Gloucestershire is home to both the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the luscious Forest of Dean — and has ambitious plans to become a carbon neutral county by 2050, to help preserve this stunning natural environment.
With demand for sustainable holidays on the rise, SoGlos has handpicked 15 sustainable staycations and eco-retreats in Gloucestershire, from treehouses to glamping pods and everything in between.
Rewild Things at Elmore Court in Gloucester
With six treehouses hidden in the rewilded land around Elmore Court in Gloucester, Rewild Things promises unforgettable luxury eco-retreats. Built by local craftsmen using sustainable materials and causing minimal damage to the surrounding forest, these treehouses are immsered in nature, but feature modern comforts like Nespresso coffee machines, king size beds and Bluetooth speakers.
Soak in an outdoor bath on the balcony with a soundtrack of birdsong; rustle up a meal in the outdoor kitchen; or snuggle down with a good book in front of a crackling log burner. There are also nature walks, a wild swimming club and the chance to go foraging, for more active guests.
Thyme in Southrop
Describing itself as ‘a botanical breather, away from life’s bustle’, Thyme in Southrop offers a range of rooms in its collection of restored farm buildings. Situated within the Cotswolds AONB, Thyme is passionate about conserving wild spaces that allow nature to thrive, with its water meadows being a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest.
With a range of drinking and dining options inspired by the local land — from fresh, handmade cocktails in the Baa Bar to contemporary, seasonal cuisine in The Ox Barn — Thyme also boasts a botanical spa with a spring water pool and a range of treatments, using its own nature-inspired product range.
Wildwood Bluebell near Moreton-in-Marsh
Set within acres of ancient woodland amongst swathes of bluebells, primroses and babbling streams, Wildwood Bluebell offers a magical glamping experience in the Cotswold countryside between Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. Munday’s Meadow accommodates up to 24 guests in six bell tents, each equipped with fairy lights, lanterns and handmade cushions, with a large, decked area for socialising and both indoor and outdoor cooking facilities.
Meanwhile, those looking for a more secluded stay can cosy up in one of two shepherd’s huts in the Bluebell Wood. Each hut sleeps two and comes with sheepskin rugs and wood-burning stoves to keep guests warm, as well as a shared outdoor safari shower — with keen-eyed visitors often able to spot deer, foxes and badgers in the surrounding woods after dark.
Hudnalls Hideout in St Briavels
The one-of-a-kind Hudnalls Hideout is a stunning timber treehouse, nestled in amongst the lush woodlands of the Forest of Dean. Offering romantic, adults-only retreats, the treehouse sleeps two and offers guests exclusive use of the surrounding ancient woodland, as well as a colourful wildflower meadow, ideal for picnics.
There’s no TV or wifi, allowing guests to completely switch off and immerse themselves in nature — opting instead to try a forest bathing session; have a relaxing soak in the outdoor bathtub; hibernate inside the cosy, bioethanol-heated treehouse; and stargaze from incredible floor-to-ceiling windows.
Cotswold Farm Park in Guiting Power
With safari tents, glamping pods, luxury lodges and admission to the award-winning attraction included with every stay, glamping at Cotswold Farm Park is a great choice for families looking for a sustainable getaway.
With electric lighting and heating, all options are as cosy as they can be — while luxury lodges boast their own private decks and wood-fired hot tubs, too. There's plenty to do, from bottle feeding lambs to wandering through the woodlands, with stunning sunsets to see when you turn in for the evening.
May Hill Woodlands near Newent
May Hill Woodlands in the Forest of Dean is home to two safari tents sleeping up to four people, where guests can cosy up around a real wood fire and spend a few nights under the stars. Both tents have two bedrooms, a kitchenette with fridge, gas stove, kettle and toaster, as well as access to a shower and toilet cabin with eco-friendly dry compost toilets.
There are also several wild camping sites further in the woodlands. Available for a limited number of days with locations alternating each year to protect the unique surroundings, more intrepid explorers can arrange to stay at one of these secluded sites for a truly immersive experience.
The Wildings in Bourton-on-the-Water
Family-friendly campsite, The Wildings, offers eco-tourists a choice of camping pods, bell tents and yurts, alongside a cosy cookhouse, fully heated toilet and shower block, children’s play area and on-site farm shop.
All options include cosy double beds, with camp beds available for additional guests. Camping pods have electric lighting and heating, while the tipis and yurts are adorned with solar-powered fairy lights, with wood fires and cosy blankets to snuggle under to stay warm on chillier evenings.
Squirrel’s Nest Treehouse in Lydney
Walk up the spiral staircase and into the trees at Lydney’s Squirrel’s Nest treehouse, which offers guests an array of home comforts, including a gorgeous bedroom with balcony and a fully equipped kitchen, set within the dreamy surroundings of the Forest of Dean.
Outdoorsy guests will love being just a short distance from the Wye Valley, where they can hike, bike and kayak, as well as trying to spot the elusive resident wild boar. Then, spend the evening rustling up a delicious barbecue on a private island; cooking your own wood-fired pizza; or settling down next to the fire pit and toasting marshmallows after a day of exploring.
Daylesford Cottages near Kingham
Located on one of the UK’s most sustainable organic farms, it’s no surprise that Daylesford's cottages make for an ideal eco-retreat in Gloucestershire. The carefully restored farmhouse cottages are insulated with sheep’s wool and feature recycled materials, including Cotswold stone floor tiles and oak beams made from fallen trees from the estate.
Electricity comes from solar panels on the farm; guests are encouraged to recycle their rubbish; there are electric car charging points in the main car park; the Zero Waste Pantry means self-catering guests can stock up on staples without single-use packaging — not to mention enjoying fresh farm eggs, vegetables, fruit and herbs from the farm shop and organic milk and cheese from the dairy.
Mrs Mills’ Yurts near Longhope
Set amongst six acres of Gloucestershire countryside with expansive views over May Hill, Mrs Mills’ Yurts gives eco-tourists a choice of four quirky yurts to stay in, complete with 1920s-inspired names.
Offering comfortable beds and futons for between three and five guests, each yurt is solar powered and has its own wood-burning stove inside to keep it cosy, as well as a fire pit, barbecue and outdoor seating area to soak up the spectacular sunsets — with some even having a wood-fired hot tub for an additional charge. Mrs Mills has a reputation for fantastic food, too, with a menu of yummy dishes available to warm up on hotplates inside the yurts.
Eco Chic Cottages near Lechlade
The award-winning Eco Chic Cottages near Lechlade offer luxurious staycations with impressive green credentials. The two historic stone cottages are ideal for a quintessential Cotswold break, with Culls Cottage sleeping up to six guests and The Chestnuts sleeping up to eight.
Each cottage is equipped with inglenook fireplaces and wood-burning stoves; luxury kitchens with Lavazza coffee machines; impressive bathrooms and large gardens, with an electric vehicle charging point at The Chestnuts, too — and some of the Cotswolds’ prettiest towns right on the doorstep.
The Roost Luxury Glamping in Mitcheldean
With two snug cabins sleeping two adults and two dogs each, The Roost Luxury Glamping in Mitcheldean puts an eco-friendly spin on your usual cabin in the woods. Each cabin has a living roof and king size beds, luxurious bathrooms with power showers, well-equipped kitchens and dedicated doggy beds — not to mention chemical-free outdoor Japanese soak tubs.
The Roost is powered by green electricity and stocked with local wood for the log-burners; soap handmade in Mitcheldean; eco-friendly cleaning products; and local, organic produce for the kitchen. It has gold accreditation from Green Tourism and has planted over 70 new native trees, 500 native hedgerow plants and a new wildflower meadow, which provides food for the local Horseshoe bat population. It harvests rainwater for its washing machines and staff toilets, too.
Westley Farm in Frampton Mansell
Offering six unique glamping locations, Westley Farm in Frampton Mansell is a secluded eco-retreat set within 40 acres of ancient woodland, providing glamping from March to November each year.
Choose from options like Yurt Reynolds with a double bed and its own bath house complete with roll top tub; the quirky Gold Rush Cabin with its Western Red Cedar wood-fired hot tub, barbecue and tin cowboy shower; The Zen Den with panoramic views, floating bed and Japanese-inspired Ofuro soaking tub; or go all out with Arcadia, a cathedral-inspired cabin made from local, honey-coloured wood, with stained glass windows, log burner, indoor shower and outdoor wood-fired hot tub.
Resilient Woodlands Retreat in Lydney
With spectacular views over the Severn Estuary, Resilient Woodlands Retreat gives guests the opportunity to really admire the natural beauty of the Forest of Dean from its two log cabins.
Each has an elevated private deck with breathtaking views, as well as a private wood-fired hot tub, fully equipped kitchen, king size bed and double futon, as well as bathroom with full-size shower and eco-friendly toiletries. The Coppice cabin is also dog-friendly, ideal for couples with a four-legged friend in tow.
Little Horseshoe Lake in South Cerney
This sustainable, adults-only fishing retreat sits within a 55-acre private reserve in South Cerney and offers six secluded lakeside lodges.
With Scandi-chic interiors, outdoor hot tubs and private decks overlooking the carp lake, they're ideal for tranquil retreats — with plenty to do for outdoorsy types, like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and water skiing at nearby Cotswold Water Park.
