Wigwam Holidays - the 'glamping' specialists who launched their first alternative camping sites in the far north of Scotland 17 years ago have now arrived at the other end of the UK with three Wigwam sites opening so far this year in Cornwall - all of them in beautiful surroundings teaming with wildlife - and near to glorious beaches.
The newest site on the Cornish 'block' is Tehidy Wigwams at Illogen, Portreath - just half an hour away from Landsend and only 2 miles from glorious beaches. The 4 star Tehidy Holiday Park on which they're based has won numerous awards including a David Bellamy Gold Conservation award.
The site is run by owners Richard and Julia Barnes and Sheela Ramm who've just added Wigwams to their holiday accommodation choices. Richard gave up his job as Head Teacher at a school in Norfolk to take on the park in 2007 as part of a lifestyle change they had been dreaming of as a family. As soon as they found Tehidy they knew that this was the site for them. The couple have 4 children who help out at the park - and with Julia's mum Sheela also on board - it really is a family affair.
Says Richard, "wee couldn't wait to try our new Wigwams out ourselves - as soon as they arrived we spent our first night in one - and loved it - they're so comfortable"
Another Cornish holiday centre which has added Wigwams into the mix this year is Ruthern Valley Holidays, based in a beautiful wooded valley near Bodmin moor. This 8 acre, 4 star site has won a David Bellamy Gold conservation award for eight years running and was featured as one of 12 best camp sites in Britain in a Sunday Times article 2 years ago. Feedback comments from visitors include "fantastic - you've got to go" and "everything about this site is perfect".
Our third Wigwam Holiday site in Cornwall is Frogwell Wigwams which is located on a small working farm in the beautiful Lynher valley at Callington South East Cornwall - deep in the heart of the countryside yet just half an hour from Plymouth.
Guests staying at Frogwell Wigwams are free to wander around the farm and to enjoy a taste of farm and country life which can even include having a go at mucking out their Saddleback pigs! Visitors can also buy their delicious home reared rare breed pork, Cornish lamb and free range eggs from the farm shop.
With three Wigwam Holiday sites now up and running in Cornwall and a fourth site in the pipeline for that area - our network is really stretching right down the UK these days - from rugged Shetland at the top of the map right down to the very bottom.