City breaks are too expensive and too busy ever to be relaxing. Camping, meanwhile… Well, do we need to go into leaky tents and snapped poles? But we might have found the middle ground between – a minimalist apartment in the great outdoors – with the Foreland Bothy in Devon.
Okay, we might sound like an estate agent right now, but this “fun alternative to camping” is all you need if you’re looking to explore South West Coast Path. Proudly listing all the things it doesn’t have – no fridge, no television, no WiFi, no microwave, no BBQ, no washing machine – more than what it does, what you do get are incredible coastal views.
Foreland Bothy invites guests to leave all gadgets behind and embrace a slower pace of life. Situated on the North Devon coastline, within the boundaries of Exmoor, there’s so much to discover on your doorstep. Hikes along coast paths in the day, drink in the local country pubs (the Blue Ball Inn is your closest) in the evening, and go stargazing at night – said to be some of the darkest skies in Europe.
Missing the real world a little? Just head into Lynmouth for a beach, numerous cafés and restaurants, and a cliff railway. But, surprisingly, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can at the bothy. Set up a camping stove, stare out into the endless blue sea and read a good book or play a few card games. Forget the world!
Housing up to four people, this single bedroom features one double-raised platform and two single platforms. You have to bring your own mats/airbeds/blankets/sleeping bags though. And there’s no electricity or lighting in the bothy. But it does come with a sink, an external compost toilet and there are “hooks on the back of the main door”(!)
Hold your excitement. Things only improve when you hear the price… It’s only £30 a night! If you prefer some comforts and have more cash splash, however, just down the road you can also stay at the cliff-edge cottage behind a working lighthouse, which starts at £879 for three nights. Both the Foreland Bothy and Foreland Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottage are run by the National Trust.