GASCON safari tent

While glamping has brought the adventures of the great outdoors to the most adamant anti-campers, Black Pig Retreats takes family holidays under canvas to a whole new level of luxury!
Set in the rolling Dorset countryside, Bittles Brook Farm was formerly a riding school, until owner Carolyn and family decided to diversify and create an exclusive glamping setting, with three amazing safari tents. There are still a few horses roaming around the 36-acre farm, as well as sheep and chickens, but it’s the magnificent black pigs, Beauty and Belle, who ‘hog’ the limelight.

The three safari tents, which were made in Taunton, are as big as bungalows and have the comfy, stylish interiors of a rustic-chic holiday home, with the added fun factor of sleeping under canvas. The tents are built on timber decks, with private verandas to enjoy the views, eat outdoors and kick back watching the kids playing ‘Little House on the Prairie’ in the surrounding meadow, with a babbling brook (and if you don’t remember those carefree pig-tailed children from the classic 70’s series, just YouTube the iconic intro!). Each tent also has its own fire-pit, made by a local blacksmith, for toasting marshmallows and bedtime stories by the campfire, under the stars.

In keeping with the piggy theme, the three tents have been quirkily named after fine breeds from France, Spain and Africa – Gascon, Murciano and Mukota – and each has the finishing touches to match, from the pretty linen and brass bedsteads in Gascon to the more rustic ’Out of Africa’ style of Mukota. All three tents have open plan living/dining rooms, with wooden floors, big sofas and wood burning stoves, as well as bespoke fitted kitchens, made by a local craftsman, with running water, a small fridge freezer, gas hob and wood fired oven. The separate bedrooms have proper king size and twin single beds, with soft duvets and fluffy pillows, and there’s no need to dread the midnight trudge across a field to the loo, because the tents have their own shower room and WC.
For special occasions and group gatherings of up to 16 people plus babies, all three tents can be booked together to have the run of the place, which includes use of a Straw Bothy and Chuck Wagon for communal dining – a really unique and exclusive family festy!

Accommodation overview

Black Pig Retreats comprises two 3-bedroom safari tents (Gascon and Murciano) and one 2-bedroom safari tent (Mukota) which all have an open plan living/dining room, fitted kitchen, shower room and WC, electric lights and USB ports. Children’s crockery, toys and games are all included and travel cots and high chairs will be supplied as required. The tents stand on individual timber decks with private verandas and their own fire-pit, surrounded by a flower filled meadow with a babbling brook, edged by woodlands. When all three tents are booked together, the group also has use of a Straw Bothy and Chuck Wagon for communal dining.

Gascon (3-bedroom, sleeps 6+baby) has a panoramic position on Brittles Brook Farm, situated half way up the meadow to make the most of the beautiful views over the Dorset countryside. The large veranda is perfect for eating outdoors, enjoying the views and watching the kids playing in the meadow, as well as stargazing with a night cap. The spacious, light and airy living/dining room has wood floors with rugs, comfy sofas by a wood burning stove and a dining table that seats 6. In the corner, a bespoke kitchen has a sink with hot running water, a gas hob, wood fired oven and small fridge freezer as well as all the essential pots, pans and crockery. To the side of the kitchen, little ones will love clambering into a funky double cabin bed, (that makes a brilliant den!), and curtains lead through to the two other bedrooms – one with a king-size brass bedstead and the other with twin single beds. Both have space for the travel cot which can be provided. Through the bedrooms, a shower room and WC means no trudging across a field and besides being ensuite, there is a separate access at the rear of the tent.