Chalke Valley Camping: Embrace nature at Wiltshire glamping site

Chalke Valley Camping, roughly 11 miles from Salisbury, was set up in 2015 by Fiona Coward with help from her son Hector.

Two new safari tents, advertised as "the most comfortable camping option", were installed this year and I was invited to sleep in one for the night.

The safari tent is new for 2024. (Image: Newsquest)

Getting to the campsite feels like an adventure in itself. 

A bumpy country path surrounded by farmland takes you to a small gathering of cars where signs tell you to leave your vehicle behind and complete the trip to your tent on foot.

Wheelbarrows are provided to make lugging your belongings much easier and this keen attention to detail persists throughout the experience at Chalke Valley Camping.

As for the safari tent itself, we found it to be plenty big enough for the two of us and I could see it comfortably accommodating two others on the futons.

Inside the safari tent. (Image: Newsquest)

The price of this tent ranges from £105 to £170 per two nights. Bell tents range from £60 to £130. If guests want to stay for just one night, they must pay a £25 surcharge.

Our tent had a double bed which, and I am not exaggerating, was the most comfortable bed I have ever had the pleasure of sleeping in.

Some may assume that camping must involve struggling to rest on a rock-hard surface which is bound to cause all sorts of aches when you wake up - Chalke Valley Camping shows it doesn't have to be this way.

A sufficient amount of blankets were provided and, although the night we stayed was quite cold, the safari tent had no issues heating up with help from the gas heater.

The campsite sits in an area defined by law as having "outstanding natural beauty" and I can't argue with that. It's rare to find somewhere so blissfully untouched in our densely packed country.

At night, the atmosphere is spectacular as you get an undisturbed view of the stars.

There is a huge amount of space in the field and the tents are far enough apart to give each visitor privacy. 

Two Taunton ciders were provided in the cool box. (Image: Newsquest)

Our safari tent had a private heated shower and flushing loo block a stone's throw away.

While I was hesitant to use the shower - I feared either being blasted by freezing-cold water or met with a dismal drizzle - these worries were quickly set aside upon investigation.

The shower is connected to the mains and set to the perfect temperature - it left me feeling extremely rejuvenated on a cold but sunny morning.

A generous handful of locally-made toiletries are provided.

The shower and toilet block. (Image: Newsquest)

Another key part of the camping experience, which I was particularly excited about, is crafting a campfire. Unfortunately, our fire pit had a puddle of water, so getting a fire going required a bit more effort (and a lot more fire starters) than I anticipated.

At one point, we'd used all our firefighters and thought we'd have to ditch our raw barbeque food for the nearest pub. But Fiona came to our rescue with more firelighters and some much-appreciated advice and we had a comforting blaze roaring in no time.

In the morning I discovered the shared shelter area which has a dining area, a kitted kitchen (with a double hob) and table tennis.

Our bell tent neighbour said their children loved watching the frogs in the wildlife pond but found sharing a loo and shower with four other tents quite a struggle.

Chalke Valley Camping is a great way of reconnecting with nature without compromising on luxury.

For more information visit chalkevalleycamping.co.uk.