When John and Montse left the corporate rush of central London a few years ago they had more than just a house in the suburbs in mind. Bound for Montse’s roots in beautiful Catalonia, they now find themselves in the most contrasting landscape imaginable. The skyscrapers of the city have been replaced with the crinkling peaks of the Pyrenees, stretching northward from their home, while the murky river Thames is now the Vall d'Ora, a wild swimmer's delight where river water cascades in sparkling waterfalls. Cars, tubes and double-decker buses are nothing more than a distant memory, supplanted in the mind by tractors and bicycles. In all, they have found a rural paradise; a beautiful farmstead, poised on the divide between rolling, fertile farmland and steep, pine-clad mountains.
Nestled amongst the trees, this luxury campsite captures much of what is great about a proper glamping holiday, with all the kit and caboodle required to simply kick back and relax. The shady canopy of pine needles and the views across the rolling hills beyond make the space ideal for those who want to do little more than enjoy the place itself, while the walk-able distance to the river, a nearby lake and a host of charming old towns mean explorers are just as well catered for.
The site itself is comprised of four fully-furnished bell tents, raised on wooden platforms and each well separated from one another so guests have a truly private camping experience. Inside, a super king-sized bed is accompanied by bedside tables (made out of huge round logs) topped by charming old-style lanterns and a pair of indoor chairs. Outside, guests have their own dining space, ideal for evening meals on the warm summer nights, and a hammock or two for reading a book. On particularly hot days you can also roll up the lower section of the canvas bell tents, allowing the breeze to naturally cool the space.
While most of the bell tents have an adjacent private bathroom (with solar-powered showers and a composting loo) there is a further ablutions area down by the main house. Flushing loos, showers and power sockets mean however choosey you decide to be you’ll always be well looked after. By the house you will also pick up Wi-Fi signal and can grab a little info on the local area whilst chatting to John and Montse. Their first port of call is normally to point you towards the track, a pleasant walking route that descends to the river where an old lock has become a waterfall, the pools either side perfect for swimming.
Those enticed out by the campsite’s wonderful views can hop onto the nearby C-26 that wiggles down to the old town of Solsona to the west. En route, take a detour for more swimming in Panta de Sant Ponc or head straight into town with its well-preserved old centre: the Clos Antic. Though boasting a towering Catalonian cathedral and a cluster of good eateries, the best thing about Solsona is that it's only the tip of the iceberg. A host of other small but historic towns pepper the surrounding area and many act as gateways into the mountains, the prime destination for lovers of the great outdoors.
Hosted by Deleted H.
Joined in August 2014Take the C-26 west towards Solsona and stop at Panta de Sant Ponc, a beautiful long lake that's perfect for wild swimming. The surrounding area has a network of excellent footpaths and the small roads around the lake are very quiet, ideal for cycling. You can kayak here too, just ask John and Montse for info. In Solsona itself the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona sits in the centre of the old town. Further south, Cardona is an equally beautiful place, overlooked by a castle built in 886. While such historic villages are all worth a visit, continue further south for an hour or so bringing you to Barcelona.
A healthy continental breakfast is provided each day and home-cooked dinner can also be made for you if required. There is a communal BBQ for anyone to use, or, if you don't want to cook, take the 15 minute drive into the town of Solsona where you'll find a fantastic range of eateries.
