When you think of glamping, plenty of possibilities may spring to mind—from bell tents and yurts to treehouses, shepherd’s huts and pods. Feather Down Farms has been helping families escape into nature since long before glamping became a familiar term, earning us a reputation as one of the pioneers of the experience. While much has changed since our early days, we have remained true to the simple idea at our heart: comfortable family stays that bring you closer to nature, farm life and one another.
We call our accommodation 'canvas hideaways', or sometimes 'cottages under canvas', because they offer much more than a traditional safari tent. Designed exclusively for Feather Down, their distinctive layout combines the adventure of sleeping beneath canvas with the warmth and character of a country cottage. What's more, the design remains familiar across our farms, so wherever you stay, from Scotland to Cornwall or across the Channel, you can settle into the same cosy home from home.
So, what exactly can you expect inside your spacious canvas hideaway?
Living Space
Family holidays are about spending time together, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to sit on top of one another. With around 45m² of space inside, there is room for children to play, adults to unwind and the whole family to gather together. A comfortable sofa provides a cosy spot for reading and afternoon cuddles, while the full-sized wooden table becomes the centre of hideaway life, with 6 unique wooden chairs.
At home, work, school and after-school activities can make daily shared mealtimes difficult. On the farm, there is time to sit down together, pass plates around the table and talk about the day’s adventures, deeping your connections to each other. Once dinner is cleared away, the table is ready for board games, cards, colouring and perhaps a little friendly competition.
Kitchen
Cooking in your canvas hideaway is part of the experience, rather than simply another holiday chore. The kitchen comes equipped with crockery, cutlery, pans, utensils, chopping boards and fresh running water, so there is no need to pack half the contents of your cupboards. A cool chest and replaceable ice blocks keep your food fresh without the usual hum of a fridge.
At the heart of it all is the wood-burning stove, used for both cooking and keeping the hideaway cosy. It encourages a slower approach: lighting the fire, waiting for the kettle to boil and preparing a meal together rather than reaching for the quickest option. Children can help mix pancake batter, adults can enjoy freshly ground coffee, and dinner can gently bubble away while everyone heads outside for another adventure. There is also a barbecue outside for easy summer meals beneath the open sky.
Bedrooms
After days filled with fresh air, farm animals and countryside adventures, comfortable beds make all the difference. Each standard canvas hideaway sleeps up to six guests across three separate sleeping spaces: a main bedroom with a double bed, a bunk bedroom and the much-loved cupboard bed. Bedding and linen is always included, and premium mattresses mean there is no need to sacrifice a good night’s sleep for the adventure of staying beneath canvas.
The cupboard bed is often the first one claimed by children, and they often tell us it's one of their favourite memories of their stay! Tucked away behind wooden doors, nestled between the living area and the double room, it feels somewhere between a secret den and a storybook sleeping nook. Having separate bedrooms also gives everyone a little privacy at the end of the day - giving parents time to rest and relax too.
Toilets and showers
A Feather Down stay may distance you from everyday technology, but it does not mean giving up the comforts that make a family holiday relaxing. Every canvas hideaway has its own private flushing toilet inside, so there are no late-night walks across a campsite or chemical loos to contend with.
Hot showers are also available at every farm, although their location and style vary. Depending on the hideaway you choose, you may have an en-suite shower, a private outdoor shower beside your accommodation or an individual shower in a nearby shower block. Each location has a different type, and it's easy to see at checkout which type you'd like to book. An outdoor shower can quickly become one of the most memorable parts of the stay—warm water, fresh country air and birdsong make washing away the day’s adventures feel surprisingly special.
Outside
Open the front of your hideaway and the countryside becomes an extension of your living space. Each one has its own veranda or outdoor seating area, with a picnic table, deckchairs and barbecue ready for relaxed meals, morning coffees and evenings spent watching the farm settle down for the night.
Children can enjoy a little more freedom, whether they are searching for insects, making new friends or returning excitedly from the day’s farm activities. Meanwhile, grown-ups can sit back with a drink and enjoy the kind of view that does not come with notifications, traffic or a television competing for attention. As daylight fades, candles and oil lamps create a warm glow inside, while the stars provide the evening entertainment outside.
Hot tubs
At selected farms, you can make your stay even more relaxing by choosing a canvas hideaway with a private hot tub. Heated by wood and set beside your accommodation, it offers a wonderfully simple way to slow down after a busy day outdoors.
There may be no switches, bubbles or complicated controls, but there's a peacefulness in the satisfying ritual of lighting the fire and allowing the water to warm gradually. Children can splash beneath the open sky, while adults can enjoy a peaceful soak once little ones are tucked up in bed. Whether surrounded by rolling fields, woodland or grazing animals, it is an opportunity to pause, look around and appreciate how far away everyday life feels.
And while your canvas hideaway is a cosy home from home, equipped for family living, there’s plenty more to discover on the farm too, from meeting the animals and exploring the countryside to campfires, outdoor play and simple family adventures.
