Go glamping in style on West Country weekend

THEY were like peas in a pod. Actually, they were peas in a pod.

Well, mushy ones in  our Devon glamping pod, bought from the excellent chippie  in the centre of nearby Great Torrington.

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We took our fish suppers outside to eat at Smytham Manor’s picnic-style table and benches. You can do this when you have 23 acres of parkland to admire.

With not too much direction from me, our 15-month-old daughter Marion  made a beeline for the ­campsite’s play area.

There is also an indoor area with table tennis, table football, pool and so forth for the older kids and wet weather days.

There was one of those during our West Country weekend but it didn’t dampen our spirits — we stayed snug in our neatly designed and comfortable pod.

Is it really camping if you can plug in your laptop or charge up a tablet to entertain the kids?

And are you roughing it when you can cook on the site’s  thoughtfully ­supplied barbecue?

I mulled it over after the  rain passed,  enjoying a tasty outdoor feast of grilled   sausages.

If you do want to camp  in the time-honoured way, you  can pitch your tent in a walled garden close to the swimming pool.

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Great for kids, this outdoor solar-heated pool has a sun terrace, which we’ll have to enjoy next time.

The campsite also has a putting green and, in the evening, the grown-ups can enjoy the bar next to reception.

Far more than a weekend is needed to explore this part of north Devon but there are fabulous attractions close by.

Smytham Manor, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book, is only a mile from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Rosemoor gardens in Great Torrington. For serious walkers and cyclists there is direct access to the Tarka Trail — more than 30 miles of peaceful paths using  old railway lines.

This area is the heart of otter country, as  captured by Henry Williamson in his novel Tarka the Otter in 1927.

And a short drive to the coast offers historic Bideford and the beaches of Westward Ho!, Saunton Sands and Croyde Bay.

The rustic wonders of Dartmoor and Exmoor are also within  reach.

We did head out for an afternoon of sea breezes, strolling the narrow streets of Appledore where fishermen’s cottages date back to Elizabethan times and residents’ parking would appear impossible, to the casual visitor.

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One property that caught my eye was the unbelievably tiny Dolls House, which is available for holiday lets. It’s listed as having two beds but, looking from the road, it’s hard to imagine how.

In Elizabethan times, apparently, Appledore was noted for tobacco imports and there are tales aplenty of smugglers.

But for us it was back to Smytham Manor and our cosy log pod where, tired and happy, we were more interested in snuggling than smuggling.

Indeed, we all snuggled up in the warm . . .  like peas in a pod.

STAYING THERE:

Outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com features more than 2,000 sites, ranging from one-off campsites and glamping options to unique outdoor accommodation. Family Camping Pods at Smytham Manor start at £52 per night based on up to four sharing. For more information, see.