Need some pampering? Love a little luxury? Welcome to the concept of ‘spa glamping’. Yes, it's a thing. And you can find it at Hartridge Springs in East Devon. Think of working up a sweat in a woodfired sauna before cooling off in a hydrotherapy shower (equipped with Bluetooth speakers for your favourite soothing tunes). And all set in seven private acres of the Blackdown Hills, just a 20-minute drive from the Jurassic Coast. It's a thing. Fluffy, embroidered, spa dressing gown and all.
The aim at Hartridge Springs is simple: Guests should leave feeling rejuvenated. This starts with the accommodation. Each of the five bell tents is fitted with high-end furnishings, from Egyptian cotton sheets to hardwood beds and spring mattresses. All your cooking and dining equipment is provided, and there are endless smaller touches, like tea-light candelabras and fresh flowers. It's an easy break and one that's very accommodating too, being both child and dog friendly.
The water that powers Hartridge Springs’ spa facilities is natural alkaline spring water, sourced from an aquifer 100ft beneath the ground. This runs up and into the sauna, as well as the private shower and loo areas – each pitch has access to its own facilities. The environmental awareness is further exemplified by the solar-electric power and the panoramic wood-burner inside your tent, which will keep you warm with wood sourced from the surrounding woodland.
And what surroundings – sixteen acres of private woodland are ready to be explored, overlooking the scenic Otter Valley. You might meet the site's neighbours, the monks of the Hartridge Buddhist Monastery, and on Sundays, you can even sit in on their meditations. Further afield it's a 30-minute drive to the "Pearl of Dorset", the seaside town of Lyme Regis, and 40 minutes to Exmouth Beach's beautiful two-mile stretch of sand.
