Forget waiting until next summer. Autumn might just be the best time to go glamping.
There's something particularly appealing about escaping to the countryside once the summer crowds have disappeared. The air is crisp, the landscapes are turning golden and evenings suddenly feel made for log fires, long dinners and stargazing.
We're seeing a growing appetite for stays that make the most of the outdoors without asking guests to compromise on comfort, and autumn is arguably when this balance works best. It's the season for muddy boots, woodland walks, wild swims and mountain adventures, followed by hot showers, cosy beds and something warming on the stove.
So, rather than putting glamping away with the summer camping gear, we're making the case for extending the outdoor season. From a secluded lakeside lodge in Lincolnshire to mountainside escapes in Snowdonia and luxury cabins less than an hour from London, here are three stays that prove autumn might be glamping's sweet spot.
The Nest, Lincolnshire
The Nest feels particularly well suited to autumn. Set in the Lincolnshire countryside, with just three tented lodges arranged around a private lake, it offers the kind of privacy that makes it easy to settle into a slower pace.
The real appeal at this time of year is being able to enjoy the outdoors without having to sacrifice comfort. Spend the afternoon following trails through farmland and woodland, looking out for deer, birds and grazing animals, then return to a plush lodge, hot shower and proper kitchen. The egg-shaped baths overlooking the lake are also a fairly compelling way to recover from a muddy walk.
New for this season, The Nest has transformed one lodge into an all-year-round retreat. Newly insulated walls and ceilings, a fully equipped kitchen with an electric oven, proper heating and a sleek Scandi-style log burner mean that colder evenings are very much part of the appeal rather than a reason to stay home.
This is where autumn at The Nest really comes into its own. Add a wood-fired hot tub, fire pit, pizza oven or outdoor cinema, and suddenly an early sunset feels like an advantage. There's also a lakeside sauna for those brave enough to pair a cold-water dip with a stint in the heat.
For us, this is glamping at its most restorative: a little bit of wilderness, plenty of fresh air and absolutely no need to rough it.
Plas Weunydd, Snowdonia
If your idea of an autumn escape involves getting properly muddy, Plas Weunydd makes a strong case for heading west.
Set high above the historic Llechwedd slate quarries, within the Slate Landscapes of North West Wales UNESCO World Heritage Site, its glamping pods sit beneath the dramatic Moelwynion mountains. They're year-round, sleeping up to five, with private bathrooms, proper kitchens, WiFi and wood-burning stoves, because a day in the Welsh mountains deserves a warm place to come back to.
For an even more off-grid experience, the Barlwyd Shepherd's Huts take things back to basics, but in a distinctly comfortable way. Designed for two adults and a dog, the huts have king-sized beds, kitchenettes, ensuite bathrooms and wood-burning stoves. There's no mains power or WiFi, which might sound alarming until you realise that's rather the point.
Days here are made for exploring the mountains, while evenings are for warming up beside the fire, unwinding in the mountainside sauna or stepping outside to stargaze beneath Wales' dark skies. The huts are open until November, making them particularly well suited to that quieter, slower side of autumn.
And if slow and restorative isn't quite your speed, there's no shortage of adventure nearby. Zip World is on the doorstep, while Harlech Castle, Portmeirion, the Ffestiniog heritage railway and Antur Stiniog's mountain biking trails are all within easy reach.
Silchester Farm, Hampshire
For those who like their countryside escape with a little more polish, Silchester Farm offers a refined take on the cabin stay.
Less than an hour from London, the Hampshire estate's Pyggies combine the simplicity of cabin living with some decidedly luxurious touches. Think king-sized beds, freestanding baths and views across the kitchen garden: more countryside retreat than traditional camping.
Autumn suits Silchester's slower pace. There's plenty to do if you want to make the most of the estate, from cycling and walking to tennis and swimming, but equally, this is somewhere that makes staying put feel like a perfectly legitimate use of your time.
The food offering is part of that appeal. The Trough Farm Shop is stocked with fresh pastries, local produce and countryside provisions, while the farm's kitchen champions seasonal ingredients, with produce coming from its own kitchen gardens and local suppliers.
As the evenings draw in, the focus shifts naturally towards long lunches, seasonal menus and local drinks, including Silchester Farm's own Wingless Eagle spirits collection. It's a stay where the idea of 'getting away from it all' doesn't have to mean giving anything up.
So, Why Autumn?
Summer might traditionally have the monopoly on outdoor escapes, but autumn has plenty going for it.
There are fewer crowds, cooler temperatures for long walks, changing landscapes to explore and darker evenings that make a log fire or star-filled sky feel that little bit more special. And unlike traditional camping, glamping means you can enjoy all of this without waking up in a damp sleeping bag.
For travellers looking for a post-summer reset, that combination feels increasingly appealing: nature without the compromise, adventure without the crowds and a proper bed at the end of the day.
So perhaps the question isn't why go glamping in autumn?
It's why wait until next summer?