Feather Down specialise in family glamping, with sites across the UK and Europe. Each site offers something slightly different from the next, be that the location or the activities but they all have the same main appeal, a farm stay under canvas. The perfect way to get back to basics and focus on quality family time at a slower pace.

Last weekend we were invited to stay ay Upper Shaddymoor Farm in Shropshire and here is how we got on as well as everything you need to know before you book your own stay.

On arrival at Upper Shadymoor Farm

The drive to the farm was nice and easy with the sat nav taking us straight to the entrance, which makes a nice change when you’re staying somewhere more out in the sticks. Parking was clearly signposted and although there was no one there to greet us we went up to the farm house and found Joy, one of the hosts, who was lovely and welcoming. She explained that the car could go no further but we could use the wheelbarrows to help us move our stuff the short distance to the tents.

This idea alone was exciting for the kids who even helped load up the wheelbarrows and offered to help push them.

Luckily, Kevan, Joy’s husband, turned up just as we were loading the wheelbarrows and gave us a hand on his quad meaning we only had to do one wheelbarrow trip.

After helping us with our luggage, Kevan, also lovely and welcoming, showed us to our tent, gave us a guided tour and then left us to settle in.

The accommodation at Upper Shadymoor Farm

No matter which Feather Down site you go to the accommodation is the same at all of them and has been designed to sleep up to 5 adults and 1 child under the age of 12.  You will find a double room at the back and a second room to the side with with bunk beds. Both of these rooms can be sectioned off from the rest of the tent with curtains giving some privacy.

There is also a ‘secret’ cupboard bed that opens up into the main living area as well as the main bedroom which can sleep either 1 adult or 1 child. This bed is the cutest and definitely one of the main attractions with the Feather Down glamping sites over other similar ones.

All of the beds have proper mattresses and duvet covers. They are really comfy and warm, although we did take extra blankets and would recommend you do the same.

The beds don’t come made as a standard but you can pay to have these done for you and I would recommend that you do as it is pretty dark in the tent and making bunk beds is not how you want to start a holiday.

The is also a bathroom within all the tents and you do have the option of upgrading to one with a shower like we did, that thankfully does have hot running water.

The main area is surprising large for a tent and has a very high ceiling so you can easily walk around in it.   It has a sofa to the left and a dinning table complete with candelabras to the right with a wood burning stove and kitchen unit with sink towards the back. It also comes equipped with everything you cold need from cutlery to pans.

You are even supplied with wood, fire lighters and matches to get you started and if you require any more you can purchase them from the honesty shop.

There is also a cool box for your food that looks more like a wooden chest and is very innkeeping with the décor. We found this to be plenty cold enough for the few bits we brought like cheese and ham, however, if you need anything keeping even colder you can use the fridge at the honestly shop too.

Outside there is a decking area, two deck chairs and a BBQ.

We were very happy with the accommodation and couldn’t wait to explore the grounds.

Upper Shaddymoor Farm

As we arrived at about 5pm we decided to have a little walk around the grounds. It’s a very pretty site with fields for miles around. We were pleased to see that the tents were spread out so you don’t feel like you are on top of each other, and there is a lovely big grass area in the middle where you could socialise if you wanted to. There are 5 tents in total so even when full it won’t be that busy.

There are two sets of swings on site, one on either side, which are great for the smaller kids to play on, as well as an old boat that has been turned in to a sand pit in the middle area.

We also found the woodlands where we had a little walk and discovered a tyre swing and brook where we played for a while before heading back to the tent for tea.

This is where things got a bit difficult as I really struggled to get the fire going and when I did it was so smoky I set off the fire alarm! After an hour and a half I eventually managed to feed the kids. My advice would be to take some ready to eat foods or a gas camping stove in case you have the same issues. I definitely underestimated not only how hard it would be but also how long it wold take to cook on the fire once it got going, so have a back up plan!

That night we all enjoyed a night in the tent on the very comfy beds, although we were glad of the extra blankets we had taken as well as the torch which was much needed for the middle of the night toilet trips as the tent is pitch back.

On Saturday morning

On Saturday mornings Kevan does a 10am farm tour which is included in your stay. This was a lovely walk that lasted an hour. Kevan was great at engaging the children in the tour and teaching them all about the trees, plants and animals using all the 5 senses. He even showed us around his own private business areas and gardens, which are beautiful!

As the sun was shinning we decided to stay at Upper Shaddymoor Farm and play on the swings whilst we waited for my husband and eldest to arrive.

On Saturday night the Pizza oven was fired up and we were invited to use it at our leisure. You can use it for your own pre bought pizzas or order dough on site and grab some toppings from a nearby shop and make your own. We had read about this online when booking so came prepared with our pizza toppings and ordered the dough when we arrived. The kids loved making the pizza and we even added some fresh wild garlic that we picked on site earlier that day. It was delicious and a lot more successful than the previous nights evenings meal.

Luckily my husband was better at getting the fire going than I had been so we had a much warmer evening and even managed to boil some water for the kids to enjoy hot chocolates before bed.

On Sunday we enjoyed a few hours on site before exploring the local area and heading home. It was a lovely relaxing break that really encouraged us to slow down our pace and enjoy being outside in the fresh air instead of inside glued to technology.

Things you need to know about Upper Shaddymoor Farm

Activities on site

In addition to the glamping you can pay for extra activities. These include

• Hot tub with paddleboards, boat and wild swim
• Fishing lessons
• Coarse fishing
• Dusk Adventures
• Pony Craft and Grooming
• Massages

Had we stayed in summer we would have added on the water package but unfortunately it was just too cold at this time of year.

The Honesty Shop

There is also a small honesty shop on site where you can take the items you need and make a note of it and then pay when you leave. This has things like fresh orange juice, baked beans, wine and crisps. There are also some children’s games that you can borrow and return which is a great idea for any rainy days you may have on the farm.

Overall we had a lovely break away, sleeping under a canvas on a farm and getting back to basics. It was a great way to enjoy quality time together away from the distractions of every day life and temptation of games consoles.

If you are looking to book a glamping trip then be sure to check out the Feather Down sites as they promise to have a farm within a 2 hour drive from your home if you’re in the UK and of course, you can look further a field too as they even have sites in France, Switzerland and Germany.