Get Lost In Nature glamping

Footpaths surround the farm and there's a great local pub within walking distance. The nearest town is Market Harborough, a ten-minute drive away, a fine old market town with plenty of indie shops and cafes and a large covered market. If you're looking for family-friendly attractions, you don't have to go far, starting with Rutland Water with its fabulous water park, beach area and nature reserve – and there are also walking trails, bike hire, watersports and boat hire. It's a big place and there are several car parks, depending on what you want to do — best to check in with the Sykes Lane Visitor Centre (01780 686800) first.

If you've got history fans in tow, dramatically sited Rockingham Castle (01536 770240), ten minutes away by car, is a fabulous day out, built by William the Conqueror and continuously occupied for a thousand years. The gardens are lovely and there's a nice tea room too. Wistow Maze (07884 403889) is a fun day out for all the family — it's a maize and sunflower maze, seven feet tall, with a quiz trail to follow. West Lodge Farm Park (01536 760552) is another favourite place for young children, with a petting farm, pony rides, daily animal activities and an indoor adventure barn — a good choice if the weather's iffy.

For older children and families, Foxton Locks (0116 2793686) is a fascinating place to watch boats passing up and down on the Grand Union Canal, using some enterprising Victorian engineering. There are canalside pubs within walking distance, picnic spots and walking trails. Or head to Leicester for big-city attractions like the National Space Centre (0116 2610261) — featuring the UK's largest planetarium — and the King Richard III Visitor Centre (0116 2294132).

The nearest pub is a beauty (and an easy walk) — the White Horse (01858 535268) in Stoke Albany, an old thatched inn with a good bistro menu and a decent Sunday roast. You can eat well in other local hostelries too, such as The Swan (01858 462754), a ten-minute drive away in Braybrooke — another thatched charmer with more of a foodie ambience — and the Red Lion (01858 463571) in Great Bowden, five minutes away, which has a lovely Mediterranean-style courtyard garden for dining. They do good weekend breakfasts here if you fancy starting the day right without the cooking and washing up. Also in Great Bowden, on the green, Bowden Stores (01858 440957) is a chic homeware store with great coffee and good food (they do takeaway pizza nights too).

Otherwise, the nearby town, Market Harborough, has plenty of places to eat, from cafes and pubs to curry houses and pizza places. The best bakery in town is the Garage Bakehouse (07791 951984), for artisan breads, decent coffee, and great cakes. For a drink and a meal, you can't beat the Waterfront (01858 434702), an old warehouse on the canal basin that's now a rather nice bar-restaurant, with outdoor seats in summer overlooking the moored boats.