GLAMPING | A Chilled Out Weekend of Luxury Glamping at Coniston Park Coppice in Cumbria

June 28, 2017 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Family Camping, Family Holidays, Glamping, Glamping Site Reviews, Homepage Feature, Lodges & Holiday Parks, Our Adventures, Reviews, Stays With Style

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Where did we go?

Experience Freedom at Coniston Park Coppice
Park Gate, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8LA
Telephone: 01342 777533
Glamping starts at £69 per night, Find out more

What did we think?

Coniston Park Coppice is a Caravan and Motorhome Club site located in the Southern Lake District, set in 63 acres of stunning National Trust woodland very close to beautiful Coniston Water. There are 3 fabulous new Experience Freedom Glamping Pods on the site, and it’s one of these that we stayed in.

Just a two hour drive from home, we set off on Friday afternoon and after a rather lengthy detour due to a motorway closure, arrived a little later than anticipated but made it on site just before 8pm. We were welcomed at reception and received a map and directions which helped us to find our pod.

There’s generous parking available right beside each pod and they each have their own private raised deck area, along with outdoor seating and an enormous gas barbecue.

Inside the pod we were happy to find an attractive and airy interior which comprised a living room with generous double pull down sofa (cleverly hidden away – fully made up behind a mirror), a little kitchen area and a full bathroom complete with oversized monsoon rain shower. The interior decor was understated but modern, with hints of Orla Kiely in the colour palette and pattern of the curtains.

Once we started to explore the pod we found loads of clever storage, most of which was hidden away but gave us ample space to stow our bags, walking gear and so on. In the bathroom we found a big cupboard and this alone was plenty big enough for us to tidy away all of our stuff into.

The compact Kitchen included a microwave, kettle, toaster and fridge along with plenty of crockery and cutlery enough for four. A little welcome basket on the shelf was filled with self-catering essentials and some very tasty biscuit treats too. The kitchen also included pots and pans, which at first proved perplexing given no hob, but after whipping the cover off the 3-burner gas barbecue, we found a single ring gas burner attached and the pans suddenly made more sense!

We had fabulous weather so cooked on the barbecue twice, using it to grill bacon in the morning and for chicken burgers in the evening. With such lovely weather we made the most of the outdoor seating, eating breakfast and dinner outside. Obviously cooking on the barbecue does rely on dry weather, so bear this in mind if you are planning on self-catering.

The site itself is really peaceful and set in stunning woodland, which made for a truly relaxing weekend. The walk into Consiton is just far enough for you to feel like you’ve earned a coffee and a slice of cake; we ate on the waterfront at The Bluebird Cafe, which on a Saturday afternoon was lively but the food was good and we had fantastic views over Coniston Water.

The verdict?

We’ve stayed in a similar luxury pod before, but the layout of this pod is a bit different as it will accommodate a family of 4. After a busy few weeks, relaxing in style and without the need to set up camp ourselves, was just what we needed. We thought that the interior space of the pod was very well thought out, the double bed was spacious and very comfy and we enjoyed a very relaxing break.

With the Old Man of Coniston visible close by the location is ideal for walkers. Whilst we didn’t do any notable walks, we clocked up a good few miles walking into and around Coniston, and the surrounding countryside is absolutely beautiful. The added bonus for us was the proximity to Coniston Water. Lugging a kayak meant the walk through the site and on through an adjacent campsite took us around 15 minutes. Though there is a closer drop off point, you can’t park there, so you’d end up returning your vehicle and walking down anyway.

Coniston water itself is lovely and we were there on a sunny Sunday afternoon. There were plenty of people on and in the water, but it didn’t feel too busy and definitely not crowded. After a paddle in my new inflatable kayak I jumped in and went for a swim – actually the first time I’ve wild swum in the UK. The water temperature in June wasn’t freezing, but I was glad I had my wetsuit on! Being so close to the lake (and not having to pay to launch my kayak) was a huge bonus and getting out onto the water really helped make the weekend for us.

My kayak after a paddle on Coniston Water, a short walk from the site

Me taking a dip in Coniston Water

Highlights

Stunning pods with everything you could possibly need – true luxury that even people who hate camping and glamping will love!
The pods are spacious, cleverly laid out with lots of storage and suitable for a family of 4.
Fantastic location very close to Coniston Water so perfect for those who want to spend time in/on the water, especially if you don’t want to have to pay to launch!
Lots of helpful information about the pods, site and local area all provided.
Very well equipped – we loved the big gas barbecue, TV and Bluetooth speaker system and comfy beds.
We enjoyed the walk into Coniston and the site has close proximity to great walking trails including the Old Man of Coniston
The Coniston Park Coppice site is pretty and quiet.
The staff and other guests were extremely friendly, in fact we struck up several conversations and even let some curious caravanners in for a look around the pod.

Out and about in Coniston

A big thank you to The Experience Freedom for arranging our stay.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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