Surf Pods and Camping at Atlantic F…

Set within easy reach of Bude's pumping surf scene, this singular south west retreat can arguably lay claim to some of Cornwall's most eye-catching glamping accommodation. While operating a separate field for 50 or so grass tent pitches (with optional electric hook-up), it's the luxury camping that steals the show here.

For starters, there's the eponymous oval pods. Ingeniously designed, these green-roofed wooden cabins come kitted out with king-sized beds, heated showers and solar-powered lighting, not to mention all the essentials from cooking gear and a cool-box to lean futons for extra pod-mates.

Although they aren’t exactly surfside, these luxury abodes come close enough, with the beach and town just a 20 minute walk away. And lets face it, after a battle with the Atlantic swell, these trendy little eco-pods offer superior comfort and protection from the elements than a sand-blasted tent on the beach.

Next up, the Atlantic Treehouse is a staggering feat of arboreal architecture. The spacious timber-framed house features bi-fold glazed doors, a perfectly proportioned balcony, and a clear translucent roof on its north side, with the central trunk forking right up through the structure and providing shade on the south section. Despite its eco-credentials, couples in the canopy are not short of mod-cons with a double bed, state-of-the-art heating, LED lighting, kettle, combi-microwave, and electric cool box, plus a firepit, barbecue and private bathroom with a 'secret al fresco shower' on the ground level. And, from six metres up, the views across the rolling green countryside to Widemouth Bay are stunning.

Although luxurious, there's a charming quirkiness to Atlantic Surf Pods. The spin-off business of an ex seashell-trader, there’s plenty of shell-themed décor and a shell shop and workshop onsite, which can be a brilliant distraction when the surf’s flat, the kids are bored or, on that rare occasion that Cornwall is hit by rain.

Gone are the days when 'roughing it' was non-negotiable if you wanted to dip a toe in the surfing lifestyle Cornwall is so famous for (although if you still yearn for a spot of traditional tent camping, the field next door offers some of the best in the region). In fact, flopped on a giant beanbag, the gas barbecue alight and a cold beer in hand, initiation to ‘surf-camping’ can be positively luxurious.