Not all glamping is the same: how to find your perfect stay
So, you've decided to go glamping. Excellent choice.
Then you start searching for your perfect glamping holiday and discover an entire world of pods, yurts, bell tents, cabins, treehouses and shepherd’s huts - all promising a very different version of life under the stars.
With so many different types of glamping accommodation available, how do you choose the one that's right for you?
The answer depends on what you want from your escape. Are you looking for adventure or indulgence? Somewhere simply to sleep after a day outdoors, or somewhere you'll genuinely enjoy spending time?
Here’s our guide to finding your perfect fit.
Glamping pods: simple and practical
Glamping pods have become hugely popular, and it's easy to understand why. Usually compact, well insulated and purpose-built, they offer an easy introduction to glamping without the unpredictability of a tent.
Facilities vary enormously. Some are essentially comfortable places to sleep with shared bathrooms nearby; others are self-contained, with kitchens, bathrooms and heating.
If your priority is an affordable base for an active weekend - particularly if you expect to spend most of your time outdoors - a pod can be a great choice.
Cabins and lodges: space to spread out
At the other end of the scale are glamping cabins and lodges.
They're often larger, with separate living and sleeping areas, and can be particularly useful for families or groups who need more space. Some offer hot tubs and extensive kitchen facilities, creating an experience closer to a holiday cottage than traditional glamping.
The trade-off? Depending on what you're looking for, a larger lodge can sometimes lose a little of the intimacy and connection with the outdoors that makes glamping feel special in the first place.
Yurts, bell tents and safari tents: closer to nature
For guests who want their glamping with a little more adventure, canvas accommodation can be wonderful.
There's something undeniably romantic about sleeping beneath canvas and hearing the sounds of the countryside around you. Yurts and safari tents can also be surprisingly spacious and beautifully furnished.
But check the details before booking. Bathrooms and cooking facilities may be shared, and canvas accommodation can be more seasonal. For some people, that's all part of the fun. For others, a private bathroom and a warm room on a rainy November morning are non-negotiable.
And we’ll admit to having one firm opinion on the subject: if you still have to put your shoes on and find a torch to visit the loo in the middle of the night, is it really glamping? At Brook Cottage, every hut has its own private en-suite shower room and toilet. Because getting close to nature is wonderful. Sharing a bathroom with strangers? Perhaps less so.
Shepherd’s huts: character meets comfort
Perhaps we're slightly biased, but this is where shepherd’s hut holidays come into their own.
Traditional shepherd’s huts were once simple mobile shelters used by shepherds during lambing. Today's best examples retain that sense of rural character while adding everything you actually want from a holiday.
At Brook Cottage Shepherd Huts, each of our five huts has its own personality. They're individually designed rather than rows of identical units, blending vintage details and rustic character with comfortable beds, private en-suite bathrooms, kitchens and wood burners.
Outside, each has its own space for sitting beside the fire and looking across our private wildlife lake towards Yr Eifl.
It's everything we love about glamping - the freedom, the adventure, the connection with nature - with a little extra luxury woven in.
Which type of glamping accommodation is right for you?
If you're travelling with children or a group, a larger cabin or lodge may make most sense. If budget and adventure are your priorities, consider a pod or bell tent.
But if you're a couple looking for a romantic glamping break, a solo traveller craving peace and quiet, or someone who loves exploring the coast and mountains of North Wales, a beautifully designed shepherd's hut offers something rather special.
At Brook Cottage, we believe the best glamping experiences combine the sense of adventure and closeness to nature with all the comforts and thoughtful luxuries of a five-star escape. It's about waking up to birdsong, spending your days exploring and returning to somewhere that feels every bit as special as the landscape around you.
All the magic of glamping, without compromising on comfort.
At Brook Cottage, we're adults only, and three of our five huts are also dog friendly. Each sleeps just one or two adults, making the whole experience deliberately quiet and intimate.
And these aren't off-the-shelf huts. Our accommodation has attracted attention from The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and others - and we've even featured on BBC's Interior Design Masters.
Look beyond the accommodation itself
Whatever style you choose, don't judge a glamping break on the bed alone.
Look at where you'll wake up. How close are the neighbouring units? Do you have your own bathroom? Can you cook? Is there somewhere inviting to sit when the weather turns? And, most importantly, does the setting make you want to stay awhile?
Brook Cottage Shepherd Huts sits within three acres of fields, woodland and water on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. There are only five huts, all overlooking our wildlife lake, with beaches, coast paths and the mountains of Eryri waiting beyond.
There's no Wi-Fi here, intentionally. Because sometimes the best luxury isn't having more facilities. It's having fewer distractions and time to yourself.
Find the glamping style that feels like you
There isn't one "best" type of glamping accommodation.
But if your idea of luxury glamping in North Wales involves character rather than uniformity, comfort without losing your connection to nature, and a peaceful space designed for one or two, a shepherd's hut might be exactly what you're looking for.
Ready to find your perfect escape?
Explore our five individually designed, adults-only shepherd's huts on the Llŷn Peninsula. Whether you're planning a romantic break, a solo retreat or a dog-friendly adventure, there's a little corner of Brook Cottage waiting for you.
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