GLAMPING | Ultra-Quirky Glamping For Couples & Groups at Glamping Thorpe in Oxfordshire

March 28, 2017 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Camping Features, Glamping, Glamping Site Reviews, Homepage Feature, Latest Posts, Reviews, Stays With Style

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Couples at War - Quirky accommdation at Thorpe Glamping

Where did we go?

Glamping Thrope
Located on the Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire border
Tel: 07973294495
Find out more here

What did we think?

This place has so much charm it’s difficult to pick what to talk about first. The accommodation is a glorious mad-cap assortment of tents and random vehicles, sporting an eclectic mix of interior design styles, ranging from junk-shop chic to carefully themed period interiors completed with some beautiful antique pieces.

As you might expect at a glamping site, accommodation options include a choice of two bell tents. Then there’s the red spotty caravan, a tiny but adorable 1960’s caravan painted with an enormous pink flower, and an utterly charming shepherds hut. So far so standard, but that’s where standard glamping ends.

On our visit we stayed in a converted horse lorry, and were astounded to find a comfy kingsize bed and a living space that included a woodburning stove, which made for toasty warm nights. The horse lorry also includes a decked veranda overlooking a field containing sheep and newborn lambs frolicking around. It’s hard to imagine a more idyllic country scene.

Our weekend was spent with family & friends so we were able to make good use of the communal facilities, including The Pig Shed. Split into three sections the shed contains a party room, complete with dance floor, flashing lights, hay bale podiums, a banging sound system and even a raised area for decks, just in case you fancy bringing a DJ along with you.

In the centre there’s a chill out area full of comfy sofas and an epic wood-burning stove. In the last section there’s a dining area which includes cooking and washing-up facilities, and importantly, a fridge for keeping the Prosecco chilled.

We find it’s the little things that really make a difference at a glamping site, and Glamping Thorpe does a great job of paying attention to the small details. For example, there’s the log burners, hot water bottles, a row of random jackets and a chest full of blankets, that ensure guests will never be cold. The Pig Shed handily provides a refuge from inclement weather, so even if it’s raining, there’s still a great space available to hang out in with friends.

On site you’ll find a number of eco-friendly toilet facilities (a real experience in themselves, expect rustic), as well as showers hidden inside cleverly converted horse trailers. This place has bags of personality, and quirky is a word that seems to have been invented to describe Glamping Thorpe, which has been successfully welcoming guests for some 5 years.

Owner Paul is extremely friendly and hospitable, exuding a chilled out vibe, he can’t do enough for us, always making sure we are comfortable and happy.

The sun setting through the trees at Thorpe Glamping

The sunsets here are stunning, you can watch the sky turn bright pink as the sun sets over the fields.

There’s no restrictive rules that demand silence after 9pm and whilst Glamping Thrope is very party-friendly and extremely popular with groups, and in particular hen parties, there is another side to it.

Couples at war

Recently introduced, the couples glamping area, is set separately in it’s own field, but it’s still just a stones-throw away from the main facilities of The Pig Shed. There are three unusual army trailers which overlook a field of grazing sheep and the area has it’s own loo too, so you won’t have to wander too far if you need a wee in the middle of the night, though chaps are encouraged to simply make use of the hedges (nature wee, yay!).

The 3 military vehicles that occupy the field (hence the ‘couples at war’ moniker), are among the quirkiest accommodation we’ve ever seen. We are invited to take a look around them all, and the 1940’s Home Guard trailer definitely gets my vote. It’s cheery yellow interior feels like it echoes the upbeat Keep Calm and Carry On mentality of the wartime era.

Mr CWS on the other hand prefers the slightly more masculine interior of the camo trailer; a converted Brockhouse British military trailer packed full of personality and a gloriously comfy king-size memory foam bed.

All of the army trailers include wood burners, gas stoves and of course a kettle because glamping without the means to make tea would be madness.

For couples looking for something truly different, a weekend spent in one of the military vehicles on site will make for a unique and memorable stay.

They are new, so bookings are still available for 2017, but they’re likely to get booked up quickly just like the rest of the site which is typically fully booked for many months ahead.

Need to know

Mid-week you can stay 3 nights for the price of 2
There’s no on-site shop, but there’s a huge M&S about 10 minutes drive away
Bathroom facilities are rustic; don’t expect to find anywhere to plug in hair straighteners
The main site is normally used for whole-site bookings
There’s a bouncy castle on site to hire (take it from us, it’s an absolute must!)
The site isn’t really geared up for individual families
Perfect for groups, and couples

Find out more about Glamping Thorpe.

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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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