The school summer holidays are the one stretch of the year when everyone actually has time to switch off — but that only works if the trip itself is easy. That’s where glamping earns its keep. At Mill Farm Glamping in Poulshot, near Devizes, Wiltshire, you get the space, freedom and fresh air of a proper countryside break, without the faff of packing a tent, digging out the airbed, or hoping the weather holds.
If you’re weighing up where to go for your summer holidays in 2026, here’s why glamping in Wiltshire deserves a spot on your shortlist — and what to see and do while you’re here.
The Benefits of Glamping in the Summer Holidays
Long light evenings, without the admin. Glamping gives you all the good bits of camping — campfires, stargazing, the sound of the countryside at night — with a comfortable bed, proper heating for cooler nights, and a roof that won’t let you down if the forecast turns. For families juggling nap times, early risers, or just wanting a lie-in, that reliability matters.
Space to actually relax. Unlike a packed caravan site or a city hotel room, a luxury canvas lodge or treehouse gives everyone room to spread out — kids can play outside the door, adults can sit with a coffee and watch the fields, and nobody’s tripping over anyone else’s suitcase.
A genuine break from screens. With open space, animals to visit, and countryside on the doorstep, a farm-based glamping stay naturally pulls kids (and adults) away from tablets and towards the kind of unstructured outdoor time that summer holidays used to be built around.
Flexibility for every kind of group. Whether it’s a couple wanting a quiet reset, a family with young children, or a group of friends meeting up for a few days, glamping accommodation scales in a way that a single hotel room doesn’t.
It supports local, small-scale tourism. Staying on a working farm rather than in a big chain resort means your money goes directly into a small rural business and the wider local economy — the farm shops, pubs and attractions that depend on visitors through the summer months.
What’s On Your Doorstep: Exploring Wiltshire and Beyond
One of the best things about basing yourself at Mill Farm is just how much there is within easy reach. Wiltshire and its neighbouring counties pack in some of the most recognisable historic and family-friendly attractions in the country.
Stonehenge — one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, and one of the most iconic days out in the whole of the UK. It’s an easy drive from Mill Farm and makes for a memorable morning before heading back for lunch.
Longleat — safari park, adventure playgrounds, and one of England’s great stately homes rolled into one. It’s a full day out and a firm favourite with families, especially in the summer holidays when the safari drive-through and outdoor attractions are at their best.
Bowood House and Gardens — a beautiful stately home with landscaped gardens, a lake, and one of the best adventure playgrounds in the region for children. It’s a gentler pace than Longleat and ideal for a relaxed half-day or full-day visit.
Beyond the big names, the surrounding area has plenty more to fill a week: the historic market town of Devizes itself, the White Horse hill figures dotted across the Wiltshire countryside, the Kennet and Avon Canal for a walk or cycle, and charming villages worth a wander if you fancy slowing down between the bigger attractions.
Life on the Farm — and a Season That’s Testing Us
Mill Farm isn’t just a glamping site — it’s a working farm, and that’s part of what makes a stay here different. Guests often ask about the animals, the fields, and what’s changed season to season, and this year there’s an honest answer worth sharing.
Like farms across the country, we’re dealing with the knock-on effects of another dry spring and a run of summer heatwaves. Forage crops — the grass and feed that livestock rely on through the year — have struggled to regrow properly under low rainfall and prolonged heat, and irrigation reservoirs and water supplies are under real pressure. It’s not just us: this is a widespread issue affecting farmers right across the UK this year, with cereal harvests starting earlier than usual and non-irrigated crops bearing the brunt of the dry conditions.
We’re managing it as best we can, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes staying on a working farm interesting rather than sanitised — you get to see, in a small way, what British farming is actually contending with right now, alongside the more relaxed side of farm life.
Book Your Summer Glamping Break at Mill Farm
If you’re after a summer holiday that combines comfort, countryside, and easy access to some of the South West’s best days out, Mill Farm Glamping offers exactly that. Explore Stonehenge, Longleat and Bowood House and Gardens by day, then come back to a warm, comfortable, ready-made retreat by evening — all set on a genuine working Wiltshire farm.
Visit millfarmglamping.co.uk to check availability for the summer holidays or contact Farmer Chris via Whatsapp.
