WHAT? WHERE?

Camping? Me? Only if there’s a hot shower, a proper bed and preferably a hot tub involved. Which is why Lower Keats Glamping, tucked away in the East Devon countryside, is very much my kind of outdoorsy.

There are just six safari lodges here, each dotted around a beautifully kept field with big, swoony views across the Devon countryside. We stayed in Deer for two nights with our two girls (15 & 5 yrs), and it was pretty much the perfect family escape.

You’re around 15 minutes from Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast, but with hot tubs, farm animals, pizza nights and an honesty shop that appears to stock everything short of a kitchen sink, there’s not exactly a shortage of things to do on site.

THE VIBE

Laid-back, lovely and just the right amount of rustic.

Arrival was a doddle, with the owner taking a wonderfully chilled approach and directing us towards our lodge before leaving us to get on with the important business of unpacking, exploring and firing up the hot tub.

Lodges are well spaced out so you don’t feel like you’re camping in someone else’s back garden and the views are genuinely beautiful.

There’s a lovely, low-key feel to the place. You’re surrounded by countryside and animals, but you’re not expected to forage for your dinner or wash in a stream. A win.

THE SPACE

There are cosy blankets, torches and candles dotted throughout the lodge, which make it feel particularly lovely once the sun goes down. There’s electricity, so you can charge your phone if you absolutely must (and, let’s be honest, we did), but not enough to make you forget you’re supposed to be escaping real life.

There’s a well equipped kitchen with hot water and a log burner, which I can imagine would be absolutely dreamy in autumn and winter. Cold country walk, log burner, hot chocolate, smug feeling: you get the picture.

And the bathroom? A hot shower. A flushing toilet. In your own tent. No communal shower block. No midnight dash across the field. No wondering whether the toilet facilities are going to be the thing that finally pushes you back towards a Premier Inn.

And did I mention the hot tub on the terrace? Three of the six safari tents have their own private hot tubs, and ours was the perfect spot for soaking up those countryside views. The kids loved it, obviously, but it was equally blissful for the grown ups to sink into once the sun had gone down and the children were finally asleep.

PILLOW TALK

There are proper, wonderfully cosy beds, with the sleeping arrangements cleverly divided into two separate areas by wooden crates that double up as handy shelving. Curtains between the spaces give everyone a little privacy, which is exactly what you want when you’re sharing a canvas roof with a teenager and a small child whose internal alarm clock is set to stupid o’clock.

And then there’s the cabin bed, reached by a ladder and tucked away in its own cosy little den. My five-year-old was completely sold – her own little sleeping quarters and a den? Quite frankly, she was living the dream.

SCOFF & QUAFF

The honesty shop is a thing of beauty.

And when I say it stocks everything, I mean everything. Snacks, drinks, local produce, treats, breakfast bits and all the things you inevitably forget to pack. For our two-night stay, it was absolutely perfect and meant we didn’t have to get in the car every time someone wanted a snack.

There’s also an outdoor kitchen and pizza oven, and we joined the Saturday night pizza evening during our stay. The farmer cooks up the pizzas fresh, and eating them straight from the wood-fired oven is exactly the sort of low-faff, high-reward holiday dinner I can get behind.

You can also order fresh bakery treats for breakfast, ready for you the following morning, and cream teas can be ordered to enjoy during your stay. Honestly, it’s the little touches that make this place.

ANYTHING ELSE?

The animals. Obviously.

Twice a week, guests can join the owners for a guided feeding tour around the farm, and this was a huge hit with the littles. Make that all of us.

It’s a lovely, hands-on experience and one of those activities that feels like a genuine part of the farm rather than something bolted on to entertain the children.

There’s no Wi-Fi in the lodges, which initially caused some teenage eyebrow-raising, but there are games and books to borrow, a cute playground for younger children and plenty to stuck into between the hot tub, animal feeding and general countryside living.

The only tiny niggle was that sound can travel across the field when the wind changes, and we did hear a neighbouring tent quite late one evening. But this was a minor issue and didn’t detract from what was otherwise a wonderfully peaceful stay.

OUT & ABOUT

Lyme Regis is around a 15-minute drive away, so it’s easy to combine a stay here with a trip to the coast. We headed there during our stay, and the Jurassic Coast is right on the doorstep for anyone wanting to get out and explore.

That said, there is a strong chance you’ll spend a large portion of your time in the hot tub instead.

DOG FRIENDLY?

Dogs are welcome in selected accommodation, so check when booking.

KID FRIENDLY?

Absolutely. My youngest was living her best life.

ACCESSIBILITY

This is a rural glamping site with uneven outdoor ground and steps, so do check with the team before booking if you have specific accessibility requirements.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Lower Keats is the kind of place that leaves you wondering why you don’t go glamping more often.

It’s the perfect family escape: beautiful countryside, plenty to keep the kids busy, enough comfort to keep the grown-ups happy and just enough distance from everyday life to make everyone properly switch off.

We absolutely loved our stay and left with the feeling we’d discovered a little slice of Devon paradise. Happy as a pig in ****? Absolutely.

Good for: Families, hot-tub lovers, countryside escapes, screen-free weekends and anyone who likes the idea of camping but is not prepared to give up a hot shower.

Not for: Anyone who needs a five-star hotel, 24-hour room service or guaranteed complete silence between lodges.

The Damage: A three night stay in Deer lodge starts from £685 (based on a June stay). Wood-fired hot tubs are £30 per night. Check the website for current prices and availability.

Lower Keats Glamping, Lower Keats Farm, Broom Lane, Tytherleigh, Axminster Devon EX13 7AZ. Tel: 07540 367386

Review: Lower Keats Glamping, East Devon

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