After I advised my daughter that we have been off to remain in a treehouse for this Dittisham Hideaway evaluate, she regarded half excited, half anxious – however in the event you’re visualising a rickety wood construction within the branches as I think she was, this Devon luxurious glamping break couldn’t be farther from that image.
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Set simply exterior Dartmouth, this secluded little web site is certainly not for individuals who get pleasure from roughing it. And whereas luxurious and youngsters don’t at all times go collectively, a keep at Dittisham Hideaway with youngsters manages the trick of feeling like an indulgent break however nonetheless being household pleasant.
So in the event you’re tempted by the concept of luxurious glamping in Devon (is anybody not tempted?!), right here’s my evaluate of what it’s actually like staying in a treehouse.
Dittisham Hideaway: very important statistics
Set in a quiet slice of Devon countryside close to Dittisham, and round a 15-minute drive from Dartmouth, there are solely 10 locations to remain at Dittisham Hideaway.
In addition to 4 lately refurbished luxurious treehouses (together with Owl, the place we spent two nights), there may be an airstream trailer and 5 new shepherd’s huts.
A part of the Peter de Savary group, together with The Beachcroft lodge in Felpham, the place we stayed within the penthouse, the emphasis is certainly on luxurious – that is so removed from fundamental tenting, I’ve stayed in resorts which may have taken suggestions from our treehouse.
Set on the sting of a wooded valley, the treehouses are staggered alongside the facet of the hill, all tucked away inside the bushes and searching throughout the valley – you could possibly simply imagine you’re the one individuals there at instances.
The shepherd’s huts are additional down the hill, spaced out in a line, with the airstream trailer a bit means off from the opposite lodging.
The location additionally has its personal boules pitch and ping pong desk, in addition to a round strolling route by means of the woodland and in the event you go to on the proper time of yr, you possibly can decide your individual runner beans and peas from the vegetable backyard.
Our luxurious Devon glamping expertise
After a Friday-night drive right down to the south west, full with a number of the slim excessive hedge lanes that Devon specialises in, I don’t assume I’ve ever relaxed fairly so rapidly as once we walked into our treehouse – Owl.
A home within the bushes is probably a greater description, tucked away down a woodland path: even our stroll to the entrance door was punctuated by blissful exclamations.
Look, a pheasant statue on the trail, perched on the lights to light up the way in which. And ooh, a desk soccer desk and outside chess – that’s our Saturday morning sorted – plus a correct Weber barbecue across the nook.
And take a look at that beautiful view throughout the valley… Ooh ooh ooh, and a hammock! Which implies that this should be the wood-fired sizzling tub over right here…
Which set the tone for the remainder of our keep, a collection of pleasant surprises wherever you regarded, with loads of consideration to even the smallest particulars.
The deck space
The deck outside rapidly grew to become one in every of my favorite locations to chill out: my daughter immediately claimed the hammock as her territory, lounging with a e book, and discovering new methods to swing (in addition to get out and in with out getting tipped on the bottom).
And whereas I managed to assert it sometimes, I did have a selection of a few loungers or the outside desk with its cushioned chairs, all trying throughout the valley with the shepherd huts under and the golden hills by means of the bushes reverse.
On the finish of the day, we may watch the solar setting and take heed to the calls of the pheasants within the woodland – that, plus the occasional sheep and cow, in addition to a string of songbirds, was all you could possibly hear on this peaceable spot.
You too can benefit from the views whereas lounging within the wood-fired cedar sizzling tub: permit a few hours for it to warmth up, though the duvet then retains the warmth in for just a few hours (particularly in summer season), and there are directions for establishing and cleansing out the ash afterwards.
Again across the different nook are the video games: desk soccer (or fussball) and an outside chess set (larger than the usual recreation however simpler to raise than large chess) – I taught my daughter each throughout our keep, and she or he got here alarmingly near thrashing me at soccer earlier than we left.
Contained in the treehouse
There’s loads to tempt you indoors as nicely although – strolling in by means of the principle door, there’s a useful hallway for baggage, with the principle house of the treehouse off to the left, and a few rooms to the fitting.
The principle part of treehouse is open plan, however cleverly designed to interrupt it up into totally different areas – all underneath a curved beamed roof with a round skylight window within the centre, mimicking a tent (however with out being open to the weather).
The residing space has its personal assortment of board video games and puzzles, in addition to just a few books, Good TV and there’s Wi-Fi as nicely to maintain you entertained as you chill out on the couch or chairs, together with some complimentary sloe gin to sip.
There’s additionally a wood-burning range right here in the event you’re not visiting mid heatwave, as we have been. The primary bag of logs is included, and there are extra out there to assist your self in the event you want, that are charged afterwards. There’s additionally central heating and underfloor heating, in the event you don’t need to hearth it up although.
Past the residing space is the kitchen, together with a correct oven and hobs (in the event you don’t fancy utilizing the barbecue exterior), microwave, large retro-style fridge freezer and a dishwasher, plus all the standard utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware and so forth.
Better of all there’s a espresso machine too (taking Nespresso-style capsules), and a few pretty retro jars for espresso, tea and sugar – we had milk (and butter) awaiting us within the fridge, together with a really welcome bottle of wine.
There’s additionally a welcome hamper, with snacks, crisps, biscuits, bread, cereal and orange juice, so that you’re sorted for breakfast on the primary day. You’ll be able to even assist your self to herbs in pots on the deck.
Should you don’t fancy cooking in any respect, the welcome booklet additionally has particulars of locations to eat close by, plus particulars of personal cooks which you’ll be able to e book prematurely.
The principle mattress can be inside the open plan part, enormously snug with large squashy pillows and a quilt that’s assured to provide you evening’s sleep – hand-crafted in Devon, it’s comprised of 100% pure, sustainable and responsibly sourced supplies by an organization on the sting of Dartmoor.
One tip: it’s value bringing your individual eye-mask in the event you’re simply awoken by mild – the round skylight within the roof flooded the treehouse with sunshine as quickly as daybreak broke. After 10 years of parenthood, a mere dawn can’t cease me catching up on a decade of misplaced sleep however value understanding in the event you’re visiting in summer season.
Together with wardrobe and drawers for storage, plus bedside tables with correct studying lamps (and a washer tucked away in a cabinet too), one of many showers leads off this bed room.
Sure, showers plural. Together with this one subsequent to the bed room space, there’s a separate rest room with bathe and bathroom, plus one other separate bathroom.
And with blissfully highly effective showers, toiletries supplied, plus impartial tiles and pure supplies in the back of the bathe, and loads of room to place your individual toiletries close by, it’s additionally been actually properly designed (which most common travellers will know isn’t a given in any lodging, not to mention a treehouse!)
For these questioning if the early daylight goes to have their youngsters up early, there’s a separate room with three bunkbeds on the different finish of the treehouse, together with a stash of youngsters’s books.
Contained in the Shepherd’s huts
We additionally had a sneak peek contained in the shepherd’s huts, model new for this yr – most sleep two (though you could possibly additionally get a cot inside in the event you’re staying with a child or toddler), however one has an adjoining second hut for households.
With 4 bunks inside, plus their very own toys and books, it’s linked to the principle hut by digital camera and intercom.
Whereas it wouldn’t be protected to let youthful ones keep there alone, it’s nice for older youngsters to have some privateness and independence (and oldsters doubtlessly to get a lie-in…)
The principle huts have their very own king mattress, together with a small residing space and kitchen, in addition to a separate rest room. There’s additionally a personal terrace with sizzling tub, loungers, hearth pit for toasting marshmallows, and Weber BBQ (to go along with the fully-equipped kitchen).
Surrounded by wildflower meadows, it feels barely such as you’ve stepped again in time – however with the luxurious touches discovered within the treehouses as nicely, together with the hamper, wine, WiFi and TV.
Dittisham Hideaway evaluate: have to know
The treehouses sleep as much as two adults and three youngsters underneath 16, plus one toddler in a cot. All of the shepherd’s huts sleep two adults, plus there’s room for one cot, until you e book into the adjoining household huts.
Pheasant and Owl treehouses are each dog-friendly (most two small owdogs, or one massive canine), as are the huts.
There’s parking for automobiles a brief stroll from the lodging, together with charging factors for electrical automobiles: you’re given a code for the gate and for the keybox prematurely, and there are two entrances relying in the event you head to the treehouses or shepherd’s huts.
Should you’re nervous of driving in Devon, it’s value understanding the final stretch is down slim lanes however they’re very quiet and whereas Google Maps did attempt to ship me off by means of the countryside at each alternative, it’s attainable to keep away from many of the relaxation alongside your route.
There are electrical wheelbarrows to assist transport your belongings to the lodging from the parking – particularly helpful for the downhill part as they’ve brakes. With simply two of us staying, we didn’t have a whole lot of baggage, so carried it myself – it’s positively doable and the trail to the treehouse was usually tremendous for a small wheeled suitcase.
The location can be near the village of Dittisham: you possibly can stroll down (though the stroll again up the hill is clearly a bit much less enjoyable) and from there, there’s a ferry to Greenway for Agatha Christie’s previous dwelling, in addition to a ferry to Dartmouth.
Dartmouth itself is a simple 15-minute drive with extra issues to do with youngsters (in addition to locations to eat), plus you have got a Sainsbury’s and Lidl in driving distance.
There are additionally a string of sights close by, together with loads of seashores – Blackpool Sands, one in every of my favorite seashores in Devon may be very shut, plus Woodlands Journey Park.
For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Devon with youngsters, take a look at my high picks, in addition to my final information to Devon for households
A keep at Dittisham Hideaway with youngsters: my verdict
Hideaway by title, hideaway by nature – it was very tempting to remain on this secluded valley without end, and I’m undecided I’ve ever seen my daughter fairly so grumpy at having to take a look at earlier than.
Left to her personal gadgets, I’m pretty certain she’d have spent your entire weekend switching between swinging within the hammock, enjoying desk soccer and listening out for pheasants – to not point out benefiting from the recent tub.
And it was simply as stress-free for me too: it felt like we’d utterly escaped from all of the stress of each day life, however with none of the faffing round of tenting – there was chilled rose within the fridge, a correct espresso machine for the morning, and I may simply swap the oven on after I wished to make dinner.
With the hamper supplied, I didn’t even have to fret about breakfast for our first morning (luckily, as my daughter was very loath to go away, even to get some meals!)
Wandering to a rest room block within the pitch darkish is never my thought of time both, so having two bathrooms and never one however two showers inside, plus the tremendous comfortable mattress, was improbable.
And whereas we visited Dittisham Hideaway in the course of a mini heatwave, so wasn’t remotely involved about central heating, it’s reassuring to know that’s in place in the event you don’t need to fiddle round with a wood-burning range (though a stunning contact to have that crackling away on a cool night).
Unsurprisingly, it’s not a price range possibility, however for the standard, it’s not as costly as you would possibly count on, particularly for an actual deal with of a staycation.
Better of all, regardless of solely staying for 2 nights, I felt like I’d had a correct vacation. It is a correct slice of heaven in Devon.
Disclosure: My keep was free for the needs of this Dittisham Hideaway evaluate – all opinions are my very own (and my daughter’s, who’s now angling for a hammock and desk soccer at dwelling)
Photos copyright MummyTravels
