If you want to feel good about going on holiday, get yourself to Dennis Arbon Caradon Woods in Cornwall where the idea of paying it forward underpins holidays in nature. First of all, the woods were donated to the Woodland Trust by Dennis Arbon. In turn, the Woodland Trust gave management of the place to a social enterprise who aim to boost the wellbeing of people and the planet. And then it’s your turn: by taking a holiday here, you will be supporting the work of that social enterprise. The fact that it’s a rather appealing place to holiday—a private, riverside, three-acre meadow in an ancient woodland—seems purely coincidental.
It is, however, not mere fluke that this campsite has come together but the result of a lot of hard work, all spearheaded by Phil and Aydin. This pair of outdoor educators have whittled, carved and created a place to stay in this special spot on the banks of the River Lynher. It’s impact on the land is light with an eco-friendly ethos and a maximum of just four bell tents hired to a single group at a time. That means you’ll only ever share the space and its rustic facilities with those you come with. It is what you might call a wild glamping experience—with the emphasis firmly on the wild.
Your car is parked a 15 to 20-minute walk away from where tents are pitched (your luggage can be transported in a 4x4). The tents are simply furnished with camp beds for which you need to bring your own sleeping bag (leave the duvet at home). The whole site is off grid and there’s no running water, save for the river flowing by. Washing facilities use rainwater, toilets are composting, and drinking water has to be brought in. Phil and Aydin will fill a 300-litre bowser for your stay.
There’s a woodsman’s touch to this place and the campfire is the heart of it all. If you like the sound of that but lack the skills to survive, you can book in a campcraft workshop to learn them. This is a place where you have no option but to slow down, relax and immerse yourself in nature and age-old ways of life. It’s certainly designed for that. The whole site is 40 acres and it’s all yours to explore. You can swim in the river, cook on the fire, watch wildlife, and walk in the woods but should you wish to venture further, Bodmin Moor is just four miles away, the Tamar Valley a few miles more.
A unique family and friends experience, our site offers "wild glamping" in a woodland that's exclusively yours for your stay. It's a self-catered experience with exclusive access to our pristine woodland, camped in a three-acre meadow on the banks of the river. Just bring the basics of a sleeping bag and mat, food, clothes etc and we will provide the rest. (minimum 4 guests)
You have access to composting toilets with hand washing facilities, a large, covered A-frame area with tables and seating, plenty of fresh water, basic solar shower, a supply of wood for the fire pit, which comes with a tripod, hot plate and large kettle. We also provide a couple of large pans, a spatula and ladle, cups plates bowls and cutlery.
We will provide three five-metre bell tents, one six metre bell tent and (if needed) a four-metre bell tent, all with camp beds, rugs, mats, an eco-solar lantern, a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a wood burner (in the colder months). There are also phone-charging facilities, hammocks with a basha shelter, a fire-bridge with grill & various hangers for pots/kettle & Petromax Griddle/firebowl. There's a supply of drinking water in 300 litre water bowser & 10l water containers per tent. Seating is made from recycled wood and there are two six-foot picnic tables lovingly crafted by us. There's also an A-frame with tarpaulin cover and set-up parachute to weather-proof the firepit area if required, composting toilets with eco-friendly loo roll, a wash area which is rain-fed, with eco-friendly hand wash and antibacterial wash. There's a washing up bowl with scourer, spatula & ladle bins plus hot bin composter for food waste etc. Eco-friendly washing up liquid and shower gel, quirky ‘spartan’ shower & a solar shower.
All you need to bring is: clothing, swimwear, towel, sleeping bag & mat, waterproofs, torch, insect repellent, boots/shoes, water bottle, and your food. We provide the rest. For a full list of what we provide, and your personal kit list visit our website and download the pdf document and will be sent to you when booking. (minimum 4 guests)
On arrival at the parking area, all your kit will be transported down to the riverside meadow in our 4x4. You will then walk down to the meadow through ancient woodland and along the river to get orientated and to relax into the experience. We are part of nature - not apart from it- and as more of us look to foster our connection with the natural world, you will be able to enjoy the abundant wildlife, and ample time to explore the winding paths, dip into the cooling river and relax around the fire. The woods are located in the heart of Cornwall, with a short drive to many local attractions, the area is full of history, walks and cycle trails. It's a 45min drive to either the South or North Coast where you can surf, swim and sun bath and enjoy breath taking coastal scenery.
A supply of firewood is included in the price, and additional wood may be purchased at £75 for a trailer full (which would normally last two to three nights. On arrival we will explain fire lays and how best to construct fires for cooking. the conservation of this Atlantic Woodland is of paramount importance, therefore the economical use of firewood is essential (minimum 4 guests)
Optional Extras
During your stay, you may be interested in the following optional extras, if you are interested, the following can be arranged and paid for during your stay with us…A Campcraft Guide, not sure about how to light a fire? don’t know the difference between different fire lays for different purposes? Not sure how to cook on an open fire using a fire-bridge? Want to learn how to pitch a hammock amongst the trees with a basha shelter? Want to learn how to make water safe to drink? Why not let one of the expert guides teach you these campcraft skills during your stay for that richer experience? £75.00 Greenwood Craft, How does making your own butter knife, spatula and possibly other hand-crafted items sound? Let our greenwood craft expert, Phil, show you how to safely use saws, axes, knives, drawknives and a shave-horse to craft unique items that you can use and take away as you depart Caradon Wood.£30.00/person for a two-and-a-half-hour session (Min. Three people)Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)-Shinrin-yoku- loosely translated from the Japanese as bathing in the forest- is the practice of walking slowly through the woods, in no hurry, using ALL the senses to engage with nature. The cathartic benefits of time spent in nature is well documented: Scientific research has supported the benefits on time spent in nature, both physiologically and psychologically. So why not join your guide and take the time to boost your wellbeing and bathe in Caradon Wood.£25.00/person for a two-hour session (min. three people).
