Amber’s Bell Tents
Mannington Hall is where Amber’s camp site story began. She started here in 2012 with just 2 tents situated in a small meadow in the grounds of the main house. Today, her flagship site is home to 6 of our cosy and stylish 6m bell tents nestled deep within this hidden swathe of North Norfolk countryside in partnership with the team at Mannington. The tents are situated on ‘Owl’s Retreat’, a beautiful 3 acre square field rooted within the estate and home to a family of Barn Owls that can be seen hunting in the twilight.
Owl’s Retreat backs onto a wilderness water meadow – a nature reserve with a circular board walk which snakes through the towering wild flowers and plants in the height of Summer. There is a bird hide, for budding twitchers and a pond where little ones can explore the water life – tadpoles in the Spring, dragonfly larvae in the Summer. From the tents, campers can walk through paths and into the impressive Mannington Hall Gardens, which are open to the public a few hours a week during the summer months, but which are part of the experience for our campers here.
You are welcome to lose yourselves in this luscious slice of English Country Garden. Wander through the walled garden, enjoying the perfume of the roses (over 1000 varieties) – explore the lake walk, fern gardens, children’s wild meadow area, all with the stunning architectural back drop of the hall itself; a moated medieval beauty.
You can enjoy beautiful walks, straight from your tents, around the estate, taking in the den making areas in the woodland, streams, lakes, ruined chapel, and beyond, to the idyllic village of Itteringham, where you can stock up on camp supplies from one of the oldest shops in the UK, refuel with tea and cake in the adjoining tearoom, or if more sustainance is needed, head to the infamous Walpole Arms, renowned for serving award winning local produce in a charming old English pub setting and delightful garden.
The tents on Owl’s Retreat are spread out in a circle, each with their slice of Norfolk countryside outside, and with our field shelter supplying a little hub in the middle – a sheltered space with seating, a full size table tennis table, field games, pond dipping supplies and nature resources, honesty shop for wood supplies here. Don’t forget our wood fired pizza oven – for an easy al fresco supper, and our rustic spa area, home to our fantastic wood fired sauna and field shower. On a Summer evening, grown ups can sit round their camp fires and enjoy the stars and unspoilt nature around them, while the small people swarm around, enjoying the space and the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of freedom to roam independently, make friends and have adventures.
