructions.

The Outside: Outside every cabin is a large raised wooden deck, perfect for sundowners as the Devon sun slides from view. From the comfy patio table and chairs you can sit in the fresh Devon air, nursing a morning coffee or savouring an evening wine, eye level with the Blackdown Hills (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

Drop down from either Ursa or Orion into the meadow below and you’ll find a neat grassy area, complete with firepit and BBQ grill and equipment. Similarly, Perseus has his own grassy BBQ spot set behind his wooden deck area, underneath the oak trees.

All three offer ideal spots to watch the stars come out. And there’s better still to come: an open-air bathtub, crying out for bubbles and a splash of something fizzy. Yes, Orion, Ursa and Perseus all come with their own tub, perched in a private corner of the deck and sheltered by timber screens. Step in and get set to be star-struck.

You’ll Love: You get the best of all worlds at Royal Oak Farm. Wrap-around Devonshire peace during the day, with gorgeous views flooding your irises. A celestial show at night (cloud allowing), starting with an incredible sunset thanks to the cabins’ North-West position. And because Poppy and Paul also offer a delicious menu of feasts and treats to enjoy during your stay (from a breakfast pancake stack to home-cooked dinner), you really can just park your car and lay blissfully and indulgently low for the entire weekend. Soaking up the sunsets and stars.

The Cost: £130pn, 2 night min stay

Ad: This inclusion has been kindly sponsored by Royal Oak Farm.

Glamping in Devon | No. 2

Exe Valley Glamping

Four luxury safari tents, set on a 150-acre family farm near Bickleigh, and created to help you reconnect with one another. Eco-friendly at heart, off-grid by nature, Exe Valley Glamping want you to come with family, friends and four-legged BFFs to switch off.

Swing in the hammock. Play on the swing. Gather by the firepit. No stress outside and no comfort spared inside. Indeed, the 3 bedrooms come cosy, the bathrooms come hot and private, and all safari tents come with kitchens, lounges and wood-burning stoves for warmth at all hours. Plus, the River Exe is a stone’s throw away for fun times in and on the water.

Costs: From £114pn

Glamping in Devon | No. 3

Airstream 1234

Once upon a time, Airstream 1234 belonged to a member of Wally Byam’s Caravanners’ Club (the founder father of Airstream trailers). Today, she still has her original 1960s’ window stickers but has swapped her retro interior for something a little more 21st-century.

With a hat-tip to the deep oranges and browns of sixties style, she’s a vintage vision with all the mod-cons: underfloor heating, bathroom with power shower, flat-screen TV, sound system, wi-fi, full-size combi oven with induction hob, fridge and dishwasher.

Plus, a springy double bed decked in Egyptian cotton linens and a Japanese wood-fired bath spa. Find her a mile from the pretty riverside village of Dittisham, 10 minutes from popular Dartmouth beach, Blackpool Sands, and not far from Dartmouth itself with its art galleries, boat trips and fabulous eateries.

Costs: From £700, 3 nights min

(Pic credits: Unique Hideaways)

Glamping in Devon | No. 3

Sunridge EcoPod

A luxury, cedar-cladded pod with private hot tub set in a gorgeous hollow in a private garden. This Devon glamping gem is compact, yes, but every inch of space has been smartly used. High-end and luxurious, with no expense spared to make a romantic weekend visit snug and special. Includes a contemporary German kitchen, underfloor heating, powerful gas-fired shower and a clever toilet and sink combo to maximise space.

Come nighttime, and the sofa transforms into a bouncy sofa bed. Should it rain, there’s a 50-inch Smart 3D HDTV complete with 3D glasses and a selection of movies to keep you entertained. Plus, a PS4 games console for the kid in you.

Costs: From £300, min 2 night

(Pic credit: Sunridge EcoPod)

Glamping in Devon | No. 4

The Lazy Mare

Take one horse truck, pimp it so that it rocks a rustic ‘happy days’ kinda vibe and what do you get? The Lazy Mare at Shack and Pantry. A short drive from the North Devon coast, with amazing views over Exmoor and across the Bristol Channel from the deck, The Lazy Mare is a neat, uniquely designed package for two (or for those flying solo). Especially ideal for those weekenders seeking surf on the coast or adventure on Exmoor.

A king-size bed dominates, plus there’s a compact kitchen, en-suite shower room, private toilet, and log burner (plus additional heating if you feel a chill). It also comes stacked with woollen throws, towels, board games, magazines, tea and coffee, and marshmallows for roasting over the fire pit in the festoon-lit garden area.

Cost: From £95pn, min stay 2 nights

(Pic Credit: The Lazy Mare)

Glamping in Devon | No. 5

Coastal Cabins

You can’t knock their beach hut swagger, even if they’re not on the beach. Still, with views that roll on to the Atlantic from the North Devon coast and luxury interiors that make you feel like the sea is outside your door, these 10 Costal Cabins rock their rural location.

Choose from one of 8 ‘Family Cabins’ (sleeping 4) or 2 ‘Couples Cabins’. All have king-sized beds, fully-fitted kitchens (tucked away behind a partition wall in the living area), living space with a squishy two-seater sofa, and a tidy little shower room, with a sink and toilet. On-site there’s also a BBQ cabin and ‘Wild Spa’ hot tub area.

Cost: From £330, 3 nights min

(Pic Credit: Cool Stays)

Glamping in Devon | No. 6

Oyster Glamping Boat

Moored permanently in a quiet spot on the foreshore of the Salcombe Estuary in South Devon, Oyster Glamping Boat gives landlubbers a taste of life at sea without ever having to set sail. At high tide, she floats in a fixed position, so you can gently bob with the waves, watching the wading birds, safe in the knowledge you’re not going anywhere.

Completely off-grid, with a compost loo, comfy fold-down bed, hot shower on land, and single-burner alcohol stove and basic kitchen facilities, she’s as quirky as they come – and ideal if you’re happy without all your creature comforts. There’s fridge and electric waiting on land, as well as parking.

Cost: From £129pn

(Pic Credit: Meadow Barn Farm)

Glamping in Devon | No. 7

Nirvana

Nirvana by name – and by nature. This fabulously fun luxury Devon glamping site has 3 different huts to keep you happy as a lord: The Train Carriage – your main sleeping quarters with a luxurious super king-size bed, a small kitchen with fresh running spring water, a toilet room with flushing WC and basin, and a flat-screen TV with a selection of DVDs, DAB radio and board games. The Finnish-style Barbecue Hut that’ll seat 20 people or more, ideal for a chargrilled banquet. And the Kitchen and Shower Hut, with everything you need to stay fed, watered, and squeaky clean.

There’s also a private air strip on-site (flights can be arranged on request, so you can take to the skies across Exmoor National Park and the Devonshire coastline) and an outdoor wood-fired hot tub, filled with the farm’s own spring water, with glorious views over the valley below.

Cost: From £120pn

(Pic Credit: Quality Unearthed)

Glamping in Devon | No. 8

Brownscombe Tabernacle

Tin tabernacles – or iron churches – were once the preserve of Methodist ministers, dotting the South West of England in the mid-19th century. Today, many are revered as historical spaces, redundant as a place to worship. Many others, like Brownscombe Tabernacle, have been put to other uses – converted for our modern lust for glamping.

This heavenly space for two, on the side of a Devon hill, has been beautifully reworked as a glamping retreat that’ll soothe restless souls. Features an incredibly comfortable king-size bed, sweet woodland wallpaper, vintage furniture, a wood-burning stove, hand-built kitchen, and a Danish wood-fired hot tub.

Costs: From £345, 2 nights min

(Pic Credit: Brownscombe Luxury Glamping)

Glamping in Devon | No. 9

Otter’s Holt Shepherd’s Hut

Not every Devon glamping site can lay claim to resident beavers, but Knightstone Farm, near Otter St Mary, can. They live secretly by the river bank, and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of them. Of course, they’re not the only wildlife you’re in with a chance of seeing when you glamp here: foxes, deer, badgers, and even the local otter likes to make an appearance at Knightstone.

When you come, stay in the farm’s Otter Holt Shepherd’s Hut. It’s luxurious and memorable. The inside is beautifully designed, with a king-size bed and bunk bed, a Belfast sink, two-ring hob, mini oven and fridge. You will also find a separate bathroom with a flushing loo and lovely warm shower. Outside boasts a wood-fired hot tub and table and chairs to the front; sun loungers and a pizza oven to the side of the hut.

Costs: From £270, 3 nights min

(Pic Credit: Knightstone Farm Glamping)

Glamping in Devon | No. 10

Yeworthy Eco-Friendly Treehouse

A lakeside treehouse that’ll send spirits soaring, Yeworthy Eco-Treehouse is an off-grid retreat perfect for couples and a well-behaved pet pooch. Nestled in a secluded setting amongst the tree-tops above a lake, it’s an offgrid experience, decked with modern comforts: a downy double bed (covered with plump cushions and pillows), a soft-glowing log-burner, and a furnished balcony with jaw-dropping views.

You also enjoy exclusive use of the nearby summer house (great for BBQs) and the rowing boat on the lake. Off-grid means cooking is on a gas camping stove and the loo is a composting sawdust toilet, located a few meters away. Truly private, remotely nestled amongst the trees. 30 minutes from Dartmoor National Park.

Cost: From £95pn

(Pic Credit: Finest Retreats)