In this Guest Spotlight, balloons, bridges, and the great outdoors take center stage. We’d like to introduce you to blogger Victoria, “Bridges and Balloons,” author who recently stayed at this luxury cabin in Sancton, Yorkshire, England. Read on to hear her glamping experience, accompanied by a brief interview!
Discover what the minds behind “Bridges and Balloons”, thought about glamping in Yorkshire
A tin mug of coffee in one hand, “The Catcher in the Rye” in the other, and a forest spreading out before me; I feel like Socality Barbie. While I’m not going to go all #blessed and #liveauthentic on you, I am a big fan of the hipster aesthetic. And this woodland cabin in Yorkshire is hipster travel at its best.
Nestled in a 500-acre forest just outside the village of Sancton in Yorkshire, the collection of eight stylish woodland cabins is an indulgent and luxurious place to retreat from city life. It’s modeled on the American Great Camps, and the result is a boutique woodland retreat that epitomizes the current zeitgeist for getting back to nature with a stylish dose of luxury.
The owners have impeccable taste and have created a luxury woodland aesthetic that’s cozy and comfortable with expertly chosen design pieces that draw on the natural surrounds, perfect for the Bridges and Balloons aesthetic.
The master bedroom was the stuff of dreams with an incredibly comfortable four-poster bed and a woodburning fire to add the snug warmth one wishes for in a woodland retreat. And the bathroom was incredible, with a huge tub perfect for a luxurious soak.
We visited for a weekend away with friends. After a few consecutive weeks in London, I always yearn for nature, and this was the perfect tonic for our city-addled minds. We spent two nights there, exploring the local villages, toasting marshmallows, walking in the woods, playing games, and making the most of our gorgeous suite.
Time seemed to stretch for those few days, and the weekend nourished a yearning for nature, space, and peace. We basked in the comfort and relished the forest. It’s a hipster traveler’s dream.
Our Interview with Victoria
Choose three adjectives to describe the glamping site you stayed at before your trip and another three words to describe it post- stay. How did your expectations measure up to reality?
Cozy, stylish, and beautiful. My impression afterwards was the same three words times ten. I knew from the photos that the place was special, but the reality exceeded my expectations.
Who did you go glamping with, and what was your favorite memory that you made together during the stay?
I went with my husband and two of our good friends. Sitting around the covered campfire toasting marshmallows while the rain fell around us was pretty splendid. I also loved waking up and walking out the front door to see nothing but forest stretched out before me. It’s exactly what you need when you’re used to living in a city.
What was the best part about the accommodation? How does it compare to past places you’ve stayed?
The owners have impeccable style, and we were all delighted by the little details, from the incredible bath to the cozy lighting, everything was spot on. All the glamping sites we stay at have different characters, and this one excelled at the current hipster-woodland style that you so often see on the pages of Instagram.
Describe to us the area around the glamping site. What do you think the perfect time of year to stay here would be, and why?
It’s in the middle of a beautiful Yorkshire forest. We went in autumn, so we were treated to a palette of gorgeous colours and fallen leaves. It was lovely getting cozy inside, but I think summer would also be wonderful, so you could make the most of the outdoor living.
Tell us one thing about your first glamping experience that surprised you and why.
I’ve been camping for years, and while I do like getting back to basics, I only enjoy it for a few days before the discomfort gets a bit tiresome. So glamping was a revelation—a way to enjoy the outdoorsy side of camping, but with the comfort and style of a hotel. It suits me and my husband perfectly.
If you could have invited a famous celebrity (dead or alive) over to your glamping site, who would it be, and what would you have done together?
I would have invited all of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, so they could play for us while we danced and frolicked in the woodlands.
What is your ideal food item and beverage for a glamping trip, and why? If you have a special secret or recipe, please share with us—if you’re willing, of course!
Homemade pizza in a woodfired oven is a great treat. Or failing that, I love taking a trip to the local farmstore and stocking up on cheeses and a good bottle of wine. And all glamping days should finish with an Old Fashioned cocktail.
Do you prefer a more active or more relaxing getaway? Which did you opt for at the glamping site, and what was the best related activity in the area?
I like a mixture, but it should always involve a good walk. There are lots of great woodland trails around the site and we also enjoyed exploring the quaint British towns, such as Beverley.
Fill in the end of the sentence: “This glamping site would be the perfect place for ____________________,” and tell us why!
A romantic getaway. Just look at the photos and imagine yourself getting all cozy next to the fire with the promise of a soak in that magnificent bathtub later on. It’s pure romance.
Would you recommend glamping to family and friends? Do you see yourself going glamping again? Let us know why!
Of course. My husband and I are huge glamping fans. We even got married in a tipi village and had lots of our friends and family stay there with us. Glamping is one of our favorite ways to travel.
To find out more about Victoria and “Bridges and Balloons,” be sure to check out her blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
