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218 DEVON LIFE September 2013 devonlife.co.uk Unplug & switch off Exmoor is fast-becoming Devon’s own safari destination. ANNA TURNS goes on a glamping adventure at Longlands eco-escape and enjoys a bespoke 4x4 excursion on the moors

PHOTOS BY GUY HARROP

s soon as I turn my car off the style of glamorous camping. “I was very A399 to , down excited to discover a company called the long winding lane into Albion canvas, based down the road in the valley towards Wellington, ,” explains Bella. Longlands, it’s clear that “These are perfect for our high-end luxury Awe’ve arrived somewhere truly special. My camping experience – and it has been great family and I are staying in a safari tent for to kit them out locally too.” the weekend. Now, as much as I love the Bella knew she wanted to create the kind idea of leaving home comforts behind and of place she wanted to stay herself, and this camping away from it all, I’m definitely not shows in the décor and contents – a natural camper. But this is extreme everything has been carefully thought out glamping with real beds, a bathroom and and created with love. “I wanted to fulfil a wood-burning stove, so I think I can cope. my dream of watching the sun setting over We leave the car at the top of the hill, out countryside from a balcony with a glass of of sight, and guests are free to roam down wine in my hand,” says Bella, whose strong to the lake, along the stream through vision became a reality when Longlands farmland, out onto the coast paths and opened in July 2012. Bella previously through woodlands covered in blankets of worked in garden design, hence her strong wildflowers. Longlands is a place to design eye, and after designing other unwind and escape from electricity people’s outdoor spaces, she was keen to (although there is one sneaky plug socket have her own project. hidden away just in case of those desperate “Once we started the ball rolling, I went phone-charger moments). It takes time to on a shopping mission to find the best boil the kettle on the wood-burning stove, furniture, gadgets and décor for each of the hand-grind the coffee beans or light the fire three tents.” Bella found vintage to warm the shower water, but it is a joy to Chesterfield leather sofas, dressers and slow your pace of life right down and enjoy blanket boxes, and inherited tables and the sound of birdsong in the mornings chairs from the previous owners who ran through the canvas walls. an onsite tea shop. She gave them a new Our beautifully styled six-person safari lease of life with a lick of coloured paint, tent, ‘Lundy’, seems like one giant holiday and “it all sort of came together”. adventure playhouse. Bella Given, owner The three tents have similar layouts but of Longlands, discovered these ‘fairly individual sets of chairs and furniture give permanent’ safari tents in South Africa. each one its own tone and identity. When she and her husband Richard sold up “Vintage was the trend but that’s not going their home in Twickenham and moved to to last forever, plus I didn’t want anything in September 2011, they too floral. Whilst looking into the interior wanted to find a way of replicating this design for the tents, I partnered up with

devonlife.co.uk DEVON LIFE September 2013 219 Did you know…? Longlands is a place to unwind and escape from Exmoor has been a National electricity... It takes time to boil the kettle on the Park since 1954 The begins up on wood-burning stove, hand-grind the coffee beans or these moors light the fire to warm the shower water, but it is a joy From Combe Martin, Exmoor spreads up to the north coast to slow your pace of life right down of Devon and spills over the border into Somerset, Pam, a local interior designer who has it was chilly outside, once we perfected covering 267 square miles. worked her magic on our soft furnishings. our fire-lighting skills it was toasty warm Exmoor has the largest When she showed me modern country inside with plenty of hot-water bottles and concentration of in fabrics by Vanessa Arbuthonott, they heavy tog duvets. Bella has thought of seemed to fit perfectly. Plus my favourite everything! Exmoor has the highest suppliers are Garden Trading and Grace & The location of Longlands is special is coastal cliffs in England - Glory in or online.” its own right. Bella describes finding the 800ft/244m – and the longest Bella has taken heed of any visitor 17 acre site: “It’s like discovering a secret stretch of naturally wooded suggestions in order to make each safari valley, surrounded by private farmland, coastline in the British Isles. tent as user-friendly as possible – so we and it is ideal for providing an exclusive found a welly box by the front entrance, experience.” Bella recently bought 10 coat stands, and a dog bed and bowl, all as chickens from South Yeo Farm in a result of constructive feedback. Although , so she can provide her own

220 DEVON LIFE September 2013 devonlife.co.uk Photo by Experience Exmoor

Experience Exmoor

Combe Martin on the western edge of the moors, is the perfect base to explore Exmoor, and who better to show us round than Neil Osmond, owner of Experience

Exmoor. He spent his school Photo by Experience Exmoor holidays staying with family and exploring the moors, horse-riding and fly-fishing for salmon or trout. In 2012, he settled here with his own family and now enjoys showing tourists the highlights A 4x4 safari across Exmoor is a great opportunity for wildlife-watching and special places he has discovered over the years. expected Exmoor to be similar. pristine coastal heathland and Neil’s tour goes off the It’s surprising how they both some of the highest (and beaten track in his Land Rover have very different pretty treacherous) sea cliffs Discovery 4 - with special personalities. Exmoor, Neil in England. “I love being able permission to drive down explains to me, is more to show people the places access routes ‘female’, with gentle, they otherwise wouldn’t see,” he can show another side to undulating terrain and coastal says Neil as he shows us the Exmoor, and 4x4 transport is landscapes. exhibits gorgeous views East to a great way to cover a lot of a ‘male’ element, with granite and across the Bristol ground, especially for those tors and a vast, harsh Channel. As we wind back with limited time or not able landscape. through and to walk too far. Highlights of the trip include , Neil tells us the Exmoor is full of dramatic Hurdle Down, Neil’s favourite history of Lynton’s flood scenery and spectacular spot, where we find a group of damage, and points out vistas, especially where the hinds: “Here the atmosphere burial sites, which moors meet the sea. The and mood changes constantly would probably have gone moors provide a beautiful with the and weather, unnoticed had we been backdrop for wildlife-watching and this is a great place to driving alone. Neil brings the which is particularly exciting spot red deer.” landscape to life and makes at this time of year, with the The journey down to the story of Exmoor red deer rut beginning in Foreland Lighthouse through accessible. Now that I have a September. Look out for the National Trust-owned land is better visual impression of the Longlands eggs for guests. “It really feels red deer stags who are at stunning and steep, but worth moors, I’m keen to return like a proper farm here now,” she says. their finest, ready to show off the drive, just to see the soon and explore some of my Bella has created the Longlands Larder, a and beat off stiff competition favourite places on foot, and I little shop full to the brim with fancy to win their hinds. Hardier and know where I’ll put my feet up five-star treats and gourmet essentials bigger than Dartmoor ponies, at the end of the day! (from olives to cheese truckles and artisan Exmoor ponies graze by the Escape to Exmoor: chocolate), plus she offers a fabulous menu roadside and on the heath – only 1000 of these rare ponies Photo by Experience Exmoor Call Bella Given to book at of delicious dinners which she brings to the are left in the wild. Longlands: 01271 882004. lodge. We went for the easy option and On a clear day, Dartmoor is longlandsdevon.co.uk ordered breakfast which was ready to also visible from this western Contact Neil Osmond to book collect from Longlands Larder at 8am – edge of Exmoor. As a a 4x4 excursion: warm croissants in a wicker basket – what ‘southerner’, I know Dartmoor 07854 666 800. could be better! I fairly well, and had naively experienceexmoor.co.uk devonlife.co.uk DEVON LIFE September 2013 221