The only county in the UK with two separate coastlines, Devon is a wise choice when it comes to holidays in camping and glamping pods. Why? Well, they’re spot on for all sorts of different holiday vibes, from surfer dude to long-distance hiker or beach-loving family. Somewhere in Devon, you’ll find your ideal bolthole.
Devon camping and glamping pods
Holidaying in Devon pods, you can slip off to sleep under dark skies in Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks, in rural silence on a farm or listening to the waves break on Atlantic shores.
What is the difference between opting for a camping pod and staying in a glamping pod? So the former offers more basic facilities and furnishings, but at a cracking price, while glamping will give you a few luxuries like your own private hot tub to make your stay that bit more special. In Devon, you’ll find pods with moorland views, sea views, woodland views… there are pods with on-site dining if you want a break from cooking, pods with swimming pools, pods with spa treatments on offer – in fact, pods for most occasions.
Where to book pods in Devon?
That’s really dependent on how you’d like to spend your time. Going to Devon for a surfing break? Look for a pod within a 20-minute drive of beaches like Saunton Sands, Croyde and Woolacombe. If a peaceful stay on a Devon farm is your idea of nirvana, look at the area around the South Hams or near Barnstaple, known for its gorgeous hilltop views. Keen to share your Devon break with the mutt? There are plenty of dog-friendly pods too.
For a family-friendly break, we’d recommend looking around the coastal town of Ilfracombe, with its ‘secret’ beaches accessed through tunnels, summer fairs and lots of pasty shops. You can also keep the kids entertained at big-hitting Devon attractions like The Milky Way Adventure Park and the Woodlands Family Theme Park, so consider booking a pod that’s within easy driving distance of either of these.
Want some adults-only alone time? Look for peaceful woodland pods in the lovely South Hams or tucked away on secluded moorland.
What could you do?
There are all sorts of possibilities when you book a pod in Devon. Here are a few ideas from the Pitchup travel team.
Get out on the water
Pick a pod by water and book a kayaking course along the Tamar river, get in the surf at Croyde or go paddleboarding from Salcombe. If you’re travelling with all your gear, pods usually have some outdoor storage – by the way, you can hire everything you need at the beach or in local towns – and you’ll have somewhere to air dry that wetsuit.
Doing the coast to coast
Fancy a go at the Two Moors Way but not really into the whole backpacking experience? Why not walk through heathland landscape by day and sleep soundly by night, all tucked up in a proper bed in your cosy pod? More comfortable than wild camping out in the open, and so much better for resting any aching limbs.
Getting on the foodie trails
How about celebrating the Devon foodie scene at festivals and markets countywide? From Totnes Sunday Market to Powderham Food Festival, sample the best of local produce – and if you have one too many scrumpy ciders on the way, you can stumble straight to bed in your welcoming pod without having to pitch a tent.
