Why Glamping in Cornwall Is the Perfect Way to Switch Off

​Much is talked about digital detox, getting away from it all and back to nature, but I have seen the benefits of that with my own eyes. Frazzled guests who arrive having worked extra hours to come on holiday , even still talking on the phone to work as they pull into the car park, taking a couple of days to relax and unwind, literally becoming different people to the ones I saw on arrival day.

You really have to get it. Being in a field with no electricity, no Wi-Fi, and a phone signal that depends on where you’re standing, doesn’t float everyone’s boat. But fortunately for me, there are plenty of guests who either know that’s exactly what they want — or are at least prepared to give it a go.

Our boys were lucky to have a fairly good balance growing up — plenty of outdoor play when they were little, and later on, a gradual introduction to technology. I remember when Alex went to secondary school and was given an iPad. I saw how it changed him, how addictive it became, and we quite literally had to prise it away from him. Outdoor play taught them so much: how to assess risks for themselves, become independent, tune in to their surroundings, learn socially, and even test boundaries.

Guests who embrace a digital detox often tell me how much better everyone sleeps — probably thanks to the fresh air (and maybe the comfy beds!), but I’m sure less screen time plays a big part too. With no TV, there’s one less thing to argue over. I know from experience that we often end up watching mindless TV to unwind, but I always feel better when I pick up a book instead. Parents often tell me how nice it is to have proper family conversations, to play board games or cards, to have a game of cricket, sit around the firepit, or go for a walk together. Lighting the fire — whether it’s for cooking on the stove or heating the hot tub — is a great life skill to have.

After eighteen years, I know I won’t have converted everyone. There are guests who use technology to soothe their children, it’s a lifeline for them (we aren’t here to judge, it’s a holiday for everyone) and there will always be guests who are better suited to hotels — though we don’t see many of them now. There’s so much information about “glamping” these days, but when we first started back in 2007, before glamorous camping even had a name, people really didn’t know what to expect. When Feather Down started producing brochures and people chatted about it in offices, it was the “in” thing to do, that’s how guests found us but it wasn’t suited to everyone!. Eventually there was a website, but online information was scarce. I’ll never forget the look on people’s faces when I explained that our tents had wood-burning stoves, real beds, and their own toilets — it blew their minds.

Even here on the farm, we use technology — sometimes just to check the weather forecast — but I still love that we can offer a place where people can step back, slow down, and reconnect with what really matters and simply be together.

---