Milberry Green Glamping site near Warlingham in Surrey. — The bell tents at Milberry Green

There’s something edifying about getting back to nature and if you’re desperate to get your rabble off screens this summer, booking up a bit of glamping in Surrey is always a winner. Off-grid escapes have never been more popular, or necessary – our overstretched minds and tangled nerves seem to increasingly crave enforced digital detoxes, fresh air and simpler pleasures, even if it’s just for a weekend.

Milberry Green Glamping near Warlingham offers just that – low-fi family breaks, walks aplenty and fresh air fun, so Muddy checks in for a night under the canvas.

WHAT? WHERE?

The term ‘glamping’ has tended much more to the ‘glam’ than the ‘camping’ in recent years. But that suits Muddy just fine – we were never one for slumming it in a soggy sleeping bag. Happily, Milberry Green is an example of the term in its true form with all the fun parts of camping – firepits for toasting marshmallows, oodles of outdoor space and sleeping under the stars – with all the comforts you need to make it a pleasure.

At Milberry Green there are half a dozen canvas bell tent hideaways – both furnished and unfurnished, with a further two shepherd’s huts (for those who need their stays fully insulated), all tucked away in a charming field amongst the trees. The result is a cosy, community feel – you’re far away enough from your glamping neighbours that you don’t have to worry about noise or getting a mouthful of someone else’s BBQ smoke, but it’s easy to come together in the communal areas. It’s handy when you have kids who want to tear around together.

THE VIBE

If you arrive a little frazzled there’s no battling with tent pegs – your home for the night is all set up so you can start enjoying your glamping getaway immediately. (You’ll just need to make up the zed-beds at night for the children in your party.)

The furnished tent where we stayed had a double bed, snuggly bedding, sturdy apple crates, nice rugs, colourful cushions and comfy chairs/zed-beds for the kids. It was thoughtfully decorated and cosy.

The shepherd’s huts across the field are more akin to a small hotel room with luxurious hot tubs for two, so they’re an ideal spot for a romantic getaway.

Shepherd's huts at Milberry Green Meadows, near Warlingham, Surrey — The shepherd’s huts are great for a romantic stay

There’s no electricity in the tent which means that when night falls you’re relying on lamps and, er, the stars. So take plenty of torches as it’s always interesting going for a midnight loo trip in the dark. Thankfully my boys are happy with a “tree wee” so they didn’t venture far – but let’s gloss over that.

The lack of leccy also means *gasp* no phone charger, but you can easily plug in at the honesty shop in the Hub a few steps away if you really can’t switch off completely. Do note there’s no wifi on site, (although the mobile signal is good), so use the time instead to have a screen amnesty. Also in the communal areas are hot showers (all private), flushing loos (no horrors here), plus all the cooking utensils you’d need.

The site

The Muddy boys loved being outside and free and it was joyous to see them clambering around on tree trunks and hiding in the long grass instead of squabbling over the Switch. A game of footy was soon set up at the mini pitch in the centre of the tents. So we could keep an eye on the little darlings whilst enjoying a restorative glass of wine. If you’re lucky you’ll spot birds of prey swooping over head, as well as historic aircraft including the iconic Spitfire from nearby Biggin Hill.

Luckily the weather was kind when we visited, but on a drizzly day Milberry Green would be a joy as long as you’ve got the right clothing. The whole idea is a great opportunity for kids to be more mindful and to appreciate nature. It’s true that simple pleasures like climbing trees can easily be forgotten in these days of constant electronic entertainment. And actually once the kids are out of the house and away from the gadgets they revel in it.

Not been blessed with the sun? No problem, they’ve thought of everything here so head over to the cute games room in the Hub (below), packed with toys, books, board games, ping-pong, and table football. (Oh, and there’s a kettle if you want to make a quick cuppa.)

SCOFF & QUAFF

The entire site is self-catering, which means you’ll either be bringing food or heading out by car to forage for grub (there’s a huge Sainsbury’s 5 minutes away to stock up so don’t panic). The 24-hour honesty shop on site has a few essentials and a selection of “just add hot water” items like porridge pots, noodles etc. You can also pre-order breakfast boxes or deli pack before your stay, which range from a Full English to a box of local farm treats. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes within a short stroll and the excellent pub the White bear, (which has been recently refurbished and dates back to the 16th Century) is a half hour walk. For atmospheric charm our tip is to sit in the first room on your left and it’s cashless so don’t forget your card!

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Happily for your four-legged family members, Milberry Green is dog-friendly – ideal when there are so many good walkies about. They are more than happy to welcome small dogs into the unfurnished tents, (so sorry Fido you don’t get a double bed). In fact they’ll add an extra layer of warmth and companionship to your glamping experience and you can even share a sausage from your barby.

OUT & ABOUT

Depending how long you are staying there is plenty to do in the surrounding area. History buffs should head into nearby Westerham to visit Churchills’ home Chartwell, Titsey Place, picture perfect Hever Castle or the National Trust’s Emmett’s Gardens. For family activities Muddy fave Godstone Farm (below) is a short drive away, or the British Wildlife Centre. For more ideas see Milberry’s local attractions page here.

NEED TO KNOW

The furnished bell tents include all the basics – blankets, hot water bottles and cutlery, but you will need to bring towels. There is a shared fridge in the communal Hub, but you get one fridge box each (about half a shelf) so you might need a cool box if you’re planning on bringing a LOT of wine. If you are staying in an unfurnished tent you will need to bring all your camping gear – as they only provide the tent and use of communal facilities.

There’s no minimum or maximum stay so you can plan a last-minute winter getaway or a family weekend during the school term. The site is a car-free zone so kids can play freely (and the air is filled with the smell of blooming wildflowers and not exhaust fumes!).

MUDDY’S TOP TIP

Got little people who wake up at some ungodly hour? Take an eye mask and maybe earplugs… it was summer solstice when we visited and it was bright and sunny at 4.30am (let that sink in).

ANYTHING ELSE?

Milberry Green also offer on-site workshops with appealing options like Design your own dream-catcher & Paint a wooden bird box. There are also nature trails and some planned special events include arts & crafts weekends and stargazing, see their events page for full details and dates.

You can also get hitched here so if you love feeling the grass between your toes, say “I do”, with a view, they also offer on-site glamping for over 50 guests.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Families with kids of all ages (although I’d say ages 4 to 12 is ideal), couples who like their mini-breaks more low-fi than lavish, and dog owners after IG-worthy walkies. We’re planning to revisit with several families and let the kids run wild together while the adults enjoy fireside G&Ts.

Not for: Anyone who can’t survive without their hair straighteners or wifi for the night, or light sleepers likely to be disturbed by nearby animal residents, creepy crawlies or the flapping of canvas in the wind.

THE DAMAGE

Prices from £65 per night, shepherd’s huts from £120 per night, enter your dates online here for exact pricing. There is a small fee for dogs per stay.

WHERE?

Milberry Green Meadows, Millbury Cottage Beech Farm Road, Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9QJ (use google maps or what3words: ///spine.hangs.flags to find it, not your car sat nav).

Tel: +44 7943 992921 Email: glamping@milberrygreen.co.uk

Review: Milberry Green Glamping, Warlingham

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