July and August are the high season for camping. This also includes those who glamp, too.
Glamping – a portmanteau of “glamorous camping”, refers to camping with amenities and comforts well beyond the basics of a tent and sleeping bag. In the UK, glamping typically refers to staying in unique accommodations, such as yurts, bell tents, shepherd’s huts, cabins, or treehouses, which are ready-furnished and often include many of the benefits of a hotel stay, all in a natural setting. The idea is to enjoy the great outdoors without roughing it. Glamping sites typically offer conveniences that traditional campers can only dream of, including real beds and mattresses, proper bathrooms, electricity, and heating. You get all the fun of camping, sleeping under canvas or stars, without the usual discomforts associated with camping.
What can you expect at a UK glampsite?
Here are some common features and amenities:
Pre-Pitched Luxury Accommodation: Glamping accommodations are pre-set and often structurally robust (wooden pods, safari tents on decks, etc.). You arrive to find a cosy shelter, be it a pod, hut, or large canvas tent, already in place, so there is no stress trying to erect your tent.
Real Bed & Furnishings: You’ll sleep in a proper bed with a real mattress, fresh linens and pillows. Many glamping units also have sofas or armchairs, dining areas, and other furniture to make you feel at home whilst in nature.
Private (or Upgraded) Bathroom Facilities: A key difference from basic camping is access to a proper toilet and hot shower. Many UK glamping sites offer en-suite bathrooms, so you can enjoy a hot shower without tracking across a field. Flushing toilets and running water are common in glamping. Something you may not automatically have when you camp.
Cooking Facilities: Glampers can cook alfresco over a firepit or barbecue, but you’ll often also have indoor options. Many glamping tents and cabins come equipped with a kitchenette or a wood-burning stove – more about these later.
Heating and Electricity: Unlike traditional camping, where you rely on campfires and extra sweaters for warmth, glamping stays are usually equipped with proper heating. This might be an electric heater or, very often, a wood-burning stove to keep the space toasty.
Glamping in the UK offers a balanced blend of nature and comfort. It’s this mix of outdoor adventure with hotel-like convenience that makes glamping such an attractive option for a wide range of travellers.
Why Glamping Has Become So Popular in Recent Years
Glamping has surged in popularity across the UK over the past decade, transforming from a niche concept to a mainstream holiday trend. Here are some of the reasons behind the growth of glamping:
Unique, Comfortable Outdoor Experiences: Modern travellers crave nature and authenticity, but they also love their comforts. Glamping offers a unique and luxury outdoor experience, a more comfortable alternative to traditional camping. You get the novelty of sleeping in a yurt or treehouse without sacrificing a comfy bed or a good meal. This blend of adventure and comfort has broad appeal.
Broad Audience Appeal: Glamping’s charm appeals to a diverse range of demographics. It appeals to a wider range of consumers, including families, couples, and older generations. Parents appreciate having nature on the doorstep for the kids, but with safe shelter and amenities. Couples find glamping perfect for romantic getaways. Even those who might shy away from camping in their retirement years enjoy glamping’s ease. Solo travellers, too, have embraced glamping as a way to find solitude in nature with a sense of security. A private hut or pod on a friendly site offers peace of mind that wild camping might not provide.
Rise of Staycations (Domestic Travel): In recent years, global events have prompted people to stay closer to home. The uncertainties of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic led to a boom in UK staycations as an alternative to overseas trips. Many who might have flown abroad discovered the joy of holidaying in the British countryside instead. Glamping, with its promise of safety (self-contained units, open-air environments) and seclusion, was especially appealing during the pandemic. Even as travel opens up, many Brits have developed a newfound appreciation for local escapes in nature.
Affordable Luxury & the “New Camping”: Historically, camping was seen as a budget vacation. Glamping has changed this somewhat, yet it can still be more cost-effective than a hotel resort holiday. During economic downturns or the current cost-of-living crisis, people seek affordable holiday options without compromising too much comfort. Glamping fits the bill as an affordable getaway, which helped bring even more newcomers, including more affluent families who tried camping during Covid, into UK campsites. Once they experienced roasting marshmallows by the campfire and sleeping under canvas (with a proper bed!), many were hooked.
Eco-Friendly Travel Trend: Another reason glamping has grown is its alignment with sustainable travel values. Many people want holidays that bring them closer to nature and minimise environmental impact. Glamping is often seen as a greener type of break. From solar-powered lighting to composting toilets, many UK glamping sites focus on eco-friendly practices. This draws eco-tourists who might skip a resort but love the idea of a cosy off-grid cabin or a tent warmed by renewable wood fuel.
All these factors have combined to make glamping a booming part of the UK travel industry. What began as a quirky concept, posh tents for festival-goers or elite campers, has proven to have lasting appeal. It taps into a contemporary desire: to reconnect with nature in comfort and style.
Cosy Comfort: Wood-Burning Stoves in Glamping Tents
One signature element of the glamping experience, especially in the UK climate, are wood-burning stoves. These stoves are the heart of many glamping tents, providing warmth, ambience, and even a means to cook, all in one. Here are a few points which make wood-burning stoves such a key part of the glamping experience:
Staying Warm and Extending the Season: A key advantage of glamping is that it’s not limited to the summer months, although the summer months are the most popular. Thanks to proper insulation and heating, often via a wood-burning stove, glamping can be enjoyed year-round. Most glamping accommodation will be equipped with some kind of heating, whether it’s a wood-burning stove or underfloor heating, so guests won’t have to worry about keeping warm on those cooler evenings. In a canvas tent or yurt, a stove can make all the difference on a cool night, even as we approach the end of summer, turning a potentially damp and cold experience into one of comfort.
Atmosphere and Ambience: Beyond heat, a wood-burning stove adds an unbeatable atmosphere to a glamping stay. The soft flicker of firelight and the gentle crackle of logs create a soothing, romantic mood that electric heaters just can’t match.
A Touch of Tradition (and a Cup of Tea): Part of glamping’s charm is slowing down and enjoying simple pleasures, and wood-burning stoves contribute here as well. They take people back to a simpler era of heating and cooking.
Eco-Friendliness of Wood Heat: For the eco-conscious traveller, a wood-burning stove can be an appealing feature. Wood is a renewable fuel, especially when sourced locally and sustainably, and using a stove means you’re not reliant on the grid for heat. Modern Ecodesign wood-burning stoves are also far cleaner and more efficient than old-fashioned fireplaces, meaning they produce less smoke and more heat from each log.
Spotlight: Our Go-Eco Glamping Stoves
Our Go Eco Adventurer 5 Glamping Stove is a fire tailor-made for life under canvas or off the grid. This stove is the ultimate in warmth, character, ambience, practicality and versatility. Perfect for glamping.
Key Benefits of this Stove:
Compact but Powerful: The Go Eco Adventurer 5 is a compact, 5kW output stove, meaning it packs a significant amount of heat for its size. It was designed specifically for glamping installations, such as yurts, shepherd’s huts, canal boats, and cabins, significantly contributing to the comfort, eco-friendliness, and ambience. In these snug spaces, a 5 kW stove can quickly raise the temperature, keeping guests warm even on frosty nights. Its size and output are optimised so that it’s neither too bulky nor underpowered, ideal for the cosy dimensions of glamping accommodations.
High Efficiency & Ultra-Clean Burning: As the “Go Eco” name suggests, we have engineered this stove with eco-friendliness at the forefront. The Adventurer 5 is clearSkies Level 5 certified, the highest level in the independent clearSkies emissions standard, indicating exceptionally low emissions and high efficiency. It exceeds the stringent Ecodesign requirements and is even DEFRA-exempt for use in smoke control areas, meaning it’s approved to burn wood in towns or cities without violating clean air laws. In practical terms, glamping sites using this stove can reassure guests that it’s not belching out soot or heavy smoke; instead, it burns fuel efficiently to provide maximum warmth with minimal waste. An advanced firebox design and air ventilation system ensure an ultra-clean burn, allowing eco-tourists to enjoy their fire with confidence, knowing the environmental impact is minimised.
Sturdy, Portable Construction: Glamping stoves must often withstand the elements and frequent handling, especially in pop-up sites or mobile setups, and the Go Eco Adventurer is built for durability. It’s constructed largely from stainless steel, including 100% stainless steel fixings, to resist rust and corrosion. This makes it well-suited for damp environments or even maritime use in narrowboats. Despite being robust, the unit remains portable enough for installation in temporary structures. It’s designed by an experienced team with the glamping context in mind, so they’ve balanced weight and sturdiness.
Safety & Easy Installation: Installing a wood stove in non-traditional spaces (like tents or timber huts) can be tricky, but we have made it simpler with smart accessories. The Go Eco range offers specially designed heatshields and hearth kits that allow the stove to be fitted safely in tight quarters. For example, an attached heat shield surround can reduce required clearances to approximately 70 mm at the sides and 75 mm at the rear, a remarkably close distance, which is crucial in small glamping units where space is at a premium. There’s also a freestanding hearth and heatshield kit that provides a stable base and protection if the stove isn’t against a wall. These options allow you to place the stove in a canvas tent or wooden pod without worrying about overheating the surroundings, while still complying with safety standards. One package is even Boat Safety Scheme (BS8511) compliant for narrowboat use.
The cosy glow of a wood-burning stove has become almost symbolic of the glamping movement: it represents care for comfort, connection to tradition, and respect for sustainability. So next time you plan a glamping holiday in the UK, don’t be surprised if your accommodation comes not just with a view of the hills, but with a wood-burning stove in the corner ready to make your stay even more memorable. That’s the magic of glamping, the wilderness, tamed just enough to welcome you.
View our range of Go-Eco Glamping Stoves.
