A
former port that’s now decorated with dainty little leisure boats,
Upton-Upon-Severn is a real riverside relic of olde world Britain. Pretty
eateries and independent shops dot the streets, while regular events in summer
bring out the bunting and rightfully give rise to the claim that the town has
“a liveliness out of all proportion to its size”. It’s a place for good old
fashioned nosing around on holiday. And now, just outside of town, there’s a
pod glamping site that offers the perfect place to base yourself.
Designed
and hand-built by Mark Newton and his nephew, the four hexagonal homes at Honey Pod Farm stand
out from the crowd. At the top is the clear star-gazing dome that pools in
natural sunlight by day and allows glampers to enjoy the stars by night, while,
inside each pod, they feature beds for up to six people and a fold out dining
table and chairs. Facilities – powerful solar-powered showers, toilets, sinks
and washbasins – are all eco friendly and found in a brand new, brick-built ablutions
block finished in 2017, while a pair of rustic kitchen huts provide an easy
place to make your morning cuppa.
While
the unique pods create a cosy atmosphere (the insulated walls slope
inwards in a cocoon-like embrace), the setting is the real winning feature
here. For starters, of course, there is the pub. An old, 17th-centuy
inn, The Drum and Monkey, compete with open fireplaces and low beams, is just a
stroll across the field – they have regional ales on tap, tasty pies and a
locally famous Sunday carvery – while, further afield, the Malvern Hills offer
a hiking and mountain biking playground. For something more sedate, a wander back
among the shops in picturesque Upton-Upon-Severn is the final icing on the
cake. Then it’s all back to Honey Pod Farm for a good old evening around the
campfire.
