It all the time amazes me how a lot selection there’s lately when you fancy glamping – umpteen several types of luxurious tents, pods, wagons, treehouses, cabins… however I’ve by no means stayed in a dome earlier than, till setting off to take a look at a few of the latest luxurious glamping in Kent with children.
assessment keep*
Checking in to Luna Domes at Hoath Home in Kent, a part of the Canvas & Cabins assortment, it jogged my memory at first of a glass igloo I stayed in in Lapland. However with its sizzling tub and comfortable chairs on the deck, this was the right summer season escape.
And whereas I’m not a fan of back-to-basics tenting (particularly throughout an August heatwave), a spot of luxurious plus an incredible location meant that this type of household glamping in Kent had my identify written throughout it.
Luna Domes assessment: important statistics
Luna Domes luxurious glamping at the moment has 4 domes within the grounds of Hoath Home in west Kent, together with Knole the place we stayed.
Every is about up barely in a different way – Chartwell is pet-friendly and has an open-air sizzling tub whereas Hever can also be pet-friendly however with no sizzling tub. Knole is among the most secluded, whereas Scotney has a transparent roof for star-gazing.
Every sleeps 4, and there’s a two-night minimal keep over faculty holidays or for Friday/Saturday arrivals. You’ll find single night time availability at different instances (and, as you’ll see from my Luna Domes assessment, you’ll virtually actually need a couple of night time anyway!)
Our keep was organized by way of Canvas & Cabins, the out of doors model from vacation cottage letting firm Most interesting Retreats, and you may guide the domes right here.
Hoath Home itself hosts weddings and there are different cottages within the grounds, with some separate services, however even in peak season, we have been hardly conscious of anybody else on the location.
The domes are throughout 100 metres from one another: shut sufficient to walk over when you’re visiting as a part of a gaggle, secluded sufficient you could keep personal even out of your closest neighbours.
Set a brief distance from Edenbridge, you’re feeling such as you’re miles from anyplace (though handily there are supermarkets, pubs and eating places not distant, plus loads of issues to do in Kent with children) .
There’s additionally parking proper by the domes, in addition to further house in a grassy part close by.
Test in is at 4pm, though you possibly can organize an earlier time – and we acquired a cellphone name to say our dome can be accessible from 3.30pm – and check-out is at 10am. Once more you possibly can organize a later check-out, however this needs to be completed prematurely and there’s a cost when you overstay.
Knole Dome: luxurious glamping in Kent
As we pulled up subsequent to our dome within the August solar, my first thought was how cool the dome appeared – adopted swiftly by questioning how sizzling it might be inside.
However all that went straight out of my head as I walked onto our deck and soaked up the silence and the views. Cows ambled lazily throughout one of many fields, butterflies and dragonflies flitted above the parched golden grass, and all I might hear was… nothing.
Properly, besides my daughter, frantic to get contained in the dome and discover.
It was simply as eye-catching inside too: downstairs there’s a king-sized mattress, full with ultra-squashy pillows, furry cushions and throw, and probably the softest snuggliest white robes I’ve ever worn – it felt like I think about sporting a cloud can be.
The thick squashy duvets saved us fantastically heat throughout the cool of the night time, plus there are additional throws dotted round for evenings when you want them.
With the curtains open, there’s a superb view out onto the fields as properly – mild sleepers would possibly need to carry a watch masks for summer season, however I cherished waking up, drawing again the curtains and with the ability to gaze out onto the Kent countryside.
To 1 aspect of the mattress, there’s a few equally squashy beanbags and on the opposite, somewhat desk with a guidebook to the dome and pair of chairs, plus a wood-fired range (very non-essential this summer season, however beautiful for crisp spring days and autumn evenings). The dome additionally has heating when you want it.
Fortunately, there was additionally a fan blowing chilly air: arriving at round 4.30pm within the hottest driest summer season for many years, it was positively heat contained in the dome. The next day, as temperatures rose even increased, we saved the curtains closed and decamped exterior.
Floating above the primary mattress, up a steep however very sturdy set of ladder-like steps was one other double mattress for my daughter, with its personal fluffy cushions and useful shelf for her nightlight, clock, books, water and all the opposite in a single day paraphernalia a 10-year-old seems to wish.
In the case of glamping, it’s usually the little touches which offer the posh however the sensible aspect can also be sorted: having respectable WiFi was a particular bonus, in addition to USB charging ports and plugs by the mattress, lights you possibly can function from mattress, wi-fi charging on the media console on the bedside desk.
I used to be impressed to find there have been even USB charging factors tucked away up by my daughter’s mattress too. She was extra to see which of her menagerie of furry animals bounced greatest when thrown down from above.
Escaping low-flying guinea pigs, I headed spherical the alternative website of the mattress to search out the little kitchenette – there’s a microwave and Nespresso model espresso maker, plus toaster, in addition to crockery and glassware (principally in units of two). Tea, espresso and biscuits are additionally offered.
There’s a fridge too, plus a gas-fuelled BBQ on the deck exterior, however you’re suggested to carry your personal cooking knives or different gear when you’re planning to make something extra complicated. Realistically, it’s designed for fast breakfasts and lunches, with the expectation you’ll be consuming out or barbecueing in any other case.
Neatly tucked into an alcove, there’s additionally a dangling space, shelf and drawer for storage, plus a rack for sneakers and one other for coats by the door.
One of many few downsides is that there isn’t an enormous quantity of house to place garments: with three of us staying for 2 nights in summer season, we didn’t have an incredible deal, so managed with the accessible house (though one other drawer would most likely have been handier than the hanging rail.
Having completed a whole circle of the dome, it struck me that I hadn’t noticed a rest room. However no must panic, that is someplace to go luxurious glamping in Kent with children so it’s in an adjoining room on the deck.
There’s a bathe – highly effective sufficient, though not the quickest to empty away – a slightly enticing stone sink, plus cabinets within the nook above the bathroom.
Once more, there’s not an enormous quantity of house to place toiletries, however on the plus aspect, eco-friendly merchandise are offered (and also you’re requested to not carry your personal except they’re 100% eco-friendly too). Very nice to make use of, they lasted us simply for our keep as properly.
And outdoors, the stunning deck space. The desk right here has 4 chairs, plus two further cozy chairs to lounge in and take in these views.
Fortunately there’s additionally a really efficient parasol for warm days, so ultimately, I deserted our plans to move out exploring and embraced a spot of sluggish journey. Grabbing books, board video games and drinks, we settled ourselves into the shade and chilled out, stopping just for meals and the occasional glass of wine (me).
If the climate isn’t so good, you would simply do the identical contained in the dome, though there’s solely house for 2 on the desk which might make issues barely trickier when you’re all making an attempt to eat indoors.
And the ultimate attraction? The wood-fired sizzling tub. It does take a number of hours to warmth up however when the location supervisor referred to as us pre-arrival, she supplied to set it going for us so the water can be heat for the night.
There’s an insulated cowl to retain the warmth… and we found it does so very impressively. Coming again after dinner out, the water had cooled somewhat, so we added extra wooden to heat it up – don’t be tempted to get in whereas the fireplace is burning, by the way.
At which level, it heated up very impressively. Even the subsequent morning, though the fireplace had gone out, the water was nonetheless too sizzling to get into. The summer season temperatures actually helped however ended up having to take the duvet off to let a few of the warmth escape earlier than lastly attending to check out the bubbles on the second night of our keep.
Imagine me, that insulating cowl does what it says on the tin. The duvet can also be fairly heavy – straightforward sufficient for 2 adults to hold it, making an attempt to manhandle it alone (or with the alarmed help of a 10-year-old) took a bit extra effort.
You’re secluded sufficient from different visitors that we barely heard them, and when you are requested to maintain noise down, you don’t have to fret about each sound your children make carrying throughout the location.
Actually, the one soundtrack was sheep baa-ing, doves cooing, the occasional cow mooing and at night time, an owl hooting within the silence.
The ultimate seal of approval? On our first night time, I slept for 10 hours. 10 hours! If that’s not luxurious once you’re a dad or mum, I’m unsure what’s – and whereas it’s not a assure of your keep, when you’re glamping in Kent with children, this needs to be top-of-the-line locations to properly and actually change off.
Issues to do close to Hoath Home, Kent with children
When you’re staying longer – or are much less inclined to fill your days taking part in board video games within the solar – the Luna domes at Hoath Home are additionally an ideal base to get exploring.
Hever Citadel is a brief drive away – the childhood dwelling of Anne Boleyn, there’s an enormous quantity for youths to get pleasure from, together with jousting and a water maze.
Learn my assessment of a time out at Hever Citadel with children
There are additionally a number of Nationwide Belief properties close by, together with Winston Churchill’s former dwelling of Chartwell and Knole Park, with its wild deer, in addition to two of our personal favourites – Ightham Mote and Scotney Citadel.
Groombridge Place, with its enchanted forest, is simply quarter-hour away by automotive as properly.
There are additionally some beautiful walks and cycle trails to find within the space, together with at Bedgebury Pinetum, or you would hop on the Bluebell railway, simply throughout the border in Sussex – you’ll truly discover a few of the household sights in East Sussex are nearer than these within the east of Kent.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Kent with children and issues to do in Sussex with children, take a look at my high picks
Disclosure: My keep was courtesy of Canvas and Cabins for the needs of this Luna Domes assessment – all opinions, and choices to totally take a look at out this luxurious glamping in Kent with children by not leaving the location are my very own.
Photos copyright MummyTravels
