Staycations are back in vogue, with more and more British holidaymakers choosing to spend bank holidays or long weekends on home soil. With its plethora of beautiful parks, lochs and beaches, it's easy to see why Scotland has always been top of the list. There's no better place to embrace the country's natural beauty than with a trip to Dunbar, East Lothian, where we've found the perfect digital detox staycation.
Harvest Moon Holidays should be on your radar if you're planning your next getaway with young children. The luxury glamping site is less than an hour's drive from Edinburgh and hugs the pristine Scottish coastline, making for a refreshing country break. There are a cluster of safari tents on the main camping ground, which sleep six to eight people each, but those wanting to up the glamping factor should book into one of the seven luxury treehouses.
There are seven luxury treehouses at Harvest Moon Holidays
With no wifi or TVs, and limited 4G access depending on your mobile provider, a stay at Harvest Moon delivers a real digital detox. Swap your phones, iPads and laptops for boardgames, bonfire pits and bracing beach walks. The site is also home to a bunch of farm animals, from rabbits, chickens and lambs to duck and geese, and even horses and ponies in a nearby field. Children can lend a helping hand when it comes to the animals' feeding time, and for £10 per stay, you can rent a private chicken coop and have it set up next to your treehouse or tent.
Farm animals including lambs and chickens roam the grounds
But it's not all back to basics. Those who aren't used to roughing it will be glad to hear that Harvest Moon have just fitted their treehouses with electricity. Each spacious house is peppered with home comforts, meaning happy campers all around. The sleeping area, comprising two cosy double bedrooms and a bunk bed, have heaters, small storage spaces and sweet rustic decor. A toilet and fully working shower, with hot water, is adjacent to the bedrooms.
Each treehouse is fitted with an octagonal kitchen
Across the decking you'll find the kitchen and living area, an octagonal space where the main attraction is the log-burning stove. You're provided with a basket of wood on your first day, and are free to collect more logs whenever you want. There's something more satisfying about cooking your food on wood, even if it does mean being more mindful about the longer cooking times! The powerful stove will also keep you toasty for hours - a blessing in the colder months. A kettle and abundance of crockery and cutlery is also provided, while a mini fridge is located outside.
Guests can make use of the bonfire pit to toast marshmallows
Regular campers will know to bring food and drink to the camping site, but you can also make use of the Honesty Shed, which was a particularly sweet touch. The shed is filled to the brim with essentials such as pasta, bread and milk, as well as luxuries including bacon and cheese and locally sourced duck and hen eggs. Prices are set and guests are invited to take what they want, write what they took in the notebook and leave the cash in their treehouse at the end of their stay. There's also another shed that the kids can take advantage of, stuffed chock-a-block with boardgames, plastic sand buckets and toys.
The Honesty Shed provides all the food essentials
Being outside in the fresh air is the ethos of Harvest Moon. Each treehouse features a spacious outdoor decking area, where you can watch the sunset or sit with a glass of wine or hot cocoa after a long walk. You can get your fix of nature by exploring the acres of nearby forestland and sandy dunes, plus the secluded beach that has no road access. In the evenings, relax on the swings and hammocks, or toast marshmallows around the bonfire pit.
A secluded beach is located just a few minutes' walk away
The camping site is open most months of the year, but it's best to visit in the summer when the sun shows its face and the strong Scottish winds die down. Most campers arrive by car, but other guests can take the train from Edinburgh to North Berwick station (a half-hour journey), followed by a ten-minute taxi drive. So the next time someone suggests glamping or a family staycation, don't overlook this treehouse community. It scores high on uniqueness and beachside bonding time.
For more information and rates, visit harvestmoonholidays.com.