It at all times amazes me how a lot selection there’s today 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 among the latest luxurious glamping in Kent with children.
overview 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 cozy chairs on the deck, this was the proper summer time escape.
And whereas I’m not a fan of back-to-basics tenting (particularly throughout an August heatwave), a spot of luxurious plus an important location meant that this type of household glamping in Kent had my title written throughout it.
Luna Domes overview: very 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 another way – Chartwell is pet-friendly and has an open-air sizzling tub whereas Hever can be pet-friendly however with no sizzling tub. Knole is likely one of 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 overview, you’ll virtually actually need a couple of night time anyway!)
Our keep was organized by means of Canvas & Cabins, the outside model from vacation cottage letting firm Best Retreats, and you’ll guide the domes right here.
Hoath Home itself hosts weddings and there are different cottages within the grounds, with some separate amenities, however even in peak season, we have been hardly conscious of anybody else on the positioning.
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 that you may 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 far-off, 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.
Examine in is at 4pm, though you possibly can prepare an earlier time – and we bought a cellphone name to say our dome can be obtainable from 3.30pm – and check-out is at 10am. Once more you possibly can prepare a later check-out, however this must 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 seemed – adopted swiftly by questioning how sizzling it will 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.
Effectively, 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 further 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 convey a watch masks for summer time, however I liked waking up, drawing again the curtains and having the ability to gaze out onto the Kent countryside.
To 1 facet of the mattress, there’s a few equally squashy beanbags and on the opposite, just a little desk with a guidebook to the dome and pair of chairs, plus a wood-fired range (very non-essential this summer time, 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 time for many years, it was undoubtedly heat contained in the dome. The next day, as temperatures rose even greater, we saved the curtains closed and decamped exterior.
Floating above the principle 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 helpful shelf for her nightlight, clock, books, water and all the opposite in a single day paraphernalia a 10-year-old seems to want.
With regards to glamping, it’s typically the little touches which give the luxurious however the sensible facet can be sorted: having first rate 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 finest when thrown down from above.
Escaping low-flying guinea pigs, I headed spherical the alternative website of the mattress to seek out the little kitchenette – there’s a microwave and Nespresso model espresso maker, plus toaster, in addition to crockery and glassware (largely 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 convey your individual 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 time, we didn’t have an important deal, so managed with the obtainable house (though one other drawer would in all probability have been handier than the hanging rail.
Having completed an entire circle of the dome, it struck me that I hadn’t noticed a toilet. However no have to 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 quite engaging 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 facet, eco-friendly merchandise are offered (and also you’re requested to not convey your individual 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 comfortable chairs to lounge in and take in these views.
Fortunately there’s additionally a really efficient parasol for warm days, so in the long run, I deserted our plans to go out exploring and embraced a spot of gradual 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 can 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 positioning supervisor known 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 just a little, 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 time temperatures actually helped however ended up having to take the quilt off to let among 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 be fairly heavy – simple 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 friends that we barely heard them, and if you are requested to maintain noise down, you don’t have to fret about each sound your children make carrying throughout the positioning.
The truth is, 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 while you’re a father or mother, I’m undecided what’s – and whereas it’s not a assure of your keep, when you’re glamping in Kent with children, this must be probably the greatest locations to properly and actually swap off.
Issues to do close to Hoath Home, Kent with children
Should you’re staying longer – or are much less inclined to fill your days enjoying board video games within the solar – the Luna domes at Hoath Home are additionally an ideal base to get exploring.
Hever Fortress is a brief drive away – the childhood dwelling of Anne Boleyn, there’s an enormous quantity for youths to take pleasure in, together with jousting and a water maze.
Learn my overview of a time out at Hever Fortress 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 Fortress.
Groombridge Place, with its enchanted forest, is simply quarter-hour away by automobile as properly.
There are additionally some beautiful walks and cycle trails to find within the space, together with at Bedgebury Pinetum, or you can hop on the Bluebell railway, simply throughout the border in Sussex – you’ll truly discover among 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 overview – all opinions, and selections to completely check out this luxurious glamping in Kent with children by not leaving the positioning are my very own.
Pictures copyright MummyTravels
