After I advised my daughter that we had been off to remain in a treehouse for this Dittisham Hideaway overview, she seemed half excited, half anxious – however for those who’re visualising a rickety wood construction within the branches as I believe 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 website is certainly not for individuals who take pleasure in roughing it. And whereas luxurious and kids don’t all the time go collectively, a keep at Dittisham Hideaway with children manages the trick of feeling like an indulgent break however nonetheless being household pleasant.
So for those who’re tempted by the thought of luxurious glamping in Devon (is anybody not tempted?!), right here’s my overview 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 just lately refurbished luxurious treehouses (together with Owl, the place we spent two nights), there’s 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 motels which might have taken suggestions from our treehouse.
Set on the sting of a wooded valley, the treehouses are staggered alongside the aspect of the hill, all tucked away inside the timber and looking throughout the valley – you could possibly simply consider you’re the one individuals there at occasions.
The shepherd’s huts are additional down the hill, spaced out in a line, with the airstream trailer somewhat method 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 the woodland and for those who go to on the proper time of yr, you may choose your personal runner beans and peas from the vegetable backyard.
Our luxurious Devon glamping expertise
After a Friday-night drive all the way down to the south west, full with among the slim excessive hedge lanes that Devon specialises in, I don’t suppose I’ve ever relaxed fairly so shortly as once we walked into our treehouse – Owl.
A home within the timber is maybe a greater description, tucked away down a woodland path: even our stroll to the entrance door was punctuated by completely happy 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 have a look at that attractive view throughout the valley… Ooh ooh ooh, and a hammock! Which signifies that this have to 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 seemed, with loads of consideration to even the smallest particulars.
The deck space
The deck outside shortly turned 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 say it sometimes, I did have a alternative 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 the timber reverse.
On the finish of the day, we might 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 can too benefit from the views whereas lounging within the wood-fired cedar sizzling tub: enable a few hours for it to warmth up, though the quilt then retains the warmth in for a couple of hours (particularly in summer season), and there are directions for organising and cleansing out the ash afterwards.
Again across the different nook are the video games: desk soccer (or fussball) and an out of doors chess set (greater than the usual recreation however simpler to carry than big 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 the principle door, there’s a useful hallway for baggage, with the principle area of the treehouse off to the left, and a few rooms to the correct.
The principle part of treehouse is open plan, however cleverly designed to interrupt it up into completely different areas – all below a curved beamed roof with a round skylight window within the centre, mimicking a tent (however with out being open to the weather).
The dwelling space has its personal assortment of board video games and puzzles, in addition to a couple of 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 for those who’re not visiting mid heatwave, as we had been. The primary bag of logs is included, and there are extra accessible to assist your self for those who want, that are charged afterwards. There’s additionally central heating and underfloor heating, for those who don’t need to fireplace it up although.
Past the dwelling space is the kitchen, together with a correct oven and hobs (for those who don’t fancy utilizing the barbecue exterior), microwave, big retro-style fridge freezer and a dishwasher, plus all the same old 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 may even assist your self to herbs in pots on the deck.
If you happen to don’t fancy cooking in any respect, the welcome booklet additionally has particulars of locations to eat close by, plus particulars of non-public cooks which you’ll e book upfront.
The principle mattress can also be inside the open plan part, enormously comfy with enormous squashy pillows and a quilt that’s assured to offer you an excellent night time’s sleep – hand-crafted in Devon, it’s constituted of 100% pure, sustainable and responsibly sourced supplies by an organization on the sting of Dartmoor.
One tip: it’s price bringing your personal eye-mask for those who’re simply awoken by gentle – 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 price figuring out for those who’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 lavatory with bathe and bathroom, plus one other separate bathroom.
And with blissfully highly effective showers, toiletries offered, plus impartial tiles and pure supplies behind the bathe, and loads of room to place your personal 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 children up early, there’s a separate room with three bunkbeds on the different finish of the treehouse, together with a stash of kids’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 for those who’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 digicam and intercom.
Whereas it wouldn’t be protected to let youthful ones keep there alone, it’s nice for older children 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 dwelling space and kitchen, in addition to a separate lavatory. There’s additionally a personal terrace with sizzling tub, loungers, fireplace pit for toasting marshmallows, and Weber BBQ (to go together 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 overview: have to know
The treehouses sleep as much as two adults and three youngsters below 16, plus one toddler in a cot. All of the shepherd’s huts sleep two adults, plus there’s room for one cot, except you e book into the adjoining household huts.
Pheasant and Owl treehouses are each dog-friendly (most two small owdogs, or one giant 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 upfront, and there are two entrances relying for those who head to the treehouses or shepherd’s huts.
If you happen to’re nervous of driving in Devon, it’s price figuring out the final stretch is down slim lanes however they’re very quiet and whereas Google Maps did attempt to ship me off by the countryside at each alternative, it’s doable 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 variety of baggage, so carried it myself – it’s positively doable and the trail to the treehouse was typically fantastic for a small wheeled suitcase.
The location can also be near the village of Dittisham: you may 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 house, in addition to a ferry to Dartmouth.
Dartmouth itself is a simple 15-minute drive with extra issues to do with children (in addition to locations to eat), plus you could have a Sainsbury’s and Lidl in driving distance.
There are additionally a string of points of interest 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 one of the best issues to do in Devon with children, take a look at my prime picks, in addition to my final information to Devon for households
A keep at Dittisham Hideaway with children: my verdict
Hideaway by title, hideaway by nature – it was very tempting to remain on this secluded valley eternally, 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 the whole weekend switching between swinging within the hammock, taking part in desk soccer and listening out for pheasants – to not point out profiting from the new tub.
And it was simply as enjoyable 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 might simply swap the oven on after I wished to make dinner.
With the hamper offered, I didn’t even have to fret about breakfast for our first morning (happily, as my daughter was very loath to depart, even to get some meals!)
Wandering to a bathroom block within the pitch darkish isn’t my concept of an excellent time both, so having two bogs and never one however two showers inside, plus the tremendous comfortable mattress, was implausible.
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 for those who 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 finances possibility, however for the standard, it’s not as costly as you would possibly anticipate, 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. This can be a correct slice of heaven in Devon.
Disclosure: My keep was free for the needs of this Dittisham Hideaway overview – all opinions are my very own (and my daughter’s, who’s now angling for a hammock and desk soccer at house)
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
