Double gold award-winning Valleyside Escapes is a hidden gem close to nature and ideally positioned to explore North and South Devon. There are three fully-equipped luxury safari tents sleeping up to six with their own bathroom and kitchen, plus a BBQ/fire pit, play area and skittles court to enjoy the outdoors. It also has a private riverside meadow and a Mediterranean-style courtyard bar open Friday evenings, plus a games room.

Private riverside meadow for wild swimming or fishing and more!

Award-winning luxury safari tent glamping with panoramic valley views

Children's activities including play area, skittles court, games room and nature trail

About Valleyside Escapes

This peaceful site is set among the rolling hills of the beautiful Devon countryside. It has also previously been named the best glamping site in the South West after receiving Gold in the South West Tourism Excellence awards. This was following being named as the best glamping site in Devon after receiving Gold in the Devon Tourism Awards. The three safari tents are positioned in the top paddock overlooking the Exe Valley, providing amazing picturesque views from the veranda - you can even see a vineyard! Oak, Maple and Birch are beautifully decorated offering a home from home. All the essentials are provided including bedding, towels, blankets and hot water bottles as well as a few extras including luxury natural shower gel and hand wash. The kitchen is also stocked with all essentials and condiments and you will be provided with a welcome pack of local goods so you don't need to worry about bread, milk, tea and coffee and can enjoy some locally made jam and treats. Valleyside Escapes is a special place, instantly relaxing and provides all sorts of nature to look at including sheep, peacocks and herons, to name but a few. The private riverside meadow is just a couple of minutes' walk away. During the day it is in the perfect position to explore the attractions that North and South Devon have to offer as well as many that are on your doorstep. On Friday evening the snug Mediterranean courtyard bar is open from 6pm offering local ales, lagers, ciders, spirits and wines, it is also dog and child-friendly. There is also a children's play area onsite and a games room in the courtyard next to the bar. Paella meal kits are popular with guests offering a tasty alternative to a BBQ and a unique cooking experience for everyone to enjoy!

Valleyside Escapes is open from 29/03 to 13/10.


Facilities and amenities

Each tent is fully equipped with hot running water, electricity and WiFi connectivity. There is a bathroom at the rear containing a shower, toilet and sink. There is also a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge freezer, gas hob and wood burner.

Outside there is a BBQ area and play area with a boule court. A games room is also in the courtyard. The site also has an off-road buggy available to hire, free of charge.

The Mediterranean-style courtyard bar serves local Devon ciders, lagers, ales and spirits, you can also try the rose wine from Yearlstone vineyard that you can see just across the Exe Valley. When the bar is closed you are still able to buy alcohol from here.

For essential supplies, there is Exe Valley farm shop within a five minute drive, and ten minutes away is the historic market town of Tiverton with supermarkets, high street and independent shops. For pubs, the Bickleigh Mill is a riverside option just 500m down the road, or try the Fisherman's Cot pub which is just a five minute walk from the site.

adult-only icon

Adult only

allow-commercial-vans icon

Allow commercial vans

allow-pets-on-site icon

Allow pets on site

bike-hire icon

Bike hire

cafe-restaurant icon

Café / restaurant

communal-bbq icon

Communal BBQ

disabled-facilities icon

Disabled facilities

drinking-water icon

Drinking water

electric-hookups icon

Electric hookups

entertainment icon

Entertainment

family-friendly icon

Family friendly

fires-allowed icon

Fires allowed

fishing icon

Fishing

games-room icon

Games room

glamping icon

Glamping

golf icon

Golf

horse-riding icon

Horse riding

hot-tub icon

Hot tub

kids-club icon

Kids club

kids-playground icon

Kids playground

laundry icon

Laundry

near-beach icon

Near beach

near-pub icon

Near pub

open-year-round icon

Open year round

peaceful icon

Peaceful

rv-pitches icon

RV pitches

shop icon

Shop

showers icon

Showers

swimming-pool icon

Swimming pool

toilet icon

Toilet

tv-room icon

TV room

vineyard icon

Vineyard

water-hookups icon

Water hookups

watersports icon

Watersports

wc-disposal icon

W.C. disposal

wifi icon

WiFi


A note from the site themselves...

We are so lucky to live in this hidden gem and so glad that we can share it! It is a very special place set in beautiful countryside surroundings and steeped in history - but evolved for the 21st century.

We love telling the history of our site! We've created a home from home for our glampers to make their stay as easy and relaxing as possible and they will receive a very warm welcome from us. We are on hand to give any advice on places to eat and visit during your stay - we've enjoyed trying these out for ourselves so we can provide first-hand knowledge!


Map and address

Park address

Valleyside Escapes,

Cleave Barton, Bickleigh, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8RG

Coordinates

50.8563, -3.5084 | SS 93 7

View on Google Maps

Valleyside Escapes is ideal for...

Couples

Older children (13+)

Peace and quiet

Young children


There are 3 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

3 x Safari Tents

Max 6 people

Luxury six-berth safari tents with bathroom at rear containing shower, toilet and sink. Inside is a fully equipped kitchen and a wood burning stove in the dining area. Outside is an enclosed veranda and BBQ. One large dog or two small dogs are welcome.


Valleyside Escapes reviews

100%

would recommend

Overall
5
Location
5
Value for money
5
Service
5
Facilities
5
Cleanliness
5

Incredible family-friendly glamping spot!

Kaitlyn H

0

0

Safari Tent - Safari TentsJun 2024

I can't find enough great things to say about our stay at Valleyside Escapes. The safari tent, hillside location, and small number of other guests made this an ideal weekend break for us. We're a family of two young boys and an energetic dog, so the glamping field with a small playground inside was the perfect balance of convenience and amenities, whilst also getting that 'camping' vibe and options for kids (and dog!) to explore. We loved exploring the local meadows and stream, meeting baby sheep, and spending the afternoon at the miniature railway in walking distance from the tent. I would highly recommend Valleyside Escapes for young families needing some of the 'creature comforts', but also wanting to get the camping experience in an idyllic setting. We'll be heading back soon!

Site's response

Thank you very much for your 5-star review, it is very appreciated! We're glad you and your family had a lovely weekend and enjoyed all our on-site facilities as well as the local attractions. We can't wait to welcome you back!

Amazing tents, beautiful location

Christophe N

0

0

Safari Tent - Safari TentsMay 2024

Amazing tents, beautiful location, stunning sunsets, loveliest of hosts! Our family of 4 had the most wonderful, long weekend stay in the amazing Valleyside safari tents. The bedrooms were cosy, with very comfortable beds. The bathroom was clean and with a lovely hot shower and thick towels. We loved the easy to cook-in kitchen, and the wood fire stove was the icing on the cake. Having camped and glamped before, it was so nice that the little things were all thought of - individual hot water bottles, basic cooking ingredients like coffee and sugar, olive oil, tinfoil etc. The little things you always forget to bring from home, and so often not including in glamping sites. The welcome basket with bread and milk (and marshmallows too!) was so thoughtful. We especially loved the beautiful walk and picnic down by the river, following the map provided. The location is so convenient to explore the local area, Exeter and beyond. Emma & Matt were easy to reach with any questions and super hosts. The boys loved the new games room as well, "vintage" Mario was so cool! We wish we could have stayed an entire week - the birdsong each morning was so beautiful. Such a special place.

Site's response

Thank you for your amazing review! We're very pleased you had an enjoyable stay and that you had everything you needed to make a perfect break. It's good to hear the new games room was a hit too! We hope to welcome you back another time for a week's stay!

Great location

Will M

0

0

Safari Tent - Safari TentsJun 2023

Great location and accommodation. Can certainly recommend!

Site's response

It was lovely to meet you all and we're glad the weather was so sunny that you could take advantage of the river meadow and some wild swimming! We hope to welcome you back!

Share your feedback

Did you stay at Valleyside Escapes? Tell us what you thought!

Create a review


FAQ

Check-in is from 4pm-7pm and you must vacate your glamping safari tent by 10am on your final day.

Yes, all safari tents here welcome one large dog or two small dogs, provided they are kept on a lead whilst onsite and well-supervised.

Yes, you can view a layout of the site here.

There is a BBQ area outside each safari tent along with a bundle of logs, matches and firelighters - additional logs can also be provided by the site.

The Blackdown Hills AONB is on your doorstep, with stunning scenery and a rich history, wander the iron age hill forts and explore lush woodland. The Exe Valley Way runs nearby and is home to some great picnic spots by the river. Stroll two minutes from the site and hop on board the Devon Railway Centre with play coaches for the kids and soft play area. Perhaps kick back afterwards with a Devon cream tea at Bickleigh Mill - just next door to the site! Other attractions nearby: *Crealy Theme Park (14.4 miles) *Haldon Forest Park (21 miles) *Donkey Sanctuary (23.7 miles) *Quince Honey Farm (24.2 miles)


The private riverside meadow is a great place for children to run around, complete the nature trail and burn some energy! There is a picnic area with benches right on the bank and a fire pit so you can toast marshmallows and enjoy a sundowner here too.

In the summer months it's a great spot to paddle and go wild swimming and keep an eye out for the wildlife where kingfishers, egrets, salmon, trout and even the elusive otters can be seen.

A two-minute walk will take you to the Devon Railway Centre where you can hop on a train ride, see the model railway and explore the indoor play coaches and soft play. Alternatively, you can take a stroll down the Exe Valley way.

A traditional Devon cream tea can be experienced next door at Bickleigh Mill or at National Trust properties Knightshayes or Killerton, or local home Fursdon House. In Tiverton visit the museum and castle or take a horse-drawn barge along the Great Western canal. Stamina and endurance can be tested at the Bear Trail and a monster machine ridden at Diggerland.

Other nearby attractions:

  • National Trust - Killerton (15 minutes)
  • Yarak Birds of Prey (20 minutes)
  • Crealy Adventure Park (35 minutes)
  • Haldon Forest Country Park (40 minutes)
  • Donkey Sanctuary (50 minutes)
The listing for Valleyside Escapes was last updated on December 24th, 2024 at 9:31 AM

Similar sites

Rainbow Retreat

Rainbow Retreat

Exeter, (9.3 miles)

Eco camping and glamping in a shaded woodland with a communal kitchen, fire pit and BBQ. Ten minutes to Exeter!

Rocombe Valley Retreat

Rocombe Valley Retreat

Stokeinteignhead, Newton Abbot, Stokeinteignhead (23.4 miles)

Family friendly, waterside glamping with onsite fishing ponds. Within 15 minutes of the coast and Torquay!

Exe Valley Glamping

Exe Valley Glamping

Tiverton, (0.2 miles)

Luxury ensuite safari tents on a family farm with countryside views, 20 minutes from Exeter. Dog friendly.

Sunsets and Marshmallows

Sunsets and Marshmallows

Cheriton Bishop, Exeter, Cheriton Bishop (12.8 miles)

On the edge of Dartmoor, enjoy luxurious family and dog friendly safari tents with your own private hot tub.

Jurassic Glamping

Jurassic Glamping

Axminster, (23.8 miles)

Family and dog friendly safari tents with luxury interiors. Just ten minutes from the Jurassic Coast.