A sunny weekend in July saw Nathan and I take a trip to Croyde in North Devon for a stay in Freshwell Camping’s ‘The Getaway’. Read on to find out more about this unique place to stay and for campsite views of the beach that will instantly make you want to visit!

A Pure Slice of Glamping Heaven

We arrived at Freshwell Camping quite late on the Friday evening, just as the heavens opened and it started to rain. Given this hot summer we have been having it felt like we hadn’t seen rain for ages – we all know that the grass needs it – most of England currently looks like a dry desert! We received a warm welcome from staff, who gave us our key and directed us to the getaway.

As we unpacked, and the rain continued to poor I was pleased I wasn’t staying in a tent and would have a proper roof over our heads! I did, however, hope the rain would clear by the morning as I wanted to explore the beautiful beaches of Croyde after hearing so much about them and seeing so many gorgeous pictures on Instagram!

The Getaway and Night Garden

The Getaway was awesome – a really rustic, cosy, home from home. I was glad to see the proper double mattress and clean duvets and pillows –  a real treat when glamping! The wooden hut had such lovely interiors – simple but lovely artwork adorned the walls and a gorgeous wooden bench provided a table with stools to sit on. The curtains and blinds were totally my style, and all matched the seaside blue theme! I loved all the little touches and the pile of books left for guests to read.

As if all this wasn’t gorgeous enough, the best bit about the glamping hut was undoubtedly the views! Huge front and side windows provide The Getaway with stunning, panoramic views over the rest of the campsite and beyond to Croyde Beach. I loved sitting at the window and watching people milling about and seeing the beach fill up as the day went on.

The hut also boasts apex skylight windows in the ceiling which enable you to lie in bed at watch the stars – very romantic and perfect for stargazers. The accompanying stargazing book provided helped us out when hunting for various constellations! More information and some neat pictures can be seen on Freshwell Camping Facebook page – be sure to give them a follow!

Outside the hut, there is a pretty night garden –  a landscaped area which guests can relax and absorb the gorgeous views from. A table and chairs ware provided and there was plenty of space for a BBQ. A chimenea, fairy lights and flowers provided a very nice place to sit and chill, both throughout the day and later in the evenings. We took a portable BBQ with us and enjoyed BBQ food both evenings – one in the rain on our first night and the second which was much better as the sun was shining and we could sit out into the late evening watching the sunset.

The Getaway is situated at the top of the field, next to the three bell tents the site offers. It’s a great location and offers brilliant views. I enjoyed being able to look out over the rest of the campsite and watch the children playing and families setting up their various camping accommodation. The site has a really relaxed and friendly feel – campers are invited to pitch their tents in the location they want and there are no restricted tent pitches or places to park. The owners choose to not fill the field entirely and this makes sure people have plenty of space and aren’t crammed I like sardines. I think this helps give the site a laid-back, respectful and welcoming feel. More awesome pictures of The Getaway and rest of the site can be found on the Freshwell Camping Instagram page.

The facilities are basic but more than adequate and clean. There are separate toilets and showers which have plenty of soap and hot water. There’s a couple of washing up sinks and staff are on-site 24 hours should you need them. You can pay to charge your mobile phones or gadgets for a very small fee at the reception – there are no electrical hookups on site so don’t forget your battery packs.

Location and Prices

The site is in a very enviable location, perfectly situated for those wanting to explore Croyde and its beautiful beaches. Croyde Beach is a stone’s throw away and takes only a few minutes to walk to – perfect for those taking children or heading out for an early morning surf. For visitors wanting to head out for some shopping or food then Croyde Village is only a short walk away and can be easily reached by foot from the campsite. We took a walk and treated ourselves to an ice cream which was super tasty and very much needed in the high heat.

Freshwell Camping is located in a beautiful part of Devon and there are lots of places close by to explore. You could check out nearby Saunton Sands, go for a ride at Woolacombe Riding Stables, try pottery painting in Braunton or explore the unique village of Clovelly. Check out Freshwell Camping’s Twitter page for more information on what’s going on at the site and locally.

We also visited Baggy Point, an area of coastline owned by the National Trust. It’s a stunning walk along the coastal cliffs to reach Baggy Point and there are breath-taking views back to Croyde Beach. I wasn’t so keen on watching the climbers scaling the cliffs without any ropes though – my heart as certainly in my mouth every time the wind blew!

There is a National Trust car park located near Baggy Point which was £7 to park in unless you were a member! This was a similarly steep price to some of the beach car parks so unless you want to spend all your ice cream money on parking I recommend leaving your car at the campsite and walking!

After visiting Baggy Point we enjoyed lunch at the Surf Lodge Cafe which was tasty and well-earned after the very hot and sweaty walk!

Near the Freshwell Camping site and Baggy Point is Sandleigh Tea Room and Gardens. This is another National Trust place to visit and we enjoyed a cold drink the pretty gardens.

Prices to stay at The Getaway are £96 a night and the bell tents are £85. Whilst these prices could at first seem quite pricey, I think the stunning interiors, amazing views and closeness to the beach make the price worth it. Prices for camping start at as little as £12 per adult and £6 for children, making camping a really accessible and reasonably priced summer holiday for families and groups of friends. The site is only open from the middle of July to the end of August so be quick and get booking if you don’t want to miss out!

Final Thoughts

We had a great two-night stay at Freshwell Camping. The site was relaxed and had a family friendly, surfer vibe. The Getaway, with its little garden area, comfy bed and panoramic beach views was a pleasure to stay in and provided us with a starry, unique stay. I think it would make a really cute romantic retreat for couples celebrating a special anniversary or would be a great place for surfers seeking solace out on Croyde’s famous waves. Thanks to Freshwell Camping for having us!

***Our two-night stay at Freshwell Camping was provided to us on a complimentary basis in return for this review. All thoughts, pictures and opinions are entirely my own.***

What do you think of The Getaway? Would you fancy staying here? Let me know below!