Jo Southway takes her pups for a four-day break at the DogFriendly award-winning Lynmouth Holiday Retreat
Balcony of Safari Tent
Lynmouth Holiday Retreat is a holiday park with amazing sea views. It is owned by Coast and Country, which has a few parks in beautiful locations. The retreat offers options for camping and glamping from your basic tent or van pitches right up to your glamping domes or, as we stayed in, safari tents, while our friends had a camping pitch for their van. The safari tents are a new addition to the park perched on the edge of the hill with glorious sea views. As you head down to your safari tent, the setting just blows you away. Outside there is a hot tub where you can relax and enjoy the view, and a covered decking area with outdoor seating for those beautiful, relaxed summer evenings with food and drink; or you can sit and gaze at the stars in the open skies, hoping a shooting star might come along. The outside area is open, so consider taking a tether point for your dog and a long line. Inside the safari tent has all of the facilities you could ask for of any glamping accommodation: a kitchen area equipped with a fridge and freezer; a hob, a sink, a kettle, and all the utensils, pots, pans and added extras. There’s also a table to sit at and plenty of space for all your food and essentials to be unpacked. The area is open plan and one side has a lounge area with sofas, table and television. Not that you need it with so much to do in the area, but on a rainy day there’s a TV. The bathroom has a super-sized shower, toilet and a sink. There are two bedrooms, one a double and the other has three singles. There are also blankets and heaters for colder nights. The small touches such as an eco-friendly washing-up bundle, coffee sachets, dog treats and disposable barbecue are welcome additions.
The safari tent is a glamping experience so you need to remember that you are still under canvas and can hear the outside sounds, feel the temperature drops and all the usual downsides to camping. So if this isn’t for you then you may want to opt for a mobile home. But as far as safari tents and glamping go, these are incredible; they feel super luxurious and we wouldn’t hesitate to book one again. For the wider site there are many great facilities, especially if you haven’t got the luxury of a safari tent, including toilets, showers, washing-up and laundry areas. Reception has a shop for everyday essentials and sells hot drinks. You can also pre- order fresh pastries for the next morning. For dogs there’s a selection of treats on offer. One of the best facilities on site is the dog walking field, a huge fenced space where your dogs can have fun running around and further walks straight from the site. There is also a really handy dog wash by the facilities block; you can use it if you have been to the beach and got sandy.
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