The River Wensum takes its name from an old English word meaning ‘winding’. And at this bell tent glamping site, 10 miles North West of Norwich, it’s easy to see why. Set in a meadow on the banks of the river, tiny streams seem to meander off in every direction, with the main waters running directly beyond your tent and no fewer than 34 different lakes and ponds within a mile’s radius of the site. In summer, the place is heaven. Wild swimming, stream jumping and general splashing about is the order of the day, while you can also climb to an amazing view-point on the farm, with uninterrupted views across the River Wensum and the Norfolk countryside. Even if you prefer to stay on dry land, the river makes the perfect backdrop as you walk to a different kind of watering hole too; it’s a half-hour stroll to the local pub.
In the grounds of the Walcis Farm Estate, Amber’s Bell Tent Camping is one of four glamping locations set up by Amber Wykes in Norfolk, each with similarly magnificent settings on large country estates. Comprised of just six canvas bell tents, there’s a real sense of seclusion to the Walcis Farm camp, with ample space in the meadow for children to make friends and roam safe from any cars (it’s a mile to the nearest main road). By day, the river makes an inevitable focal point – some glampers bring canoes to use – while, by night, campfires flicker and the stars are pleasingly bright in the sky.
The bell tents themselves offer a good blend of camping style with glamping comfort. They’re entirely off grid and made of real cotton canvas, but inside there’s still the luxury of a real double bed, a wood-burner to keep things warm, bunting, rugs, storage and all the crockery, cookwares and utensils you could need. A campfire pit and picnic table sits outside, while it’s a short wander to the purpose-built, gas-powered shower and toilet cabin in the meadow.
If you’re not swimming or canoeing, there’s carp fishing on the estate (book ahead and the Marriott’s Cycle Way is under a mile from your bell tent door. This former railway line has now been restored for use as a car-free cycle path, which offers an excellent, family-friendly route into the centre of Norwich. Lock up your bikes for the day and explore the old Norman castle and museum or cycle five miles in the opposite direction to the Georgian town of Reepham, where there’s local food galore (look out for the Meloncaulie Rose fruit and veg shop) and home made cream teams in the Dial House – an eccentric former coaching house where you dine surrounded by antiques (most of which are for sale). Well fed and well explored, you can pedal home as birds return to roost in the great trees beside the glampsite. Then light the campfire for the night and settle in to your riverside abode.
Walk along the banks of the Wensum, wild swimming along the way – there's a good, 20-minute route to The Fox pub in Lyng – or bring bikes and try the nearby Marriots Way, which offers 26 miles of safe, family cycling along a disused railway track between Norwich and the market town of Aylsham. Norwich itself deserves a full day of your time; walk the old 'lanes' in the centre (full of independent shops, boutiques and cafés), visit the Norman castle (01603 493649), Romanesque cathedral (01603 218300) and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (01603 593199). Within cycling distance of the glamping site, Roarr Dinosaur Park (01603 876310) has animal enclosures, a deer park and adventure trails for kids. It's a ½-hour drive to the nearest stretches of the North Norfolk Coast, where the beach and town of Wells-next-the-Sea and the National Trust-owned marshes around Blakeney and Morston are easiest to reach by hopping back on the A1067.
For a treat, walk across the meadows or cycle to the Walcis Farm Estate entrance where you'll find the Lenwade House Hotel (01603 879567; booking advised), a magnificent timber framed building with a fine dining restaurant. For something a little more casual, walk in the opposite direction to The Fox (01603 872316) in the village of Lyng, with food from midday (except on Mondays) and a sunny beer garden. It’s a 5 mile cycle along the Marriott’s Way to Reepham, a slightly sleepy place but excellent for local food and with a picturesque square. Try Meloncaulie Rose for fresh fruit and vegetables and visit the truly atmospheric Dial House (01603 879900) for fantastic food all day in an old-fashioned dining room that’s adorned with antiques and collectables, many of which are for sale. Don’t leave without checking out the themed rooms downstairs.
