The Diary Retreat

The Diary Retreat is a canvas bell tent set within private woodland between Newbury and the Hampshire–Berkshire border. A single structure measuring six metres across, it combines open-air camping with solid comforts: a real bed for two adults, pull-out Z beds for children, a wood-burning stove, and an adjacent bathroom with hot shower and flushing toilet. The tent sits on its own with a private deck and firepit outside.

Inside, everything needed for cooking and eating is provided—a gas stove, charcoal barbecue, fridge freezer, crockery and cutlery—along with bed linen and towels. The site itself runs off-grid but has enough lighting to move around safely. Ten acres of woodland surround the tent, crisscrossed with paths and dotted with structures and a tyre swing; the resident animals (ducks, chickens, geese, peacocks, dogs and cats) share the space with visiting deer and foxes. A pub lies within a mile, and Woolton Hill village has a shop and post office nearby. No smoking is permitted. Bring your own wood and charcoal for the stove and firepit.