Glamping Pods near Peak District National Park, England
I must say that when I heard "Glamping" I was like what is that? Is it camping? Is it like staying in an Airbnb? Hotel? or what?
After a quick search (courtesy Google), I realized that it is for those folks who are kinda in love with nature yet are afraid of real camping.
Hmm, that didn't feel right. Having been to more than 43 National Parks all over North America and having camped at places far remote to fairly close to cities I didn't really appreciate the concept of Glamping.
Well, I could have moved along but then I am more curious than most people are (I guess) and I couldn't let something go without experiencing it at least once.
So when the opportunity came I took it without thinking twice.
As I was trying to look for accommodation around Peak District National Park, my first national park in Europe, I happen to come across Mulino Pods.
What caught my eye was - "You can escape to the peace and quiet of our rural farm yet within easy reach of Ashbourne (3 miles) and nearby cities of Derby, Nottingham, and Sheffield"
This seemed like my perfect chance to try out Glamping. So I reached out to the owners and from my first email everything happened smoothly and at a fast pace and I was booked for the 1-night stay at BlueBell Pod.
I landed in London and got a rental car (yes automatic!) and started my journey thru English roads. Driving on the left side and navigating the roundabouts was a challenge but I must say I enjoyed the drive.
I stopped at Stonehenge for a few hours and if you don't know about Stonehenge or have never seen any pics head over to my Stonehenge Photo Essay.
Arrival at the pods is not very complicated but you should take notice of the directions to Mulino Pods you see on the website and/or in communication with the owners. There are posted signs that do guide you towards Mulino Pods.
On arrival, I was greeted by the owners and given a tour of the pod, common area, cooking area, bathrooms, and surroundings.
They have 3 pods and bathrooms, kitchen and common area are shared.
The views were absolutely gorgeous and being surrounded by greenery all around and farm animals was a unique experience.
Inside the pod what was evident from the first look is how spacious they were from inside and how very clean everything was.
They had a fridge and cabinet with coffee machine and dish/cups etc. even a sofa was there.
Later that night bed turned out to be really comfortable and small touches like a bottle of fresh milk was a delight. These things help make it an experience to remember.
It does get a bit dark at night. You should read about the list of things to bring and yes a torch would be handy for toilet trip(s) at night. Oh, I didn’t have a torch but I had my handy iPhone with light :)
When I was leaving the site I felt like I need to come back here and try this for more than a night. I now appreciate the concept and lure of Glamping for sure. You can get the best of both worlds - being close to nature and still have all the comforts of a regular hotel/Airbnb
Location also made it easy for me to explore Peak District National Park as Mulino Pods are at the base of the area and you can drive straight into the national park and come back within a day.
I was so glad I gave something new a chance.
Special Thanks to Mulino Pods for providing one night stay at BlueBell Pod.
My opinion and feedback is always un-biased and based on my own personal experience(s).